Both Bowers Ace, a litter brother to this year's group one Ladbrokes National Futurity winner Gets Late Early, may never attain that lofty status but he is more than handy and is drawn to notch his 10th win on Wednesday night at Richmond.
Trained by Minnie Finn and owned by the Dee & Pee Syndicate, Both Bowers Ace is raced in the same interests and is a kennelmate of the Wentworth Park classic winner.
After stringing together three wins and a second in four Richmond 520m outings last month, Both Bowers Ace missed a place when fourth, two lengths behind his illustrious sister Gets Late Early, at the Londonderry circuit last Wednesday.
But Both Bowers Ace was unlucky not to have won, as he was never out of trouble in the early stages, being badly hampered from his box six draw.
In Wednesday's Happy 25th Anniversary Michelle and Michael Stakes, a 520m fourth and fifth grade, Both Bowers Ace will exit box one, with Ollie Impact, who tends to use a bit of the track, in box two and set to provide him with ample room in the run to the first turn.
Trainer Michael Edwards said: "He had a 400m trial at The Gardens last week and went super, running 11.01 for the first split and coming home in 11.68, both quick runs.
"When he finished sixth at Maitland at his last start I think he tried to anticipate the start and crashed his head into the lids before the boxes opened.''
Edwards' son Richard, who owns Jet Boots Tommy, said: "The dog could be slightly short of a 520m run but he has had two wins and a third from three Richmond 520m appearances and while his best time there is 30.09, he is a better dog now than when he last raced there.''
Richard Edwards said: "If Jet Boots Tommy goes as well as we expect we plan to send him down to Victorian trainer Matt Lanigan to contest the Sandown Launching Pad series.''
Heats of the Launching Pad will be held on March 14 with the final on March 28.
Another dog being tested for a big race appearance on Wednesday night at Richmond is Be In Touch, who has box three in heat one of the 622m GRNSW Middle Distance Series.
Be In Touch is unbeaten in two middle-distance races, having won over 603m at Gosford and 600m at The Gardens, and trainer Mark Davidson will decide after Wednesday's race whether the dog is capable of being competitive against top notchers in the Ladbrokes Country Classic.
That series culminates with a $125,000 to the winner final over 605m at Dubbo on March 16.
Be In Touch came from last to finish second, beaten less than a length by Wentworth Park star Whisky Cobbler, over 515m at The Gardens on February 10 and is now stepping up in distance again.
