Been Around was a finalist in the group 2 Husqvarna Maitland Cup on March 19 so should relish the massive drop in class to a fourth and fifth grade race at today's Richmond twilight meeting.
The Rodney Metselaar-trained Been Around, who has won three of his five races over the Richmond 400m trip, has box six in race eight, the Ladbrokes Live Streaming Stakes.
Been Around chased home fastest qualifier La Grand Quality and Turbo Thomas, another superstar, when third in his Maitland Cup heat on March 12 but was outclassed and well back throughout in Mottza's final.
But the youngster, who, at just 20 months old has a big future, should only need to begin cleanly to lead all the way tonight.
"So far Been Around has been pretty good out of the boxes and while he does rail well, he won't crash across to the fence from box six,'' Metselaar said.
"I notice that box five is empty so that should be a big help to my dog.''
Metselaar has a strong chance of landing a double at Richmond as Sienna Keeping, who has box four in the Bernipave Stakes, a 400m fifth grade, was most impressive winning on debut at the Londonderry circuit last Friday.
Sienna Keeping began brilliantly from box six and led throughout, clocking 22.76sec, extra smart time for a previously unraced maiden.
"She surprised me because it was such a big improvement on her previous couple of trials at Richmond,'' Rodney Metselaar said.
"I don't know if the track had been on the slow side when she trialled but she only clocked 23.20 over 400m there before cutting those figures down to a still ordinary 23.06 at her last hit-out before she raced there.
"I was over the moon at how well she went last Friday because she had been beginning fast but not running time in her trials.
"Yet in her race she came out quick again but went really well on the clock.''
Sole middle distance event on the Richmond card is the 618m Kevin Waters Towing Stakes where favourite Leyenda, box one, and Zipping Carlos, box four, are expected to battle out the finish.
The Glen McKinley-trained Leyenda led throughout to win first up over 618m at Richmond on March 15 in a handy 35.84 before coming from second early for a nippy 34.77 Dapto 600m win last Thursday night.
She looks set to be the pacemaker again but trainer Owen Langley believes his dog Zipping Carlos could run down the favourite.
"Zipping Carlos is untried over 618m but his run home time when he finished third over 520m at Wentworth Park on March 11 suggests he could be suited over the extra distance,'' Langley said.
"I expect Leyenda to be in front but if Zipping Carlos is sitting in second spot behind her I give him a good chance of running her down.
"Zipping Carlos is a problem dog because he doesn't like people and is very timid, while he also does not seem to relish racing at night.
"I think he might be one of those dogs which go better in the day time and that is the main reason I nominated him for this twilight meeting, with his race to be held at 4.45.''
Reign It In, who has compiled an impressive record over the Richmond 400m journey, looks drawn to win the Bess Electrical Masters Stakes over that trip.
The Troy Vella-trained Reign It In has had 19 Richmond 400m races for four wins, seven seconds and a third, and seems well positioned out wide in box seven.
The dog used a bit of the track when second, from box three, at Richmond last Friday and has won seven races from the outside alleys, boxes six, seven and eight.
Best Bet Been Around (race 8)
Best Value Zipping Carlos (race 4)
Quaddie race 5 - 7, 3, 6
Race 6 - 4, 6, 7
Race 7 - 4, 3, 2
Race 8 - 6, 3
$20 for 37.03%
