Bathurst trainer-driver Darryl Munro will be out to break his bridesmaid tag when he lines up with Wicker Veejay in today’s Bathurst Riding for Disabled NSW State Bred Bonus Two Year Old Pace.

From his eight starts Wicker Veejay has finished with five seconds and a first to claim a total prize money of $5,735.

After running a disappointing fifth in his Bathurst Gold Crown heat on March 22, the Village Jasper (USA) x Wicker Bella colt has shown amazing potential, having finished in the top two in every race since.

Wicker Veejay’s solitary win came on April 23 when Munro guided him from gate four to beat the Bernie Hewitt (Georges Plains) trained and driven Benjamin Shannon with a personal best mile rate of 2:03:0 minutes.

Munro said on at least three occasions Wicker Veejay has overcome terrible barrier draws to claim second place.

“He [Wicker Veejay] is a real trier,” he said. “And that’s half the battle just getting them to have a go.”

Munro said it was great to see his ‘little trier’ claiming so many seconds with only a little extra luck stopping Wicker Veejay from converting them into victories.

“For the five seconds I think we had terrible barrier draw and have had to work hard to get around,” he said.

“In saying that we have come up against good two-year-old like the eventual Gold Crown winner Emjayem Grand in our heat final.”

Once again the duo have drawn another tough start, set to come from gate six in the 1730 metre race today.

“It is a bit wide because he [Wicker Veejay] doesn’t really have any killer gate speed to get clear and come across,” Munro said.

“Being one and one [after the start] would be nice but two-year-olds are very unpredictable anything can happen at the start.”

Wicker Veejay’s biggest threats will come from second row starters Herbert John (Steve Turnbull), Clancy Shannon (Hewitt) and Four Tunate (John Boserio).

“I guess the most important thing is to just stay in front of them all,” Munro said.

“He [Wicker Veejay] is a little trier and when he gets a good run he’ll definitely be up there.

“That is something you can bank on.”

Munro added except for a poor barrier draw, everything else was looking very positive ahead of tonight’s nine race meet.

“He has been working and feeling well,” he said.

“But unfortunately we had no luck with the draw and that is what makes a huge difference.”

Race one at the Bathurst Paceway is scheduled to begin at 1.23pm