When Terry Tuffnut drew gate 13 for Sunday's meeting at Parkes Justin Stanley opted to scratch and look towards Monday's meeting at Dubbo.
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The draw there wasn't much kinder and while the five-year-old will go from wide out at Dubbo Turf Club his trainer is remaining optimistic.
Terry Tuffnut is one of a number of recent arrivals at Stanley's Narromine stables, with Creidne another who was scratched from Parkes to race at Dubbo.
Terry Tuffnut has had two starts for Stanley since the switch from Natasha Hall-Antonio's care and while the results don't jump off the page some extra ground could do him well in Monday's Commercial Hotel Dubbo Maiden Handicap (1600m).
"They drew a bit rough at Parkes," Stanley said of Terry Tuffnut and Creidne.
"Terry Tuffnut has drawn wide again but the extra 300 metres will help.
"He's still finding his way ... but once the penny drops I think we'll have a bit of fun with him."
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Terry Tuffnut had nine starts for Hall-Antonio, placing just twice, with his best result for Stanley a fourth last time out at Dubbo earlier in the month.
Mathew Cahill will take the ride on Terry Tuffnut, who will be down 3kg on his last start.
The draw was much more favourable for Stanley's other two hopes in on Monday.
Creidne drew gate six for the Sams Waste Management F&M Benchmark 58 Handicap (1100m) while Cliodhna will step back up in distance when she goes from gate one in the Adors Party Hire Benchmark 50 Handicap (1300m).
Wendy Peel takes the ride on both, with Creidne appearing the stronger chance of the two on current form.
The six-year-old mare was previously trained by Mitchel Beer but won in her second start for Stanley at Coonamble last month before failing to handle the soft track at Dubbo Turf Club last time out.
"With it a bit firmer we'll see a better horse," Stanley said.
"She's improved well enough since last start and that [track] didn't knock her about."
Like most trainers around the region in the current climate Stanley has battled at times to place some of his horses.
With a number of non-TAB and picnic meetings cancelled Stanley said the lower grade of horses at his stables had found themselves at home in the stables a little too often.
But there has still been the meetings to attend, with Monday's at Dubbo Turf Club only added to the calendar by Racing NSW in recent weeks following washouts at Wellington and Mudgee.
There's six races on the card on Monday with full fields almost throughout.
The first jumps at 1.15pm.
