IT'S been gnawing away at Shane Fliedner for 12 months.
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The Bendigo trainer has become somewhat accustomed to success on Cup day, saddling up at least one winner in four of the five years between 2010-14.
In 2015, he missed out.
Not that it was all bad for Fliedner, who racked up an incredible, if not agonising, four seconds.
He hopes he can renew the streak today.
Fliedner will have no shortage of hopes with seven runners spread across five races.
He feels his best chance comes in the day's final event with five-year-old Bee Jay Zed ($11) having his first start over 1600m.
The gelding has finished third in his last two starts at Bendigo (1300m) earlier this month and over 1200m Moonee Valley last month, and Fliedner believes he is ready to produce something like his best.
"He steps up to the mile and if he gets the mile he will be very competitive," he said.
"It's his first try at the distance and if he can get the mile he won't be far away."
Fliedner will have a pair of first starters in the opening event on the program, three-year-old geldings Inaminute and Kuroyme.
"They've show ability on the training track, but are probably a preparation away," he said.
"But they are going well enough to be competitive at the races."
Fliedner has a further two starters in race two - Such As Life and the well backed Tax Dancer, and one apiece in races five and seven, Flying Spark and More Spark, who comprised half of his four second placegetters in 2015.
Flying Spark is returning from a 21 week spell and has performed well fresh in the past, and according to Fliedner is a "rough chance" to run a place.
He said a decision on whether More Spark took his place in the field for the benchmark 70 1300m handicap would be made on race morning, after the four-year-old mare drew a wide barrier.
"After four seconds, I hope we get a winner somewhere this time," he said.
"But you can't buy luck and you can't make them run faster than they do."