The talented five-year-old has been a model of consistency during the regional racing period with a win and three seconds from his four starts.

Douglas, who leads all Central region trainers with 16 winners, does not disguise his growing affection for the son of Courage Under Fire.

"I really like that horse, he's been beaten a few times but certainly not disgraced," he said.

"Three out of the last four he's run second and he won the other one.

"I really like the way the horse is going, I think he is the best chance (on Thursday).

"The smaller field will suit him with the style of racing he produces, so he shouldn't be far away at all."

An ultra-competitive NR 70 to 120 field to rival Courageous Saint boasts no shortage of contenders, headed by the Ross Graham-trained Animated, Form Analyst for the Heathcote trainer-driver combination of Terry and Tayla French, and a second Douglas starter in Vandanta.

As to be expected with the solid number of horses in his stable, Douglas, a multiple Victorian trainer's premiership winner, appears to be growing stronger the longer regional racing goes on.

His tally of winners was significantly boosted courtesy of a treble on Monday with Ozzie Sunshine, Diesel Don and Motu Cullen.

Douglas prefaced the win of stable newcomer Diesel Don as a case of 'collecting someone's else's glory'.

"Rita Burnett from Kilmore sent the horse to me, she was clashing with him a little bit. She felt he had been going rather well, but she asked if I might take him on for a couple of weeks," he said.

"To be truthful, I don't know how long I'll have him, but he has come here a ready-made horse.

"I worked it for the first time and I was astounded he was going so well and that she had sent it to me.

"It certainly wasn't anything I did, Rita had him up and about and he was ready to win, so we went into the race pretty confident."

Douglas credited the flourishing partnership between Ellen Tormey and Ozzie Sunshine as the key to the filly's win in the three-year-old event, which followed a pair of placings in late-April and early-May.

"(Ozzie Sunshine) can be a bit cantankerous, but Ellen has gelled with her and sorted her out," he said.

"It was a little bit of a surprise to see how short she started," he added in reference to the $1.50 price. "But I was rather happy with the win."

There was a hint of relief with the win of Motu Cullen in the night's final race, to give Alex Ashwood a driving double after his earlier win aboard Diesel Don.

The four-year-old gelding was without a win in seven previous starts for Douglas following his arrival from New Zealand earlier this year.

"He's been very hit and miss and has got temperamental issues - he can overrace at stages and be a little bit hard to get along with," Douglas said.

"On the night he did race a bit keenly, but Alex rated him to perfection and he got the prize.

"He had been a little hard to pin down, but hopefully now he progresses to the horse that we thought we bought."

Meanwhile, Douglas praised Harness Racing Victoria for its exemplary effort in keeping the sport going during the coronavirus pandemic.

"It's kept us racing people earning and has kept a few others watching a little bit of live sport when there is not much about," he said.

"Full credit to them, they have done a great job with this.

"Don't worry, they've hounded us, but it's great that there has not been one case (of coronavirus) come out of this.

"(HRV) has made sure the restrictions and social distancing have been adhered to, but it's been really good to continue racing, albeit in a lesser form.

"At the end of the day, we're still able to do what we do and make a living."

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