In-form sprinter Dominant Crown is primed to land his third win from five starts this campaign when he lines up on his home track at Grafton's eight-race meeting on Monday.
The Wayne Lawson-trained Dominant Crown tackles Monday's Pro-Ride Services The Jackal Flying (1015m) and looks the one to beat on his impressive recent Northern Rivers form.
The five-year-old returned to the winner's list four starts back when he scored first-up over 1000m at Grafton on January 27, easily accounting for Hydrazine and Clint.
Dominant Crown then finished unplaced at his next two runs in Queensland - at Eagle Farm on February 23 when he had no luck getting a clear passage in the straight, and at the Gold Coast on March 16 when he was slowly away.
But Dominant Crown bounced back in a big way last start on March 26 to post another barnstorming win over Hydrazine and Raiden over 1000m at Coffs Harbour.
That win took the gelding's overall record to five wins and seven placings from 26 starts for prizemoney earnings of just over $101,000.
Lawson is rapt to have the sprinter back in winning form after a few close calls throughout 2018 when he didn't win in 10 starts, but ran some terrific races in defeat.
Dominant Crown ran second to the talented Goulburn-trained mare She Knows over 1000m at Randwick last May and was beaten just over half a length when a fast-finishing sixth to Common Purpose over 1100m at Rosehill last August.
Dominant Crown was previously trained in Brisbane by Steve O'Dea before Lawson purchased him in 2017 from owner Joe Rapisarda.
"We bought him with last year's Country Championships in mind and trained him for the 1400m of the Qualifier at Grafton," said Lawson.
"He ran okay in last year's Country Championships Qualifier (7th to Snitz), but he's certainly not a 1400m horse. These 1000m races with the pace right on are really his go and it's great to see him back racing in such great form.
"And if he maintains his good form we may have a look at another suitable race for him in Brisbane."
Lawson isn't overly concerned with barrier 11 for Dominant Crown who will settle back and should get the pace on up front to suit.
"I don't think Hide The Moon is running and he would have certainly put the pace on, but there are still a couple of others who should show early speed.
"You never like to draw out wide, but with his pattern of racing he'll get back anyway and I'll leave the riding to Ben (Looker)."
Hide The Moon, trained by Luke Berger at Inverell, is coming off two 800m wins at Warwick and Esk but is likely to run at Saturday's Warialda meeting instead.
Dominant Crown on Monday again runs up against consistent Ballina sprinter Hydrazine who is sure to run his usual honest race, although he is probably better suited at 1200m.
Hydrazine gave Dominant Crown 3kg when beaten just under a length at Coffs Harbour last start and only has to give him 1kg on Monday after apprentice Leah Kilner takes her 1.5 claim.
Brisbane galloper Wonder Boom looks another leading contender on some of his best runs in Queensland and the Northern Rivers over the summer.