The Wingatui horseman has been using his apprentice, Doni Prastiyou, on Valencia's Image and Resplendent in their recent starts, and Prastiyou's 3kg claim will again come in handy today.
Resplendent (race 6) was impossible to miss flashing home for second at Wingatui on April 18, chasing Mr Costa Cugat to within half a length.
The set weights conditions of 57.5kg in the fillies and mares 1400m, combined with Prastiyou's weight relief, gives the Royal Gem filly just 54.5kg to carry - 1kg less than the rest of the field.
Richards is not concerned by the barrier draw of 7 either.
''The draw isn't an issue, and the 3kg off all helps,'' Richards said.`It was a good run first up. She should have improved a little bit.''
Riverton was rated as a slow (7) yesterday, and the sting out of the track should not concern the 3yr-old at all.
''In her last preparation, we worked her up on some quite soft going and she handled it pretty good, so I couldn't see the track being a problem.''
Valencia's Image (race 5) has two factors in her favour after she won at Wingatui two weeks ago.
Not only does she stay in the same grade, but her carried weight goes down from 59kg to 56kg with Prastiyou in the saddle again. He rode the 5yr-old mare to win at Wingatui.
''That's a big help, especially now the tracks are getting softer,'' Richards said.
''The slow track may be a bit of a concern.''
Suspend Us (race 3) has been a small project for Richards, after the Postponed gelding was sent to him from Tapanui trainers Nikki and Barrie Blatch.
''They sent him to me to try and sort him out a bit and do a bit of jumping,'' he said.
''He's come up all right. I'm quite happy with him.''
A career as a jumper looms in the short-term for Suspend Us.
''We haven't galloped him much. We've done a bit of schooling with him and he's got his hurdling ticket but he's done well at the jumping.
''But whatever he does tomorrow, he'll improve on a bit.''
However, what lies next in Kapua Jock's career could be decided by his performance today in race 1 - and whether a gear change switches the 4yr-old's state of mind. The Ustinov gelding was eight lengths away from Deceptive in his hurdling debut at Wingatui on April 18.
''We'll try him with blinkers and hope that works the oracle,'' Richards said.
''We'll see how he goes. He'd need to show something [today] to warrant carrying on.''
