Notabadexcuseand Arma Rouge were 8.3sec inside the required qualifying time when they finished first and second respectively in a heat at the Wyndham trials yesterday.
Notabadexcuse had half a head advantage at the finish after a final 800m in 58.3..
Notabadexcuse is a 3yr-old gelding by Live Or Die and the third foal of Special Excuse (Holmes Hanover-Smooth Excuse) who won one race.
The family produced Just An Excuse (Live Or Die-My Excuse) the winner of two New Zealand Cups.
Arma Rouge is a 3yr-old gelding by Red River Hanover from Seeled N Arma and is trained by Tom Kilkelly and Tracee Sherborne.
The granddam of Seeled In Arma is Ar Miss, the dam of champion Armalight.
James Stormont has gained the drive on Russley Rascal in the $25,000 free-for-all at Alexandra Park tomorrow night.
The winner of 11 of his 16 starts, the 4yr-old has been driven in six of his successes by stable driver Blair Orange, three by co-trainer Mark Purdon and two by junior driver Brett Cusdin.
Russley Rascal won the Franklin Cup at his last start on November 28.
Purdon will drive Sleepy Tripp in the 2200m (mobile) race.
He beat De Lovely in a workout at Alexandra Park last Wednesday.
Orange is on stablemate Highview Tommy, who was a head second to Russley Rascal in the Franklin feature.
Purdon has scratched Major Mark from the race.
