The Euroley horseman will be at the helm of pre-race favourite Rocknroll Runa coming off a win in the heats a fortnight ago.

Painting has never had a drive in the final but would love to win the group three race with uncle David Kennedy, who trains the two-year-old.

"I'm super excited to have a drive in the final," Painting said.

"It is probably the most prestigious race in the Riverina and to be able to win it I'd be rapt."

Painting was pleased with how Rocknroll Runa handled the windy conditions on debut.

While racing a little greenly at stages, Painting believes a lot of that can be accredited to the weather.

He's been pleased with how the son of Rock N Roll Heaven comes into the group three feature.

"I'm super happy with him," Painting said.

"He come on in leaps and bounds so I can't fault him at the moment."

Being the first foal of Kennedy's NSW Oaks winning mare, Rocknroll Runa has always showed the potential to live up to the deeds of his mother.

"He's always been thereabouts," Painting said.

"He's worked down on Dave's program for how he's always liked the better horses to work and he's such a little nugget of a horse, he's so compact he's been a little bit fat the whole prep, but he's starting to screw down now to race condition."

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Rocknroll Runa drew four in his heat and settled just off the speed before going on to down Malakie by 2.3 metres in the fastest heat.

He's come up with barrier six in the final.

While it's not quite the worst case scenario for Painting, it's not far off it.

He's just hoping to get around what can be a treacherous first corner in any Breeders Plate final.

"The only barrier I probably didn't want to draw is seven and while we haven't drawn seven we've drawn six," Painting said.

"We'll just come out at the start and hopefully don't get interfered with and get around that first corner.

"We'll assess the situation from there.

"I've been watching a few replays and in 60 per cent of the races there is carnage on that first corner so if we can steer out of trouble at the start and get around safe I will be happy."

Painting is also chasing success in the Kennedy Family Memorial Pace with Betterthanboyz.

With the race in honour of his grandparents, Laurie and Maureen Kennedy, success in that race would be very special as well.

"If I could win of those races I would be ecstatic but if I win both of them it would be unreal," Painting said.

Betterthantheboyz has drawn eight and after a win first up, Painting expects she will be better suited after three unplaced efforts.

"She didn't have much luck at Junee the other night but will definitely gets her chance and looks the one to beat," he said.

The first of eight races starts at 7.03pm.

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