That's the message from reinsman Daryll Perrot after a third in his heat behind National News last week.

After seven straight wins before pulling out of the NSW Breeders Challenge series with a hoof injury, the two-year-old has finished second and third in his last two starts.

Trainer Ray Walker is sidelined after undergoing surgery last week but Perrot was still pleased with the performance to qualify for Sunday's group three final.

"There's no dramas and he still feels alright," Perrot said.

"I was told to look after him and not knock him about the other day and that's exactly what happened.

"Ray said all he had to do was qualify and he was happy with the result as long as I was happy with him.

"I said he felt good and he was doing his best work on the line.

"I think the final will be run a bit more true which will really suit him.

"If the one of Grimo's (Jason Grimson's Sugar Apple) runs along the faster they go the better he goes."

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Sugar Apple set by far the fastest two across the two heats, leading all the way from barrier one to clock a mile rate of 1:55.6.

He also clocked the fastest last quarter, zipping home in 27.8 seconds.

On the other hand Mister Rea was third, beaten 5.2 metres by National News who posted a mile rate of 1:58.7.

From his second row draw, Mister Rea sat in the one-one before being pushed wide in the run to the finish.

Perrot believes the barrier draw will have a big role to play in Leeton's feature race.

"If we had of drawn the front row the other day we probably win and I would have driven him a little bit different," he said.

"You're always a bit tentative on a first corner in a two-year-old race so I gave them a bit of room but he lobbed alright.

"They probably just went a bit steady and we never really got going until the 400."

Both heat winners draw inside alleys last week with Sugar Apple a dominant pre-draw favourite.

Walker is shooting for a third MIA Breeders Plate success, mostly recently winning the prestigious feature with Our Mach Jack in 2017 and Perrot his first.

The pair combined with Mister Rea to win their first group one in the Bathurst Gold Crown earlier this season.

The barrier draw for the group three feature, and fields for all other races on the Boxing Day card, will be released on Wednesday.

Heats will be run for two features on the club's bumper New Year's Day program, which will be highlighted by the Leeton Pacers Cup.