Straight track specialist Grand Duels is on target to win his second Aurie's Star Handicap at Flemington.Craig Newitt will take the race day reins for the first time in Saturday's Listed 1200m feature after piloting the dual Group One-placed sprinter to a jumpout victory this week.Trainer Byron Cozamanis said Grand Duels had trained on well from his first-up third to Gran Sasso and Allied Force in a heat of the All Victorian Sprint series over 1000m at Flemington on June 27 and has set him to wi

Straight track specialist Grand Duels is on target to win his second Aurie's Star Handicap at Flemington.

Craig Newitt will take the race day reins for the first time in Saturday's Listed 1200m feature after piloting the dual Group One-placed sprinter to a jumpout victory this week.

Trainer Byron Cozamanis said Grand Duels had trained on well from his first-up third to Gran Sasso and Allied Force in a heat of the All Victorian Sprint series over 1000m at Flemington on June 27 and has set him to win his first race since last year's Aurie's Star.

"He might have been a little bit underdone first-up but the main aim has been this race," Cozamanis said.

"Craig Newitt rode him in a jumpout last Tuesday and he was happy with him so we are hoping he can run well again."

Newitt, who won the 2006 Aurie's Star on Bel Danoro, replaces apprentice Brenton Avdulla on Grand Duels while Brad Rawiller, who is currently having a break, was the six-year-old's winning Aurie's Star rider last year.

Grand Duels has won six races and $445,000 in stakes and for the last two seasons has matched it with Australia's best sprinters.

He was third to Weekend Hussler and Magnus in the 2008 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington and in January this year was again Group One-placed down the straight when third to Scenic Blast and Typhoon Zed in the Lightning Stakes.

"He loves the straight at Flemington and is a really honest horse," Cozamanis said.

Grand Duels is $4.40 with TAB Sportsbet in the Aurie's Star which has attracted just nine runners.

Gran Sasso heads the market at $2.30 ahead of exciting four-year-old Mic Mac ($2.80).

Damien Oliver said he was looking forward to riding Mic Mac again after he was untroubled winning a barrier trial at Cranbourne on Monday.

"I was really pleased with him," Oliver said.

"He's a real up-and-coming horse who did a major job in his first preparation last time in and I think he can only improve on that.

"He certainly has the potential to be a top-class horse."

Luke Nolen will ride El Segundo ($10) who is again on the comeback trail from injury.

He suffered a tendon injury after winning the 2007 Cox Plate and was sidelined after two runs last autumn with a joint injury.

He carries a massive 63.5kg in his fourth Aurie's Star, 6.5kg more than second topweight Gran Sasso.

El Segundo finished last to Niconero in the 2005 Aurie's Star, second to Bel Danoro in 2006 and third to Monet Rules when the race was run at Moonee valley in 2007.