Five-year-old Playwright is set for a drought-breaking win at his first attempt beyond 1600 metres in the Group Three Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.Trained by Steve Richards, Playwright has been competitive throughout his 26-start career but has been unable to win since landing the Group Three CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) in February 2008.The Hayes was Playwright's third win in eight starts but his last 18 runs have been frustrating for connections with a big-race victory eluding him on several occasions

Five-year-old Playwright is set for a drought-breaking win at his first attempt beyond 1600 metres in the Group Three Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.

Trained by Steve Richards, Playwright has been competitive throughout his 26-start career but has been unable to win since landing the Group Three CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) in February 2008.

The Hayes was Playwright's third win in eight starts but his last 18 runs have been frustrating for connections with a big-race victory eluding him on several occasions.

Steven King, who has ridden Playwright in most of his starts and is on him again on Saturday, said the gelding had been only a length off being a headline galloper.

"He just lacks that one length," King said.

"If he picks it up then he wins a heap of races."

Among those could have been Group One 2008 Australian Guineas (long neck, third), Group Two 2008 Alister Clark Stakes (half-head, second), Group Three 2009 Carlyon Cup (length, third) and Group Two 2009 Blamey Stakes (length, second).

Playwright warmed up at his first two starts this spring in the Group Two Caulfield Sprint and Group Two Salinger Stakes, and last start jumped to 1600 metres when he was beaten a length when third to Poised To Win and Lucky Thunder at Flemington on November 7.

King said Playwright was very deserving of another win and is buoyed by Richards' confidence that he will run a strong 1800 metres.

"It was a good run last start and it is just a question of whether he gets the distance," King said.

"He's going to get his chance."

Kerrin McEvoy said the distance wasn't going to be an issue for Offenders who he partnered for the first time to win the Sale Cup (1600m) on October 25.

Trained by Peter Snowden, Offenders has progressed at each of his 10 starts which have yielded four wins and four seconds.

McEvoy said Offenders was a relaxed four-year-old and on the minimum 53kg only needed to draw a favourable barrier on Thursday to be a threat again.

"He races handy and the extra distance will suit him," McEvoy said.

The Leon Corstens-trained The Wolverine will miss the Eclipse and instead run in the Umrum Handicap (1500m).