Swaggie Shannon has been a horse delivering surprises lately but does the Peter Bullock gelding have one more in him for this Wednesday's second round of TAB Regional Championships Heats at Bathurst Paceway?

The Bathurst trainer is already proud of what his veteran eight-year-old has been able to achieve in recent times, defying his odds during the opening round of heats to finish second behind Catch A Moment.

Amanda Turnbull's winner may have been a long way down the track but it shouldn't detract from the big effort Swaggie Shannon produced to take second spot.

Only winners are guaranteed a ticket into the $100,000 final so Bullock's Kenneth J gelding is back for another crack.

And you can bet he won't be starting at 100-1 odds this time.

"He came from a long way back and I was thinking that we might be able to run fourth or fifth. He's a tough horse and I thought if he'd get clear he'd be able to get up there but he kept coming, and for him to get second was a really good run," Bullock said.

"He doesn't make his own luck - he never has - he's a swooper who needs a race run to suit him."

Swaggie Shannon has drawn nicely in gate two for this Wednesday's bid, with Emma Turnbull back in the gig, and the trainer would love to see his runner build on his recent run of form.

"He's drawn the two but knowing what he's like he'll probably settle mid field and will want some genuine speed in the race. He can win the heat but he needs everything run to suit him," he said.

"He can be fast and is very tough but can't make that luck. He's always been like that. With all his wins he swoops home late, that's his pattern of racing.

"All the good horses won last week and aren't racing in this one so, given that, I think he has a good chance this week."

Bullock's gelding may still qualify for the Group 1 decider even if he fails to finish inside the top two in Wednesday's heat, though it would require some luck to come his way.

The next two fastest runners-up will take the remaining places in the final and that presents an opportunity to Swaggie Shannon.

"At this stage I think he's only one place away from making the final if there's four different winners this week," Bullock said.

"If one of those other runner-up horses happen to win then he might sneak through, because I think the heats this week will be run slower.

"Even if got into the final he'd probably start at 100-1 again but he's never a horse where you'd say he can't win.

"He started a similar odds back in the Canola Cup and he ran third on that day."

Turnbull's trio of Catch A Moment, Animal and Shoobee Doo plus Bernie Hewitt's Make Mine Memphis are the horses who have already qualified.

Other runners-up in line for a potential finals spot are Firestorm Red, Bettor Jiggle and Kanena Provlima.