Owen will be saddled aboard top weight Bring A Secret for just his second ride in the feature race.

Owen only returned to the professional riding ranks in May this year and can’t believe he is preparing for another ride in his favourite race – eight years after finishing fifth on Voice Commander.

The Canberra apprentice said it would be a career highlight to win the Snake Gully Cup on Bring A Secret.

“It’d be up there with strapping in the Melbourne Cup last year,” Owen said.

“I know that probably sounds silly but if you had rang me six months ago and told me I’d be riding in the Snake Gully Cup I would have laughed at you.

"To win it would be great, especially for Nick (Olive). He’s been trying to win this race for years.”

Olive has started a number of favourites in the Snake Gully Cup over the past decade but the race still eludes the astute Canberra trainer.

Bring A Secret ran third in the race last year and comes into Friday’s edition in good form.

He kicked off this preparation with back-to-back wins at Canberra before finishing unplaced at Randwick last start.

Owen’s confidence was dampened on Wednesday when Being A Secret drew barrier 15. He will most likely begin from barrier 11 in the 12-horse field after scratchings.

He also has to carry the top weight of 60.5 kilograms.

“He’s the top weight for a reason and on his day he’s a very good horse,” Owen said.

“The barrier does make it tough, from that alley with that weight.”

Bring A Secret is a $6 chance with TAB, on the third line of betting behind last year’s winner Mercurial Lad, who is the $3.90 favourite.

Owen is going to leave his options open from the wide gate.

“Actually I was just talking to Nick about this (Wednesday) night and I’ve asked him permission to have free rein and he’s all good with that,” he said.

“I wouldn’t mind trying to ride him a little bit more conservatively, that way he’s more chance of running through the line.”

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