The four-year-old is the only Border representative in the $100,000 Regional Championships at Riverina Paceway in Wagga on Friday.

James McPherson was at the helm for his heat win a fortnight ago but Lavington trainer Chris McPherson was forced to take off his nephew for the final.

With the 19-year-old not possessing an A grade licence, Tom Gilligan has been booked for the drive instead.

Gilligan drove the gelding in his first race start and McPherson is confident he is the right option.

"It is a shame and it looked like at the start of the week they were going to put the B graders on but he got the call Monday afternoon that he (James) couldn't drive it," McPherson said.

"Tom was next in line so it wasn't too bad.

"He shoes him as well so he knows the horse so he's good enough to drive him."

It's a real family affair for the McPhersons and Gilligan continues the trend.

The son of Pet Rock was bred and is owned by trainer Chris and two of his brothers, Simon and Scott.

Scott's son James is his usual driver while Gilligan is engaged Scott's daughter, fellow trainer, Brooke.

It is part of what makes Friday's feature race so special.

"I've never had a (group one horse) before and it is a family horse," Chris McPherson said.

"James does most of the work with him and me and Scott do the rest.

"It's a family affair as three of us brothers own the horse which makes good."

Rocky Creed is rated at $23 chance, with Whereyabinboppin stifling the market after being backed into a $1.28 favourite.

His task has been made harder after drawing barrier 13 however Rocky Creed has been the model of consistency.

He hasn't finished outside the top two in his last five starts including his heat win and a feature win over the Bathurst Gold Crown carnival in April.

In fact he hasn't missed the top four in his last eight starts since being flattened at Wangaratta in January.

With a name inspired by Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed from the Rocky movie franchise, Rocky Creed needed all his fighting qualities to take out his heat.

James McPherson thought he was in trouble approaching the home straight before going onto secure a 2.8-metre victory in the third fastest of the 10 heats.

The stable is pleased with how he comes into the race however whatever happens he'll be headed out for a spell.

"We took our time and he is still a bit silly, watching him go up to the gate he throws his head around and half skitches and carries on, we gave him three months off after the three-year-old season and he's come back real good," Chris McPherson said.

"He's going to come back a real good horse next season and after tomorrow he's going to have a month off."

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