Kody Nestor never won a Wagga Town Plate as a jockey and can barely remember if he ever even had a ride in the top country sprint.
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But he is certain he heads into Thursday's edition of the race with two genuine chances in Jailbreak and Sneak Preview.
The Dubbo trainer will make the trip to the annual Wagga Gold Cup carnival as one of the top 20 trainers in the state and he's currently working with an impressive 18 per cent winning strike-rate.
It's been another busy period for the Nestor team and the trainer joked he's barely set foot at home in recent weeks.
He was on the road again on Wednesday, racing Eva's Deel at Canterbury, and will make the trip to Wagga's Murrumbidgee Turf Club early Thursday morning.
But given the stable's recent success - Golden Gorge won a Highway race on the weekend and Cardiff saluted at Doomben a week prior - and the form shown by his Town Plate hopes, Nestor doesn't mind the travel.
"It's obviously a pretty strong race with that prizemoney but these two are right into it and I've got them as good as I can," he said of the Town Plate.
"They've both got pretty soft draw so they should get nice runs."
Regular stable riders Anthony Cavallo and Mathew Cahill will ride Jailbreak (barrier four) and Sneak Preview (gate one).
Both chances have been kept relatively fresh for the Town Plate, with Jailbreak having not raced since running third at Canterbury in early April while Sneak Preview heads in third-up from a three-month spell.
In his two previous starts, five-year-old Sneak Preview finished third in the Wellington Town Plate before catching the eye when flashing home to finish third in the Wagga Town Plate Prelude.
"I jumped on him Monday when I was home and had a burn around and I thought he was terrific and as well as he's ever been," Nestor said.
"There's not much between them. Jailbreak has the better race pattern and will be close to the speed but Sneak Preview has the better turn of foot."
If the run does come for Sneak Preview late it could all fall into place as there's expected to be plenty of speed up front early.
Renowned pacesetter Marway, from the Warwick Farm stables of Mark Newnham, is expected to set the tone as he will carry just the 54kg.
"Where he (Sneak Preview) gets will be interesting because he's been jumping well this prep," Nestor added.
"I think Marway will lead and create some genuine pace and that might help him. But he needs to run at the right time."
The weights also work in Nestor's favours as his pair will also carry just the 54kg.
"Jailbreak gets in really down on the weights, which he hasn't had for a long time," he added.
"We floated a couple of ideas and thought about sending them both to Brisbane because they'd be better suited up there but when this race came up we thought we'd be mad not to set them both for it."
Jailbreak was at $17 and Sneak Preview was a $15 chance on Wednesday.
Nestor added strong showings on Thursday could put his pair into the conversation for this year's Kosciuszko, alongside leading stablemate Cardiff who is now back at home after the Doomben win.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
