Graham Phipps, along with Barrie Batten and other harness racing identities in Gilgandra, came up with the idea to have a meeting in conjunction with the Dubbo Harness Racing Club and it will come to fruition in Sunday’s eight-race meeting.

Each of the races will be sponsored by a Gilgandra family or business with the undoubted highlight being the $10,200 Gilgandra Cup while there is certain to be plenty of interest around the $8,160 Gilgandra Windmill Final and the $8,160 Creenaune Family Three-Year-Old Silver Jug.

“Bathurst have got the same sort of thing with Oberon and I’m not sure exactly how they do it but my wife is from Gilgandra and through her family is how I first got involved in it,” Phipps said.

“I went out to the Gilgandra Show meeting again and was talking to Barrie Batten and a few others and said we should do it.”

One busload of people from Gilgandra is confirmed to make the trip across on Sunday while there’s every chance a second might be needed.

Phipps said businesses in the town had got right behind the idea while the meeting will also help out the Gilgandra Cancer Support Group as entry will be a donation.

There will also be plenty of off-track attractions like raffles, a hundred club, jumping castle and face painting for the kids and much more.

But as well as that, it’s also set to be a top quality day of racing.

“There’s good fields and we’re really pleased with the Cup,” Phipps said.

“There’s eight runners, eight good runners, and it will give everyone a chance.”

Unsurprisingly, Phipps pointed to Amanda Turnbull’s undefeated star, Mrs Browns Boy, as the one to beat in the 2120m feature event.

The four-year-old gelding has won each of his eight starts since making the switch from New Zealand and will start from gate three on Sunday afternoon.

“There’s also Ring The Till, who is owned by Robert Shanks at Dubbo and his dad, and then Barry Lew’s Karloo Threeothree.

“There’s Sunscreen as well and Desdon Murruffy, who Spiros (Calligeros) drove to a win as a rank outside at Menangle awhile back.”

The heats of the Gilgandra Windmill were run in early November and Phipps said the Turnbull had to be favourite for that race as well Taihape Sunset going from gate three in that event.

Taihape Sunset, along with Siotada and and the Peter Gavin-trained Big Bill, were impressive winners during the heats.

Phipps added he was looking forward to each of the eight races but was also keen for any predicated rain to make itself scarce on Sunday afternoon.

“It should be good and should be a bit different,” he said of the meeting.

“If it all goes well and is a success then we’ll go on to bigger and better things.”

Racing starts at 1.18pm on Sunday with the Cup the first of the features at 3.49pm.