For James Sutton, that decision was even more difficult.

Sutton has four drives at Dubbo Paceway on Friday night, but he had a choice to make when it came to the Dubbo Ten Pin Bowl Pace (2120m).

He has recently been driving plenty for Greg Pay and after guiding Curls Toby to a drought-breaking win at Parkes last start he could around again with the gelding or he can drive Laser In Flight, for his father Lloyd.

“It was tough,” Sutton laughed when discussing the decision.

“But I gotta go with Greg because he’s put me on some good horses lately. The old man was up me a bit for that but Greg has been good to me.

“I think it (Curls Toby) is the better chance too but it was a tough choice.”

While it was difficult, it’s easy to see why Sutton sided with Pay.

Pay only has two chances in at his hometrack on Friday, Curls Toby and Kimsarme Direct, and Sutton will drive them both after guiding them to last-start wins.

Curls Toby’s win was particularly pleasing at Parkes last week as the gelding hadn’t won in 16 months prior to that.

“They’ve been going super ever since I’ve got on them. ‘Greggy’ has got them flying,” Sutton said of the pair.

“I’ve had four drives on them for two seconds and two wins so they’re a pleasure to jump on.”

The fact Curls Toby hadn’t won in more than a year came as a real shock to Sutton.

He had been impressed by the eight-year-old’s work at home and on the track so it was no shock when he scored a dominant 11m win at Parkes last start.

“I can’t fault the horse when I’ve driven him,” he said.

“I don’t know why he was out of form or what Greg’s done to change that but he’s been going out of sight.”

The Dubbo Ten Pin Bowl Pace shapes as one of the more competitive events on the night with Curls Toby and Laser In Flight joined by fellow hometown hope Koloura Flight, trained and driven by Bruce McKinnon.

“Koloura Flight is going well and I know Dad’s horse is starting to hit his straps,” Sutton said.

In terms of Kimsarme Direct and the Gilgandra Toyota Pace (2120m), Sutton said the gate two draw should work well.

While Kimsarme Direct doesn’t have the strongest gatespeed, Sutton said he expects to lead or be close to with the six-year-old.

Sutton has two other drives on the night.

One is with Kiama Sutra, a horse he trains himself, while he combines with his father once when Laser Major contests the opening event of the night, the Radio 2DU/Zoo FM Pace (2120m).

Sutton felt Laser Major was a strong chance, despite the gate 10 draw, after the gelding produced a blistering final lap at Bathurst on Sunday on the way to finishing third.

Racing starts 5.55pm.