He knows what it takes to win major races at Dubbo Turf Club and Darren Hyde won't be changing the way he works as he targets the $100,000 Gold Cup.
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The Dubbo Gold Cup headlines a massive meeting at the track on September 15, but before that Hyde and many others are looking for success at Friday's prelude meeting.
Hyde will have Westlink in The Exchange Co Working Community Cup Sprint Prelude (1110m), the gelding returning to the track after a massive last preparation.
Westlink won the $150,000 Country Championships Qualifier at Dubbo earlier in the year before running fifth in the $500,000 final in early April.
He hasn't raced since that rich feature at Randwick, but after a promising jump-out recently the trainer is feeling positive about working to the $100,000 cup.
"He's in good order," Hyde said.
"He had a jump-out two weeks ago over the 900 (metres) and he finished off nicely over the last 200.
"He's come back a lot bigger, he's put some weight on and that's good.
"We'll work him up with the same plan before the championships. He'll go the 1100m and then the 1300 or 1400 and on to the cup."
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The field for Friday's sprint prelude is a classy one and it shapes as the best of the day, despite the cup prelude also attracting a number of strong chances.
Former Highway winner Larlabrook will contest the sprint event for Hyde's fellow Dubbo-based Country Championships finalist Clint Lundholm, while Molasses, Jetgirl, and Worldly Pleasure are no stranger to country feature events.
Former Victorian sprinter Over And Above will debut in the race for Tamworth trainer Cody Morgan while Another Sin shapes as a strong contender for Brett Cavanough.
Next month's $100,000 feature will be the target for some of those, as is the case for the eight starters in the cup prelude event.
"It's going to be hard finding decent races for him tomorrow because of his benchmark rating," Hyde said of Westlink.
"But the chance to race for $100,000 on your home track, you'd be mad not to go for it."
Westlink will be ridden by Ashley Morgan on Friday and will jump from barrier four.
Cavanough has won the Gold Cup before and as well as having a chance in the sprint prelude he'll also saddle up Ibini in Friday's Dubbo City Toyota Dubbo Gold Cup Prelude (1410m).
Ibini heads into the event in strong form, having scored two wins and two seconds in his five past starts.
Dubbo trainers Allan Gibson and Garry Lunn have chances in the cup prelude, the former with Cowboys Karma and the latter with both Percussion and Pyramid Prince, while Wellington's Michael Mullholland will have Butter Toast in that race.
Racing starts at 12.45pm on Friday.
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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.
