In the midst of 2017, Pay was told Direct would never race again after the horse suffered a snapped tendon, a lengthy spell and recovery later and Direct defied the odds to get back in the win column at Dubbo Paceway in 2018.

However, the horse hasn't been seen in action since early in this year, and the reason for this lengthy spell and trial-only run hits a little closer to home, with trainer Greg the injured party this time.

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"I gave her a spell after last year and then I had an ankle replacement, so that's why she went out this time, I'm still walking a bit lame at present, it's taken me a lot longer to get over it than I expected," Pay said.

Despite that, Kimsarme Direct seems to be in good stead, participating well in trials and getting back into winning form, although Pay still sees a few challenges for the pairing of Kimsarme Direct and James Sutton this weekend at the Gilgandra Cup, namely the outside start.

"She's working up all right, she's much the same as the other horse I've got racing on the day, she's coming out of six, he's coming out of seven, it's always hard to win races from the outside, but we'll see," Pay said.

With three horses scratched from the fields in the lead up, the sixth box leaves Kimsarme with only two other horses starting from further out.

"Races are always far different to trials, it really depends on whether or not she gets a fair run, if she does, she'll probably place, but if things go wrong it'll be hard for her to recover and she can be temperamental too."

Those flairs of disagreement have prompted Pay to partner once again with driver James Sutton, who successfully steered Kimsarme Direct to victory in her own return from injury.

"James can handle her probably the best of anyone, he's probably the best who's ever handled her, he knows her really well and that's why I put him up all the time," Pay said.

Sutton will also be driving Pay's debutante Bid For Stardom earlier in the day, with that horse making his first start in the Tatts Hotel 3 year old silver jug.

Stardom has also trialled well, but Pay's mindful of the challenges faced by an enthusiastic, but inexperienced horse.

"He goes alright, but he's still got a bit to learn yet, he's like all young horses in that way," Pay said.

"It's his first start so we'll see how he performs, he goes pretty good, there's a group of owners in him, they're trotting enthusiasts and they know what they're looking at, so he goes alright."

The first race will begin at the Dubbo Paceway on Sunday November 24 at 2:17pm with the Tab Odds and Evens Pace kicking things off.