From doing battle as two of the bush's most exciting apprentice jockeys more than 10 years ago through to Sunday, where both are out to become the winning trainer in the Western Racing Association (WRA) Country Championships Qualifier at Coonamble.

The two Dubbo trainers each have multiple chances in the $150,000 heat and, between them, have the favourites for the event.

Nestor's Fast Talking had firmed from $5 into a $3.40 favourite on Friday while Lundholm's Sir Winkle was at $3.60, having opened at $3.20.

"It's like going back the old days," Nestor said.

"We competed against each other as riders for a few years and now it's in the training."

The pair have earned plenty of attention from media sources all over the state in the lead-up to Sunday's race but it remains just another meeting for them both.

"It's not the first time and it's not the last time," Lundholm, who grew up in Coonamble, said of going head-to-head.

"Kody has made a really good impression in the training ranks out here and he's got a good team of horses heading to the same race.

We'll do battle as we did as jockeys, we'll do battle on the track as trainers now and it's all good fun and a bit of banter never goes astray."

Going from a jockey to trainer is not the only thing in common the pair have.

During their early days in the saddle both spent time racing in Sydney but battles with weight ultimately saw them both give the game away at different times.

Lundholm has been in the training game longer and has been a part of all but one of the five previous Country Championships series, earning his first ticket to the $500,000 final at Randwick last year with Sons Of Bourke.

Nestor retired from riding in 2017, having ridden Dane De Lago to victory in the inaugural WRA heat in 2015, and will launch a four-pronged attack on his first qualifier as a trainer on Sunday.

Greg Ryan will ride Fast Talking while Mathew Cahill will pilot Sneak Preview, Anthony Cavallo will ride Toulon Brook and two-time WRA heat winner Jake Pracey-Holmes will be in the saddle of Miss Academy.

"They look like they're in pretty good order," Nestor said, before speaking about Fast Talking.

"His problem will be sharpness. He's a real miler and I've kept him fresh so I'll leave it up to Greg, where he'll end up.

"I won't give too many instructions ... he's in top order."

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Lundholm has Hugh Bowman onboard Sir Winkle, Grant Buckley riding Sipharderson, Ashley Morgan riding Adsum and Andrew Banks in the saddle of Dusky Damsel while So Good To Me is the lone emergency for the race.

"Everything is looking really well and all the horses are in good shape," he said, before touching on Sir Winkle.

"I was shocked to see he opened favourite. I didn't think he'd be favourite but thought he'd be around the money there somewhere. He's a nice horse and he fits the criteria of the race really well but he's going to meet some nice horses first-up with just two trials."

Sunday's meeting is the richest to ever be staged at Coonamble and Racing NSW confirmed it would go ahead despite the coronavirus outbreak.

It's impact was felt in the western area on Friday as three cases were confirmed in Orange while various events had been cancelled or changed.

Racing NSW said in a statement Coonamble Jockey Club would be asked to "remind patrons of general hygiene measures" while adding it will be guided by the state government and department of health regarding attendances at race meetings.