While others are entering the last chance saloon at Muswellbrook on Sunday, Kody Nestor will make the trip north with little pressure on his shoulders.
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The feature of Sunday's meeting is the $50,000 Country Championships Wild Card, where the final two spots in the $500,000 final at Royal Randwick go on the line.
Dubbo trainer Nestor already has two chances - Sneak Preview and Fast Talking - in that final and won't be part of the Wild Card field.
Instead, he'll be in action earlier in the showcase meeting with Risk And Reward.
The five-year-old gelding was set for the Country Championships at one point but Nestor has kept him to his preferred short distances and on Sunday he'll go from gate five in the Hictech Wear Technology Showcase Benchmark 66 Handicap (1000m).
Jake Pracey-Holmes has the ride.
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Risk And Reward, who started life under the care of Nestor's uncle Peter, has had three starts since returning to Dubbo after spending time with trainer Terry Robinson.
A win at Dubbo Turf Club was followed by a third at the same track behind Country Championships finalist Healing Hands before a fourth-placed finish over 1200m at Mudgee last time out.
He was far from disgraced that day and those results saw him sit as a $2.80 favourite for the race at Muswellbrook on Friday morning.
The Wild Card is the seventh race on the card and will feature no Western Racing Association hopes, but Dean Mirfin and David Smith will fly the flag for the Central Districts.
Bathurst's Mirfin already has Electrified through to the final but will have Kosciuszko runner Press Box contest the Wild Card while Bel Diablo will be in action for Mudgee-based Smith.
The Wild Card is loaded with country stars and Mirfin went as far to say the race could be even tougher than the April 4 finale.
Early markets have Mahalangur as a $3 favourite just ahead of fellow 100 benchmark competitor Bobbing.
Mahalangur - who came across to Cody Morgan from the Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes stable - will be making his first start since July last year but looked superb in his recent trials.
Bernie Kelly's Kosciuszko placegetter Bobbing takes a big step back in grade after racing at Group 2 level and is sure to find the going easier in this event.
Press Box is rated an $18 chance.
"There were horses in this race who will miss out on the final and probably should be there. It's a huge ask to run first or second in this race," Mirfin said.
"Those two benchmark 100 horses would have to be the two highest benchmark country horses in New South Wales.
"Obviously they will be enormously hard to beat but there's other horses who won their last start who will be primed for this.
"It will be hard to run in the first 10, that's how hard this race is."
Press Box will go from gate three with Chad Lever in the saddle.
Racing starts at 12.55pm with the Country Championships Final seventh on the card at 4.45pm.
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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.
Alexander Grant
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
