Darren Hyde's vet couldn't have given Westlink much more of a tick of approval when he gave him a look over this week ahead of Sunday's $100,000 Dubbo Gold Cup (1600m).
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"He said he was in good and firing on all pistons," Hyde said.
"It's funny, he said to me all I needed to do was draw an alley.
"Then he went and drew gate 18."
As Hyde puts it, Westlink will "be starting from Dunedoo road" when Dubbo's biggest race of the year jumps on Sunday.
Only Albury visitor Perfect Illusion will start wider out in the feature and while Hyde would have loved nothing more than an inside draw, he's not writing off his stable star.
Sunday will mark the first time Hyde has contested his hometown feature event but he's no stranger to major races at the track.
It was only last year Westlink roared home to win a $150,000 heat of the Country Championships at Dubbo Turf Club.
"Everywhere I've gone this week people have pulled me up and asked how he (Westlink) is and wished me all the best," Hyde said.
"He's got a bit of a following in town so to win a $100,000 race in your own backyard, that's as good as winning in the championships.
"We're not there because we're a half-chance. We're in it to win it."
Westlink has had four starts this preparation and last month flew home to take out the Dubbo Gold Cup Prelude.
Ashley Morgan was in the saddle that day and will be again on Sunday, but it again all comes back to the draw.
"I was hoping to draw four, five, or six," Hyde said.
"It makes it that bit harder for him now and he's not a horse than can bustle too much early.
"He's got a big turn of foot at the end of races but if he uses too much early you don't get that sprint home."
Westlink started on the extreme outside in the Gooree Cup at Mudgee last start and Morgan was forced to drop back all the way to last after not getting a chance to move across towards the front early.
He didn't figure in the placings but still caught the eye when running home well for fifth.
"Yesterday I was sitting there and it must have been a hundred times I'd try and pick a path for him but each time I'd throw out the bit of paper and start again," Hyde added.
"But his run in the Gooree Cup was good. I said to Ash to have a look early, that first furlong, but he got dragged back and was 15 lengths off them at the turn but was only beaten three.
"We're going to have to wait and see after the first furlong or so. We have no choice and will have to ride for luck."
Some of the main contenders in the cup have drawn wide.
Westlink was a $9.50 chance on Friday and he will start one gate outside The Sledgehammer ($9.50), the Mick Mulholland-trained cult hero shooting for a fifth successive win.
Luke Hilton's Highly Desired ($15) will start from gate 15 while the William Freedman-trained Zaunkonig ($13), one of a handful of Sydney chances accepted for the race, drew gate 12.
Fast Talking, from the Dubbo stables of Kody Nestor, opened a $5.50 favourite after drawing gate nine and had firmed into $4.40 by Friday afternoon.
The Kim Waugh-trained White Socks was a $7 chance.
The Gold Cup headlines Sunday's meeting, while there will also be three $50,000 races run on the day.
Racing starts at 12.05pm with the Gold Cup is the eighth of nine events and will jump at 4.24pm.