Moonbi trainer Dean Chapple is hopeful one of his two runners will claim his first Gold Nugget victory at Tamworth on Wednesday.
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The $10,000 race carries a gold nugget as the trophy - something that Chapple has been close to after winning the 2012 running of the Gold Nugget as a reinsman behind Churchill Bromac, trained by Robert Clement at the time.
"It has eluded me as a trainer but both my horses are consistent"," Chapple said.
"We have got the barrier draws, so let's hope they can do the job.
"The race has drawn a good field and it is the first time that I have had two runners in the race."
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Chapple's two runners; Kudos Bert and Right On With It, have drawn perfect barriers and while Chapple with take the reins on Right On With It, Anthony Verga will guide Kudos Bert.
Varga won the race back in 2011 behind the Anthony Mabbott trained Any Cause.
It will be Varga's first time behind Kudos Bert.
"Anthony hasn't driven the horse before, but he will suit the horse, as he needs to be driven hard and Anthony is an aggressive driver," Chapple said.
"He (Anthony) has won a Nugget race before with Any Cause and it was a no-brainer to put him on my horse."
Chapple has a nice opinion of his charge in the race.
"He is a consistent horse and has good gate speed," he said.
"I would like to tuck him away nice and quite in the race while the fireworks go off at the beginning of the race and then come home with him. He is the family favourite around here and the owners have been with me for over 25 years."
Wednesday night will see the first night of the Tamworth HRC January racing Carnival with heats of the Multiquip Golden Guitar on Sunday evening with the big final's night on Thursday 23rd.
Chapple has five drives on Wednesday night including Shoobees Rose in the Hygain Star Maker Prelude and looking for a spot in the final.
"There are a lot of seasoned runners in the race and I think she has got a bright future, but it's just good to get her owner Norm Vincent back into the game," he said.
"I have been having a dry spell with the winners so I hope the Carnival can turn that around for me."
