Joe Cleary has been track-side at every Queanbeyan Cup since the day he was born, which is why the 38-year-old is so desperate to win his home cup with Landlocked on Saturday.
The Queanbeyan trainer said he has had a runner in the race every year over the past decade but he has yet salute in one.
He has had a couple of seconds and had the favourite, Joeejonz, scratched at the barriers in 2007.
It has been a similarly difficult task for his father Frank, a legend in the region, who has only won one himself, with Bomber Command in 2009.
But this year Cleary is confident.
He has already got his name on the Queanbeyan Cup (2000 metres) as the major sponsor but he desperately wants to get it on there as the winning trainer.
"I don't think I've missed a Queanbeyan Cup since I was born. I think I've been live track-side for every Queanbeyan Cup my entire life," Cleary said.
"So to actually win it it will be a little bit surreal because you grow up watching dad's horses go around in it all the time, you cheer dad's horses .... and long overdue I guess, I've been trying to win it for quite a while."
Cleary said there would be no excuses for the son of Zabeel on Saturday – the eight-year-old's trackwork on Wednesday was outstanding.
The Queanbeyan Cup has been the target from the moment owner Gerry Harvey sent Landlocked to Cleary's stable.
Cleary said the top-up from his last run, a fast-finishing third to Via Facile in the Snake Gully Cup (1400m), has finished him off nicely.
He rated Matthew Dale's Scene Of The Crime and Mike Petrovic's Laurie's Love as the main threats.
Landlocked will head straight to the paddock after the Cup.
Cleary also has General Explorer in the Cup and it will be the son of General Nediym's last run for Cleary before he heads to Darwin to continue his career.
It is not just the Queanbeyan Cup that makes Saturday a big day for Cleary.
He has nine runners on the day, with four he rates as good chances: Quietly Brilliant in the Golden Bullet (900m), Legal Tender in the class 2 handicap (1460m), High Density in the benchmark 60 handicap (1600m) and Landlocked.
"[Quietly Brilliant] is the best horse in that race by 100 yards. The handicappers got the better of him a little bit but he is the best horse in the race and I can't see why he won't be winning," Cleary said.
"I've got a busy day. I think I've got nine runners on the day ... so I'll be looking for a nice cold schooner come about 5.30pm Saturday."
AT A GLANCE
Saturday: Queanbeyan Cup, 3.28pm. First race at 1.03pm, last at 4.45pm.
