Champion jockey Robert Thompson believes the renovation at Port Macquarie has made the biggest change to a racing surface he has seen in his career.
The new Port track got a real test for its opening day after the recent wet weather and performed differently to how it had for the past couple of decades.
"I only had two rides in the last couple of races and got there and couldn't believe they were winning along the inside fence," Thompson said. "When it was raining that never happens.
"For years it was a race to the outside fence when it was that wet and you wanted to be scraping your little toe on it getting splinters there.
"All the work they have done on it has made it a very good track and more even. It is completely different.
"It is a great surface and they are doing the right thing by it and only racing there once month. It is going to be a great asset for the industry."
Meanwhile, Wyong trainer Allan Kehoe is confident Ice Bucket can keep up his good fresh in the Coonamble Cannonball, which has transferred to Gilgandra.
"He does good first-up," Kehoe admitted. "He's pretty forward. He's had a good freshen up and a nice soft trial at Wyong. He's pretty much on song."
Murwillumbah trainer Matthew Dunn will be out to win his hometown cup with Hollywood Barbie, Dream Speed and Explosive One on Sunday.
"This is my best ever chance of winning a race I've always wanted to win," Dunn said.
"Dream Speed is probably not as good a horse as Hollywood Barbie but he's done very well and he's extremely good on wet tracks."
Country race diary: Sunday: Gilgandra, Murwillumbah. Monday: Gunnedah, Wagga. Tuesday: Kempsey, Nowra. Friday: Goulburn, Muswellbrook. Saturday: Gundagai, Mungindi, Nyngan.
