Andrew Gibbons has saluted plenty of times at Newcastle over the years and he broke through for his maiden state premiership last season.
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However, scoring a win in Saturday's $1 million The Hunter on his home track "would mean a hell of a lot" for the Chisholm-based jockey.
"Although it [The Hunter] doesn't have group stature, it would probably feel like winning a group 1 in a race like this at home," Gibbons said.
"To be able to win a million race on my home track would mean a hell of a lot to me."
Gibbons will be on board Tactical Advantage, one of five runners in the 1300-metre feature trained by Novocastrian Kris Lees, and for the first time he's got his eyes on the main prize.
The three-time Newcastle jockey's champion missed a ride in the main event last year but won earlier on the same program with Trophies Galore in the TAB Highway Handicap (1300m).
Despite crowds being restricted to an already sold-out 2000 this weekend because of COVID-19, he can only see The Hunter growing over time and he even rated last year's inaugural meeting above Newcastle Cup day.
"It's an unbelievable concept, hats off to Racing NSW," Gibbons said.
"Last year I only had one ride on the day. I actually won the Highway but didn't get a ride in The Hunter itself.
"Just the atmosphere on the day was better than any other Newcastle Cup day I've ridden at and I've ridden a lot of Newcastle Cup days. As good a day as it is, The Hunter day was better.
"Obviously it will be a fair bit different this year becauce of COVID-19 and there won't be as much of a crowd, but going foward I can see this meeting will grow and grow and grow. It will be massive soon and it's fantastic I got a ride in it this year."
Outside trials and trackwork, Gibbons has only teamed up with Tactical Advantage once before finishing second in the $150,000 Choisir Handical (1100m) two years ago.
The seven-year-old gelding, four starts into this preparation and last successful in the listed Hawkesbury Rush (1100m) at Rosehill on Anzac Day, is paying $23 with TAB fixed odds.
"I know he [Tactical Advantage] is probably big odds, but he's not out of it," Gibbons said.
"He's showed before he's up to this grade and ran second in this race last year.
"I know his form probably isn't as good as last year going into it, but I've ridden him in trackwork and he looks and feels amazing. I'm really going into the race confident I've got a live chance."
Gibbons has not yet secured a booking for next weekend's The Gong. He steered Articus for Lees in the same race last year.
"No doubt if I win The Hunter it might help me out get a ride next week," he said.
Gibbons landed a double at Port Macquarie on Thursday courtesy of Lees pair Daltoro and Free Dawn.
"It's good to be in a bit of form going into a good meeting," he said.
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Josh Callinan
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
