Naracoorte's Sue Murphy and Ken Keys from Cranbourne are in the same category.

They have all produced winners of the Burrumbeet Cup and all have an opportunity to add to their tallies today.

It is not hard to get addicted to races such as the $18,000 Scott Petroleum Burrumbeet Cup, 1800m.

The New Year's Day meeting is one of those special fixtures on the racing calendar that is typically Australian _ and certainly more than just a race day.

Once you've won the big one, it is hard to resist trying again.

Smerdon won for the first time as a trainer with Dowling Bay in 1989 after riding two cup winners.

This time Smerdon, who splits his training operation between Ballarat and Caulfield, is pinning his hopes on the in-form Request La Fame.

Although he has won just two races, the four-year-old is at the top of his game, with an Ararat victory splitting two minor placings from his latest three outings.

James is chasing a third Burrumbeet Cup with Sylvan Lodge.

He landed the feature event with Nimble Man in 1990 and Sylvan heights in 2001.

Sylvan Lodge is another form runner, with a last-start Horsham victory to his name.

Compared with Smerdon and James, who have lifelong links with Ballarat, Weir is a relative newcomer.

However, he has wasted no time taking Burrumbeet by storm, with Surfie Pete going back-to-back in the cup in 2005 and 2006.

Inglewood Doc can make it three for Weir.

The seven-year-old is fresh from capturing the Nhill Cup on Boxing Day.

Murphy has matched the performance of Weir with two successes in the past decade.

She produced Our Strike Breaker in 2003, and then in 2008 it was Freight Carrier's turn.

Now Murphy is hoping Tojo Sufu can continue the tradition.

Keys saluted with El Edicion in 2002.

Blue Collar Jack is his representative this afternoon.

* SEBASTIAN Murphy rides at Burrumbeet for the first time in four years.

Murphy made the perfect debut at the track in 2006 _ celebrating his 16th birthday by landing the Burrumbeet Cup on Surfie Pete and going on to complete a double.

He is combining with Blue Collar Jack today.

This time last year Murphy was sidelined as part of an extended injury-enforced break from the saddle.

* BRADY Cross is another Ballarat hoop and previous Burrumbeet Cup winter making a return to the New Year's Day meeting.

Cross, who, like Murphy, was away from the racing scene this time last year, took out the cup on the Terry Kelly-trained Skalaad in 2007.

That was the last time he rode at the annual raceday.