The event will boast 50 runners from his stable, but it is four women and two men that boast the best chance of taking out their respective Gifts.

In the women’s 120-metre event, of which O’Dwyer has 10 runners entered, Holly Dobbyn, Tara Domaschenz, Talia Martin and Grace O’Dwyer will be the ones to watch.

In particular the inform Dobbyn.

Dobbyn won the Rye Open Gift in January, earning her a marker of 2.25m.

Trainer O’Dwyer said it was always tough to run off the backmarker, but could not deny the great form Dobbyn was in.

“Holly Dobbyn – she’s done very well (of late). But she will be right at the back of the field off 2.25m...she is focusing a lot on the nationals but she’ll be running hard on the weekend,” O’Dwyer told The Courier.

O’Dwyer said it was great to see her running well and injury-free, since winning the 2014 Stawell Gift, Dobbyn has found herself on the sidelines at the business end of the season – however, this year the signs are good.

“She’s done a preparation most years, but at the crucial time of the year she’s got herself injured and can’t race at the pointy end of the season.

“She hasn’t really enjoyed much success since winning the 2014 Stawell Gift...but this year has been a little bit different, she won Rye – which is a prominent race on the circuit and she’s running well in the amateurs.”

O’Dwyer also rated Domaschenz, starting off 5m, as an extremely good chance. While Martin was also running well and O’Dwyer, who was awarded Ballarat Grammar’s Dux, has been focusing on her study in recent times.

As for the men of O’Dwyer’s stable, Sam Baird is the prime candidate.

O’Dwyer has been working with Baird, who will come off 5.5m, on his speed given his 400m background.

While Tom Moloney is being eased through the season following trouble with knee tendinitis – but he is always one to keep an eye on.