There is no doubt about the admiration Gibbons has for Star Of Octagonal.

"He is a super horse in the making and has come along so quickly recently that he is sure to run well on Saturday," Gibbons said.

Star Of Octagonal and Testarhythm, which is set to run at Randwick in the Ming Dynasty Quality, were impressive in the 800m hit-out at Newcastle on Saturday.

"He showed he was getting back to the way he was when he won at Randwick and then the Scone Guineas last preparation," Gibbons said. "He felt even better on Tuesday morning and there is no doubt Todd has him fresh, fit and well for the 1100 first up."

Gibbons scored a recent winning double on El Tegra for Broadmeadow trainer Kris Lees at Newcastle and Gosford, highlighting his new-found will to succeed.

"I am getting chances from trainers like Kris Lees, and it makes a huge difference to the way I am approaching my riding now," he said.

"There is definitely a chance in Newcastle these days and I am keen to take that opportunity.

"It is all right being everyone's friend and a Mr Nice Guy, but that does not help you ride winners.

"I believe I am being more aggressive and that is showing with horses like El Tegra, that you just have to show who's boss to get the results."

Lees praised Gibbons's new approach.

"I applaud Andrew's work ethic and I value his opinion, so while he is willing to put the time into ride my horses in trackwork, he will get chances from my stable," Lees said.

¦ There were plenty of positives out of the meeting between Newcastle Jockey Club's board of directors and members of the Newcastle Trainers' Association on Tuesday.

The meeting was chaired by Bill Moncrieff and was attended by most of his fellow board directors, including chairman Brian Reardon, chief executive Maurice Sinclair and course manager David Patrick.

There were 20 trainers represented and leading Broadmeadow mentors Paul Perry, Kris Lees and Darren Smith were keynote speakers making presentations to the board.

"The main subjects that were discussed included the state of the track, the stabling area and day stalls," trainers' association president Peter Eggleston said.

"The main thing to come out of it was that the board members listened to the problems we have, which has not always been the case.

"I think there were some immediate positives to come out of the meeting which went for about two hours."

The meeting's theme was that the club was desperate for an outcome in the court action against the corporate bookmakers in the race fields legislation case so money can be freed up for clubs to use.

¦ Wyong-based gallopers Gazza Guru and Silent Symphony will be out to score the first local victory in today's home-town cup since the Neville McBurney-trained Spiritual Star won in 1996.

Since the early 1970s only five Wyong horses have won the race.

Brett Partelle, who had a winner at Newcastle on Saturday and a double at Cessnock on Monday, had no hesitation in backing up Silent Symphony after she ran at Broadmeadow on Saturday.

The five-year-old mare finished third as a $20 chance over 1850m in a class two, and today she goes up to 2100m in the $120,000 listed race.

"The plan was always to back her up if she got through the Newcastle run without any worries, and I hope that effort will bring her to her top for the Wyong Cup," Partelle said.

"She has only won two races and will be an outsider, but it would be a great thrill to win the local cup and I think she deserves the chance.

"As a mare, a bit of black type would also be a big help.

"The run on Saturday really cleared her out and she has eaten up and been really frisky. I think she could run a real good race."

Steve Farley, who trains Gazza Guru, also has Wyong connections.

He grew up on the Wyong course where his father worked and had a house.

Farley has aimed Gazza Guru at this race, and judging by his win in town two starts ago, he will be one of the hardest to beat.

¦ Neville Voigt, who turned to training in 1984 after 25 years as a top-class jockey, has not lost the knack of finding a winner.

Voigt had his first major success as a jockey in 1963 when he won the Newcastle Newmarket on Zozima, and he scored as a trainer at Randwick on Saturday with Verballed which also races under the banner of his son Chris.

At Cessnock on Monday, Voigt won with $4.20 favourite Halo Halo in a 900m maiden.

Voigt, who is based at Randwick, was asked if he had ever prepared or ridden a winner at Cessnock.

"For sure I have, and I still remember the day the great Peter Cook rode a winner for me here," Voigt said.

Cook is one of Australia's greatest riders and it was big deal seeing him ride at a minor country meeting.

"We thought the horse would win, Peter rode him a treat, as you would expect from a senior jockey, but somehow there was a mistake and he was put down as an apprentice and got a claim which made the horse an even better thing," Voigt said with a mischievous smile.

"You could get away with things like that back then."

¦ Queensland trainer Brian Smith is heading back for another shot at the big races at Broadmeadow, this time with in-form sprinter Meet George.

The five-year-old gelding yesterday became the first official nomination for the Cameron Handicap.

Nominations for the main races of the September 15 and 16 Newcastle Cup carnival close on Thursday.

Since Meet George joined the Smith stable he has put together five wins, going from a class-four performer to two open-class victories.

Smith won the 2006 Newcastle Cup with Bikkie Tin Blues and finished second in 1991 with Ecliptic which was beaten by the TJ Smith-trained Maharajah.

Meet George, which has won nine races, will be hard to beat.

¦ Newcastle apprentice Alison Threadwell, who was badly injured in a four-horse fall at Scone last month, was at the barrier trials at Broadmeadow on Tuesday morning.

But she was merely an interested observer, and it could be at least six weeks before she is back in the saddle.

Two of the most impressive efforts at the trials came from the Kris Lees-trained Parriwi and the Darren Smith-prepared Welkom Gold.

Parriwi is being aimed at Melbourne spring carnival after her win in 48.67 seconds for the 800m.

Welkom Gold is being aimed at the Hurricane Handicap (900m) at Newcastle after his win in 47.52, and on the trial looks a good thing.

¦ Pleasure Or Pain, which has put two impressive wins together at Broadmeadow, will be aimed at the $175,000 Spring Stakes.

The three-year-old colt won at Newcastle on August 14 over 900m and completed the double when he scored over 1200m in class one company on August 28.

He will step up to the 1600m of the Spring Stakes at Newcastle, which does not faze trainer Brett Partelle.

¦ Tough Newcastle sprinter Motspur has had a setback since his exhibition gallop at Cessnock on Tuesday and will miss the Hurricane Handicap at Newcastle.

Trainer Kris Lees said the horse has some minor foot problems.