Prepared by Brad Witt locally, Maconachie has been aboard the nine-year-old Commands gelding’s four wins since joining the Witt stable from Matthew Ellerton in Melbourne.

“Joel (pictured left) and the horse get on well,” Witt said. Gunner tackles the Jason Motor Group Benchmark 60 Handicap (2000m).

“He looks well placed, it’s a nice race for him,” Witt said. “The horse is super, jumping out of his skin. I had him in at Corowa last Monday over 1600-metres but he got a foot abscess and I had to scratch him. It’s all good now.”

Statistically Gunner has a lot in his favour today. The gelding, coming off a last start sixth to Celtic Soul over 1600m at the Acton track at Canberra when forced into an uncustomary leaders role, has won two from four at the distance including one from one at the track and distance, nine starts at the track for two wins and four placings and a win and a second from two starts on slow tracks.

“He definitely loves racing at Wagga. It will be good to get back racing at home,” Witt said. “I would forger his last run when he led. We rode him upside down. He’s likes to get back, get cover and get home.”

Witt admitted Gunner’s statistics stack up well.

“He goes up in weight (54kg to 58.5kg) but drops back in class which will help,” Witt added. “At his last win at Queanbeyan (May 31) he carried the same weight so it shouldn’t be a problem. He’s got a lot of things in his favour.

“I’ve been very happy with him. He’s the sort of horse that if you want him to work along he can. He just does what he has to. He’s a lovely horse, a good old horse that doesn’t do a thing wrong.”