The brilliant back-to-back Tamworth Cup star was one of 15 nominations for Sunday’s feature race at Quirindi and, according to owner-trainer Peter Mills, is a good chance of lining up on his home track.

On Sunday, Gold Buckle won his second successive Tamworth Cup when Dubbo-based Greg Ryan, who won the 2001 Tamworth Cup on Merchant Bank, sooled the seven-year-old gelding to a length win over Ready As.

Yesterday a number of factors influenced Mills to enter Gold Buckle for the Willow Tree Cup.

“We were pretty happy with the way he pulled up,” Mills said.

“And he’s been eating up – that’s a good sign.

“But at this stage we will start him in the Willow Tree Cup.

“We could wait for another two or three weeks for a race but this is a nice race at

Quirindi.

“We’re only five minutes from the track.”

Mills wasn’t sure but he also thought he started Roadman in the Willow Tree Cup “one year” and may have finished second or fourth.

“My memory’s not as good as it used to be,” he said.

“But it would be a nice race to win and nice to win on your home track.

“It just depends on the weight he gets and how he does this week.”

Gold Buckle’s success on Sunday entered him into the Tamworth Jockey Club record books as the only back to back Cup winner since 1952.

Kreisler’s Jewel (2002 and 2004) and Scottish Soldier (1963 and 1967) are the only other gallopers to have won two Tamworth Cups since 1952.

It was Gold Buckle’s eighth win from just 34 starts and the $39,000 winner’s cheque allowed him to crash the $100,000 prizemoney barrier for Peter and Kyme Mills, who also bred him.

Gold Buckle might also meet another Tamworth Cup opponent on Sunday.

Sue Grills’s Lambeth Walk, second to Gold Buckle in 2007 and seventh on Sunday, is also nominated for Sunday’s Cup after winning at Quirindi the previous week. Grills has also nominated Top Beat.

WILLOW TREE CUP NOMS

Ancient Mariner (Mack Griffith), Bambu (Campbell Roberts), Campeche (Craig Martin), Can You Dance (Michael Clout), Gold Buckle (Peter Mills), Laughing Cavalier (Jeff Englebrecht), Linga Longa (Ian Symons), Lord Lostock (Rod Ollerton), Miss Sarah Jane (Peter Sinclair), Mr Humerus (Bill Thompson), Pants Man (Stephen Gleeson), Regency Pearl (Terry Bailey), Sharamagic (Greg Bennett), Tender Kisses (Narelle Pullman), Top Beat (Sue Grills).