His only starter at the eight-race meeting will take on rivals in the feature $25,000 Gold Pryde’s EasiFeed Gunnedah Cup (1600m).

And Mills has engaged Dubbo-based premiership-winning jockey Greg Ryan to take the reins.

“He’s a good jockey. A good timing rider, does his homework and reads the races well,” Mills said.

Following his close third to It’s a Shamozzle and Tableaux (also in tomorrow’s cup) in the 1400m Tamworth Cup Prelude, Cocktail Time headed to Mudgee for the $35,000 Gooree Cup.

Ryan rode him on that occasion where the pair finished a neck second in the 1600m feature.

“He’ll go closebut there are some good horses in the cup,” Mills said.

“Like Tableaux. He was second in the Prelude, and we were a close third.”

Tableaux, trained at Newcastle by Todd Howlett, then went on to win the 1400m Tamworth Cup over Kaypers and Tamworth galloper Jefferson Park.

Another interesting runner tomorrow will be Cessnock-trained Collar, who will be looking to defend his title after taking out last year’s Gunnedah Cup over Taree galloper Phrases and Moonbi-trained Star of Dubai.

“He’s (Cocktail Time) done well since Mudgee. He’s bright enough, and he got a bit of pacework this morning – had an easy week really in readiness,” Mills said.

From two starts on the Gunnedah track, the six-year-old, who was bred and is raced by Mills and his wife Kym, has had one victory but that was nearly two years ago in class one company.

Back in July last year, Cocktail Time strung together two victories over tomorrow’s 1600m distance at Warwick Farm.

At that stage of his preparation, he spent a stint at Warwick Farm with trainer Lee Curtis while the Mills duo did a six-week tour of America.

“It was a nice coming-home present,” Mills said.

 Howlett wasn’t keen about running Tableaux after he went up 5kg from his Tamworth Cup success.

 In order to offset the weight Howlett has engaged 3kg claimer Jesse Graham for the gelding.