CHRIS O'Brien has never had a runner in a Group 1, but can think of few more fitting dogs to break the drought than Banjo Tifia.
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The hobby trainer has successfully operated a small team at Nowra Hill for close to two decades, but is preparing for the biggest night of his career at Wentworth Park on Saturday.
His kennel star Banjo Tifia will line-up in the $250,000 Group 1 Golden Easter Egg (520m).
It's uncharted territory for O'Brien, whose only black type success came in the Group 3 Magic Maiden with Tifia in 2012.
Banjo Tifia happens to be a daughter of Tifia, by Banjo Boy, with both bitches fittingly owned by the same Wollongong-based Pale Ale Syndicate.
"She has produced her and we are all stoked. We are really thrilled," O'Brien said.
"It all started with my second dog called Chappo after a mate named John Chapman who passed away. All of the Bulli mates came and watched him run and wanted to get a dog.
"Six months later we picked up a bitch named Tifi in 2006, who ended up being the mother of Tifia so she has been the grand dam of the dogs coming through."
Thirteen years on from the purchase, Banjo Tifia has wound up on NSW racing's biggest stage.
Banjo Tifia booked her spot in the final after running home strongly to finish second behind Federal Lily in 29.86 seconds last Saturday.
Banjo Tifia will jump from box four and was a $34 outsider with TAB to win the Golden Easter Egg late on Tuesday afternoon.
"We are a roughie and have no pressure on us," O'Brien said.
"I am blessed to get her in the final. She is running well. She is super consistent and I guess in a way she deserves her chance. She is a little bit underrated but there have been some good dogs that have got beaten in the semis and the heats.
"She has got through. She deserves her chance and has pulled up really well."
O'Brien only made a decision late in the piece to run Banjo Tifia after a series of pad injuries kept his sprinter sidelined.
"It was probably a blessing in disguise," O'Brien said.
"There was originally no plan to even run her in the heats, but I thought she is going good, and while I knew it what it was going to be hard, I thought if I don't throw her in I won't know I'll never get the chance.
"We came into the heats on the fresh side from the provincial tracks, but she was fresh on the scene. I think it has kept her in good stead."
Box Draw: 1 Black Opium 2 Irinka Lizzy 3 Black Forge 4 Banjo Tifia 5 Federal Lilly 6 Zipping Bailey 7 Blue Striker 8 Miss Splendamiro Reserves: Sunburnt Highway and Fabwik.
