At age nine and rising ten, most horses have been pensioned off into retirement. For some though like the Brad Witt-trained Gunner, their competitive spirit and zest for racing remain.

On his home track at Wagga tomorrow, the spritely nine-year-old continues on a path towards a dream result down the track in the Tom Patton Cup (1800m).

Witt harbours a dream Gunner can prove himself good enough to start in the Murrumbidgee Turf Club’s flagship event, the $140,000 Wagga Wagga Gold Cup (2000m) on May 2.

“He’ll have a bit of a freshen up after tomorrow then head towards the Murrumbidgee Cup (April 13),” Witt said. “Depending on how he goes there there’s either the Wagga Cup or a Benchmark 70 handicap during the carnival.

“A start in the Wagga Cup would be a dream come true.”

Every local trainer’s Everest is their home town cup. Having a horse good enough to gain a start fires the imagination of what could be.

For a nine-year-old Gunner hasn’t been heavily raced, recording nine wins and 16 placing’s from 50 starts.

The Commands gelding, originally with Matthew Ellerton in Melbourne, lost a large chunk of prime racing time when he spent three years recovering from crippling tendon injuries in January 2010.

Witt nursed him back to health and this campaign Gunner is racing as well as ever.

He resumed with a 1400m win at Albury on January 31 then was runner-up to Lexical Ambiguity over 1400m at the same track on February 18 before a very close third to Full Hand in the Corowa Cup (1600m) on March 9.

“The horse is fantastic, terrific. I can’t fault him,” Witt said. “He’s going great guns and enjoying himself.

“I don’t over tax him on the track, just try and mix up his work to keep him happy.

“He goes to the river, swims and walks but he loves going to the track and working.

“He still thinks he’s a two-year-old the way he comes off the track bouncing around. He’s the sort of horse that never leaves an oat. Nothing worries him.”

Witt’s 25-year-old apprentice Megan Taylor has been aboard in Gunner’s three runs this campaign and takes the reins tomorrow.

“She’s still learning but her riding has become more polished,” Witt said. “She’s a terrific worker with a good head on her shoulders and has ridden Gunner great this time in.”

Taylor’s three kilo claim reduces Gunner’s weight to 52kg, a vital factor in tomorrow’s race that has plenty of depth.