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It has been 15 years since Tim Martin’s last crack at winning a Dubbo Cup and on Sunday he gets another opportunity to snare the feature race with Mapmaker.

The astute Sydney trainer has had his eye on the Dubbo Cup for some time believing the $60,000 race is well within reach of the in-form galloper.

Mapmaker is coming off three consecutive Sydney placings which includes seconds behind Special Missile who has won his past five starts.

Needing to back back-up eight days after running third behind Quick Defence at Rosehill, Mapmaker will also rise in the weights by between seven and nine kilograms on his recent starts.

Martin has no doubts Mapmaker is up to the task.

“It’s hard to win these races with big weights but he has been set for it and his form reads well,” Martin said.

Martin started Johnny Reb in the 2002 Dubbo Cup finishing fifth and has always been keen to claim the Dubbo Cup which highlights a fantastic program that also includes the Picnic Championship final.

Mapmaker has been under Martin’s care for his past three starts and was previously trained by the trainer’s brother Craig for a large syndicate of friends and long time owners.

Leading country jockey Greg Ryan will take the ride with Mapmaker having to lump 61 kilograms.

“He isn’t a kid’s horse so having Greg on is a bonus as he knows the Dubbo track so well,” Martin explained.

“Mapmaker ran second in the Tamworth Cup and his runs in Sydney for me have been very good.

“He will go on to race in the Port Macquarie Cup all being well after Dubbo.

“He is very fit and I expect him to go close.”

Martin rates Schedule and Brazen as his two main dangers with the duo to receive between four and a half and seven kilograms from the top weight.