Today, 14 hopefuls will start the Country Championships Qualifier (1400 metres), with $150,000 in prizemoney on offer to the first 10 finishes.

Six-year-old Ave has enjoyed a solid career, with 11 placings that includes three wins across her 19-career starts.

While the reward of racing at Royal Randwick awaits the top finishes, Bathurst trainer Andrew Ryan - who is the co-trainer of Ave alongside his father Don - hasn't thought that far ahead.

He's only focused on Sunday and how much it would mean to his family if Ave come past the winning post first.

"We haven't thought too much past this race but this race, it might sound silly, but if we could win it, that would mean everything, to dad and I and the boys," he said.

"It would just mean everything."

Ave last start was in Dubbo on February 16 and while she finished fifth, Ryan said the performance was fairly solid.

"She's training well, racing well," he said.

"Her lead-up runs have been good and her one at Dubbo the other week, it could've been a fraction better but she's come out of it really well and we're really happy with her."

For the Country Championships Qualifier, Ave has drawn barrier 11 but may not start there as three of the four emergencies have drawn five, six and nine.

Eleanor Webster-Hawes has the ride for the bay mare.

"She's drawn barrier 11 but she'll probably start around eight or nine, which is pretty well ideal for her," he said.

"Eleanor knows her that well, so we just let Eleanor work it out.

"When she [Ave] jumps, Eleanor normally works it out from there, so we normally give her free reign. She does what she knows to do."

Ryan explained that Ave's dam Indirect was actually trained by legendary 12-time Melbourne Cup winner Bart Cummings, with the Ryans purchasing both Ave and her mother.

"We bought the broodmare and she was a foal at foot and at the time Bart Cummings was having a dispersal sale and we bought the mare, a mare that Bart Cummings raced," he said.

"We bought her and Ave when she was a foal at foot. We've still got the mare, so it's been great."

Other Bathurst trainers will have starters in the qualifier too, including Roy L McCabe's I Stole Your Love, Dean Mirfin's Electrified, Press Box and Tale Of The Kraut and Wanda Ings' Speed Camera.

The qualifier is one of eight races at the Mudgee meeting, with the first starting at 12.55pm, the last getting underway at 5.25pm.

The Country Championships Qualifier is expected to get underway at 4.45pm.