It's ironic Moruya trainer Luke Pepper and his father Bruce should come to race Gregory's Fortress who chases back-to-back wins at the Sapphire Coast on Wednesday.

The Peppers race the six-year-old gelding on lease from Tony Hartnell's Meringo Stud and it was a stroke of fate that led to their involvement.

Several years back Luke purchased a yearling with his dad and named it Cheersforhollywood after his late brother Greg's nickname, Hollywood.

Unfortunately Cheersforhollywood, the winner of five from 19 starts, died in a freak accident last year when he toppled over in the enclosure at Bega racecourse and broke his back.

Since then Pepper has been looking for the right horse to race with his father.

"When I heard the horse was up for sale I thought it was an omen," Pepper said. "I was lucky being there at the right time.

"When I rang Dad and told him I'd found a horse to race and its name, he couldn't believe it. After talking to Mum he said it's meant to happen, too good an opportunity to pass up."

And Gregory's Fortress, who tackles the $17,500 Bega Cup Prelude (1600m) with star apprentice Taylor Lovelock-Wiggins in the saddle, hasn't let the Peppers down on what is an emotional ride every time the son of Refuse To Bend races.

The gelding couldn't have been more impressive with a record-breaking win in the Tony Campbell Memorial Cup over 1600m at Queanbeyan on December 23.

That followed two solid seconds at Wagga over 1400 and 1600m on November 23 and December 9.

"He's a lovely horse to train, quite, sound and now he's up to the right trip (1600m), he's in his zone," Pepper said.