Canberra trainer Nick Olive admits the Snake Gully Cup is a bogey race for him.

Olive will saddle up two horses in the $55,000 race at Gundagai on Friday - in-form mare Without A Shadow and Nat King Cu.

"It's a race I've been dying to win," Olive said.

"I've had the favourite a few times and I think I've run second three times but haven't been able to win it.

"Both my horses are going really well at the moment."

Without A Shadow has been in dashing form, registering two wins at Canberra by a total almost six lengths before finishing unplaced at Randwick on October 6.

The daughter of Not A Single Doubt, bought for $70,000 as a yearling in Melbourne, then finished an excellent second to Spinning Diamond over 1400m at Rosehill when she led until late.

"I've always had a big opinion of her ability but this preparation the penny has finally dropped with her," Olive said.

Jay Ford will ride Without A Shadow.

Nat King Cu is first-up after a 27 days but the six-year-old is primed to race well.

"I've freshened him up and his work has been fantastic," Olive said.

"I reckon I've got him as good as I ever have. It depends on how the race pans out but Jeff Penza knows him well."

The Cup field is one of the strongest in years with the 2013 winner Via Facile and runner-up Back To Zero returning.