The New Zealand-born Hopkins is running an eight-horse ship and will join Alison Smith as one of two local mentors.

Her transition flew somewhat under the radar prior to Monday's meet at Cowra where her own Flying Honour kicked away and claimed the $22,000 Cowra Services Motel Maiden Handicap (1375m), running slightly ahead of Alison Smith's Jaywalker.

Nothing's stopping Hopkins from bringing more prospects into her program but says she'd rather keep the numbers low.

"I've got a quality over quantity focus," she said.

"I've got horses ranging from from two-year-olds to some more seasoned horses. I've got a nine-year-old, a few that are unraced and I've got some tried horses that have lost their form... I'm trying to get them back up to speed."

She arrived at Cowra looking to break a sizeable winning drought and was pleasantly surprised in more ways than one. Flying Honour jumped like a house on fire from a middle barrier and didn't relinquish the lead for the entire journey.

"Initially, we didn't think he was a leader... we thought he was more of a backmarker," she said.

"He did some very good work from the back and that's how we thought he racing behaviour would be. He pulled up really well from that run."

There's nothing set in stone in the near future but you can expect to see one of Hopkin's gallopers running around in the Central West soon.

But, for now, she'll go about her work at Towac Park, a venue she's already very fond of.

"Bree [McMinn] has done a massive job, here," she said.

"I've ridden at quite a few other country clubs and the facilities here are just fantastic. They've invested in a brand new walker and there's an aqua treadmill on its way."

Alison Smith on the other hand has a trio of horses set to run around at Dubbo on Friday as Who's Tinny, Suomenlinna and Absolute Ripper will take centre stage.

Who's Tinny looks to be hitting his straps of late as he's riding a streak of back-to-back placings, the first was when he was a $151 shot at Dubbo.

He jumped favourite in his last start at home soil and despite battling on strongly, wasn't able to secure a win.

Absolute Ripper is one of Smith's most successful horses, the seven-time winner looking to launch back into form in what could be the twilight of her career.

After running a strong trial at Orange on January 21, she's failed to figure in consecutive starts over to 1000 and 1100 metre distances.

She's drawn barrier 12 and carries top weight (63.5kg) in the last of the day.

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