Close, who has 64 career wins to his name, has good chances with Billies A Star (race 3) and Cullen's Mercy (race 8) on tonight's card.
He admits both drives came through knowing the right people - most notably the owners of Billies A Star and the 4yr-old's trainer, Phil Burrows.
''I know the owners quite well and I know Phil, as well. I've driven for Phil a few times, and he's got no juniors [attached to the stable]. He rang me up a couple of weeks ago and he said `do you want to go drive him [tonight]' and I said `yep.''
'The drive behind the Raymond Reekie-trained Cullen's Mercy soon followed.
''The owners of Billies A Star are quite good friends with Ray Reekie so they told me to call up for the drive and I was able to get on.''
Close was impressed by Billies A Star's performance for second at the Rangiora trials on July 14 - a performance which was soon franked by the American Ideal entire's win at Oamaru on August 3.
''I watched him trial the week before Oamaru and he ran a half [800m] in 54 [seconds] around Rangiora and just blew them out of town.
''Then he went on and did that [at Oamaru]. If he steps away, he will be thereabouts.''
The start remains the main concern for Close, even if he describes the 4yr-old as ''quiet''.
''He's not the best mannered at the starts but he's only had one so far and he's done it safely.
''So if he steps away, I know he's got a good 800m sprint on him so it doesn't matter where we end up, as long as we get a good trip.''
Cullen's Mercy has a 1.53.7 mile rate to her name but such speed might not be needed tonight, especially with her drawing the second-line in the c2 to c5 mobile pace.
Close's last view of Cullen's Mercy was when he drove past her and driver Dylan Ferguson to win the first heat of the junior drivers' championship with Hit The Spot at Addington last month.
''They tried to pinch a break on them on the turn and I was able to run them down on another one,'' Close said.
''I know it loves being in front, and being drawn on the second row it's a bit hard, but if they go hard, it will suit her right down to the ground.''
Close has been working for Kaiapoi trainer Brendon ''Benny'' Hill for the last two months after working for Woodend Beach trainers Greg and Nina Hope last season when he amassed a personal best driving tally of 23 winners.
''It was a great season last season. I had some great opportunities with Greg and Nina. I drove one more winner than I did the season before, so I had beaten my record,'' he said.
Close's goal for this season is clear, although he will need to drive 36 winners during the next 11 and a-half months to achieve it.
''I'd love to get to at least 100 winners before I finish my junior drivers [period] and I'm on about 64.''
