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After recording his best finish in three years in the 2013 Yukon Quest, Whitehorse musher Normand Casavant is setting his sights higher this time around.

"I would like to be in the top-five,鈥� the 51-year-old told the Star at the race's 31st birthday party at the Jarvis Street Saloon Friday night. "We always want to do better 鈥� but you never know. It's a 1,600-km race, so you never know what is going to happen. But yes, I would like to finish in the top-five.鈥�

Last year, Casavant finished the 30th edition of the Yukon Quest in 10 days, two hours and 56 minutes, and was the first Yukon musher to reach Fairbanks. He took home $5,950 for his efforts.

This year, the race route will reverse, starting in Fairbanks Feb. 1 and finishing in the Yukon capital.

Before last year, Casavant completed the Quest in 2009 and 2010, placing 10th in both races.

Now, he's setting his sights much higher.

But one thing he won't compromise on the trail is his award-winning care for his dogs. Casavant took home the Vet's Choice Award last year.

"I'm going to try to work a lot to have again the Vet's Choice Award,鈥� he said in his heavy French accent, before issuing a challenge to his fellow mushers. "I would like to push the other mushers on trying to compete with me on that award. I send a d茅fi to all the other mushers to try and beat me for the Vet's Choice Award.

"It's nothing about trying to be the best, because I'm always the best. I love my dogs and I always do the best for my dogs. But I would like to compete again with all the other mushers for that thing.鈥�

Casavant said part of his strategy this year is to train more dogs. Last year, he trained just 16 before entering the race with 14.

"During your race, you always have some little injuries that may happen to your dogs,鈥� he said.

"This year's big difference is that I have 23 dogs that I'm training. I'm having a better pool of dogs right now.鈥�

He added that he is more relaxed while training this year, and hopes to be more focused for the start of next year's race. Last year, he interviewed for a job the night before the race.

"Last year, I had a big interview with the Yukon Government for a job the Friday before the start,鈥� he chuckled. "I spent a week studying. I don't think I'm going to have an interview this year.鈥�

On Friday night, Casavant sat a table with his partner Karine Grenier, YQ300 musher Tamra Reynolds, four-time Quest champ Hans Gatt, and Gatt's partner Susie Rogan, who finished the race last year in 10th place.

Fishead Stew plunked out Celtic tunes to the delight of a small, but intimate group of Quest supporters, who swapped tales from the race over drinks and birthday cake.

Denise Mellett, a race supporter from England, wasn't shy about her affections for the 1,000-mile odyssey.

"I love it. I think it's great,鈥� she said of the race, before praising the mushers' endurance and focus. "It's so unique to see each of them cross the line, no matter what position.鈥�

For her costume of original race winner Sonny Lindner, Darcy Olesen took home a return flight ticket courtesy of Air North.

So far, of the 17 mushers registered for the 2014 race, only Casavant and Dawson City's Brian Wilmshurst will represent the Yukon.

In August, Casavant took home $1,300 of his $2,000 race entry fee after his name was chosen randomly from the 13 mushers who registered on the official race sign-up day Aug. 3.

Every little bit helps, said Casavant, who continues to seek sponsorship for the 2014 race.

"We are not like some professional sport that they have nutritionists and trainers for that, that, that,鈥� said Casavant.

"When we mush, it's probably one of the most complete sports in the world. We have to train ourselves, eat well. We have to know about the strategy, the vet care. We have to know how to train our dogs, feed our dogs, repair a sled, deal with Mother Earth in a storm鈥� there's so many things that we have to know, it's completely crazy.鈥�

The musher said sponsorship dollars could eventually push him into a top-three placement as it would allow him to consider running a training race in the U.S. prior to the Quest, or hire a professional handler.

"When you're short on money, you stay at home and you don't go anywhere,鈥� he said. "It's exciting when someone gives you money. You're proud 鈥� 鈥楾hey believe in me. They trust me. Wow, I have to push myself.' That's a marque de confiance. All these little things make a huge difference.鈥�