PROVEN weight-for-age performers, derby and cup winners, along with big buy imports are among the early nominations for next week’s $170,000 Albury Gold Cup.
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Thirty-four horses were yesterday nominated for Friday’s feature from some of the nation’s biggest stables.
Chris Waller has nominated four horses, with Chelmsford Stakes winner Hawkspur, which also started favourite in the 2013 Caulfield Cup, headlining the list.
Blamey Stakes winner Lidari and Irish import Wish Come True have been nominated by Peter Moody, while Michael Moroney and the Lloyd Williams stable have also provided multiple entries.
For the first time Darren Weir has nominated horses while David Hayes has last start Australian Cup runner-up and 2012 Albury Gold Cup winner Extra Zero among his two nominations.
Gai Waterhouse has already engaged a jockey for Queenstown for the 2000m handicap that will be limited to 16 starters.
Sheikh Maktoum’s Godolphin stables won’t have a runner in the cup but have nominated five horses for races over the two-day carnival.
Last year’s runner-up Price of Glory and Game of Shadows, from the Brett Cavanough yard, will represent the locals alongside the Brian Cox-trained pair Bringenbrong and Murdoch’s Joy.
Albury Racing Club chief executive John Miller said nominations were up by an extra 70 horses for Friday’s meeting alone.
“Clearly we don’t have to ring around any more, trainers — from the biggest stables in the country — see this as a great race and a great carnival to be involved in,” he said.
“We will certainly know more when the final acceptances are taken next week but at this stage there are some definite starters from these stables and I’d expect the cup to be a full field and a quality one.
“We know Gai has booked a jockey, Moody is definitely bringing a runner, maybe two, and the Robert Hickmott-Lloyd Williams stable, has been a long-time supporter of this race and is more than likely to have a runner as well.
“It’s starting to get that great spread of trainers coming from Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, country Victoria and NSW and that is a big plus for the event.
“It’s not just the cup — the Guineas goes from strength to strength and the Flat Knacker has a horse from the Lightning Stake, Fab Fevola, nominated.”
