GAI Waterhouse has added some extra star power to the $180,000 Albury Gold Cup on Friday with confirmation former British galloper Bonfire will start in the listed feature.
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The eight-year-old had his first start in more than a year in the Wangaratta Cup earlier in the month before improving to run second in the Yarra Valley Cup last Sunday.
Assistant trainer Adrian Bott said the quick turnaround could work in the favour of Bonfire who could present Waterhouse with her first Gold Cup.
The stable is eyeing off another Albury Guineas with the promising Coonawarra.
Former Western Australian jockey Paul King is booked to ride both horses at Albury.
Bonfire is a previous Grafton Cup winner and has also finished midfield at Group One level, but was sidelined with a tendon setback before resuming at Wangaratta.
"He is a horse who will be able to handle the back-up," Bott said.
"He is a naturally fit and athletic horse and doesn't have to do a lot of work between races.
"It's been a long steady road for him, but he has got that great fitness base and has done the work to get to this point."
Previous Gold Cup winner Extra Zero will carry top-weight of 58.5kg and stablemate Bold Sniper will start from barrier one.
They have not run since the Wangaratta Cup when they filled the placings behind Our Century.
Leading Victorian trainer Darren Weir has confirmed apprentice Ben Allen will ride his first Gold Cup starter, Goldstream.
Craig Newitt is also Albury-bound to ride Adirondack who has finished second at his last two starts in the Cranbourne and Stony Creek cups in Victoria.
The Albury track has been downgraded to a heavy 10 with more than 50mm of rain falling this week and the rail will be out five metres from the 800m to the 400m.
But wet weather is due to clear by Friday and SDRA stewards will carry out a final track inspection on Thursday.