THE best cup ever.
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That’s the claim from racing pundits after nominations closed for Friday’s $170,000 Albury Gold Cup.
Sydney Cup winner Mourayan and Royal Ascot winner Sea Moon, both from the powerful Lloyd Williams stable are among the 27 nominations.
The early nominations also includes 2012 cup winner Extra Zero and the quinella from the Canberra Cup Jacquinot Bay and Honourable Aussie, along with a host of group race winners including Hvasstan, Mourinho and Zabeelionaire.
In all five imports have been nominated including the Peter Moody trained Sneak a Peek, David Hayes gelding Stipulate and three from the Williams stable.
Last year’s winner Niblick and fourth place-getter Price of Glory from the Brett Cavanough yard will represent the locals alongside the Brian Cox trained Full Hand.
Albury Racing Club chief executive John Miller said the question now was how many would be final acceptors on Tuesday.
“This is the best credentialled group to nominate for a Gold Cup,” he said.
“The field was good in the year Speed Gifted and C’est La Guerre were here.
“But I don’t think there would have been too many Albury Cups with a Royal Ascot winner in the field, a Sydney Cup winner and so many winners of group and listed races.
“The big trick now is making sure those nominations convert to the maximum 16 starters in the Cup.”
Miller said as well as the horse flesh the Cup was set to be a who’s who of the nation’s best stables and jockeys.
“The cross section of stables with runners are the best in the country, Hickmott for Lloyd Williams, Gai Waterhouse, Peter Moody, David Hayes, Michael Moroney, Leon Corstens the list goes on,” he said.
“But this hasn’t happened overnight — this is what we had hoped to achieve when we increased the prizemoney for this race and it gained listed status.
“The programming of races this year between the Melbourne and Sydney carnivals has had a big influence as well — many of these horse will be on their way to Sydney for far greater riches next month.”
Weights will be released on Monday with the final field at 11am on Tuesday.