THE dominant forces of Victorian racing, Darren Weir and David Hayes, could take their great rivalry across the border with entries in the listed Albury Gold Cup (2000m) on Friday.
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Fresh from capturing his first Sydney success last Saturday, Weir has his sights on his first $180,000 Gold Cup with Italian import Goldstream and Team Hayes has confirmed two of their three nominations, Extra Zero and Bold Sniper, will run.
Hayes has won the race twice previously with Growl and Extra Zero with the latter to line-up for a record fourth time as a 10-year-old.
Lindsay Park racing manager Rayan Moore confirmed Andrew Mallyon will ride Extra Zero and Cory Parish, who resumed riding at the weekend from a recent suspension, will partner the Queen's horse, Bold Sniper, who competed at the Albury carnival last year.
The two Lindsay Park runners filled the placings behind Our Century in the recent Wangaratta Cup.
Our Century was first across the line in the Group Three Manion Cup at Rosehill last Saturday, but lost the race on protest to the Weir-trained Big Duke.
Weir and Hayes have trained 96 and 75 winners respectively in Melbourne this season for combined prizemoney of almost $20 million.
Their nearest rival is Robbie Griffiths with 19 wins.
The 2015 Gold Cup winner Kourkam has also been nominated by Tony McEvoy.
The Gold Cup attracted 26 nominations with other city-based trainers Lee Freedman, Gary Moore, Gerald Ryan, Bjorn Baker and Greg Hickman also with entries.
The recent Canberra Cup is again shaping as a strong form guide to the Gold Cup with the horses placed second to fifth – Cool Chap, Coolcat Dancer, Classic Uniform, Red Excitement – all nominated.
Mourinho and Bonfire, who filled placings in the Yarra Valley Cup on Sunday for Peter Gelagotis and Gai Waterhouse have also been nominated, but are unlikely to run.
Waterhouse has Coonawarra among the 46 nominations for the $80,000 Albury Guineas which she has won previously with Ryker and Fat Al.
Other city trainers with Guineas nominations are Joe Pride, Anthony Cummings, Peter Snowden, Michael Moroney and John O'Shea.
Brett Cavanough has two Guineas nominations as he prepares to depart Albury for Scone after the carnival.