HIGH-PROFILE Sydney trainers Peter Snowden and Bjorn Baker will be the special guests of the Albury Racing Club next Friday to launch the Albury Gold Cup carnival.
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The pair are set to speak at the traditional Albury Gold Cup luncheon, held at the Commercial Club which is the major sponsor of the two-day carnival.
Snowden has had two previous unsuccessful attempts on the Albury Cup with Kukri and Peck.
Peck finished midfield as a $4.60-equal favourite in the 2013 feature taken out by the Brett Cavanough-trained Niblick on protest in the closest and most controversial finish in cup history.
Kurki also finished midfield the following year as a $26-chance in the cup won by Canny Ballad.
Baker has previously had runners over the Albury carnival but is yet to have a starter in the Listed feature.
ARC chief Steve Hetherton said the club considered itself fortunate to secure the group one winning trainers for the launch.
"We are very fortunate that both Peter and Bjorn have agreed to take time out from their hectic schedules to come to Albury," Hetherton said.
"Especially considering the Sydney and Melbourne Autumn carnivals will be in full swing and the group one Randwick Guineas and The Newmarket the following day.
"Peter's record speaks for itself having worked with and trained some champions of the turf such as Octagonal, Lonhro, Denman, Sepoy and Redzel.
"Bjorn graduated from Otago University in 1999 with a Bachelor of Pharmacy and spent over eight years in the profession before entering the training ranks
"He started with just two horses in Sydney and has grown his stable to almost 100.
"He also doesn't mind a joke and guests can look forward to some light-hearted banter."
IN OTHER NEWS
The confirmed attendance of Snowden and Baker continues the club's trend of securing high-profile racing identities for the launch of the carnival.
Jockeys Damien Oliver, Hugh Bowman, Jim Cassidy and Nash Rawiller have all attended the launch in recent years.
Peter Moody proved to be one of the more popular speakers two years ago.
This year's carnival is set to be the richest in the club's history with more than $770,000 in prizemoney, trophies and bonuses on offer.
The Gold Cup has received a $20,000 increase and will be worth $200,000 for the first time.
