Friday's Wodonga Gold Cup is set to be one of the most open in recent memory after the final field was released on Wednesday.
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The final field comprises a maximum field of 14 runners plus one emergency with some of Victoria's biggest stables set to contest the $100,000 feature.
Peter Moody (Akecheta), Mitchell Freedman (Ho Ho Khan) and Ciaron Maher and David Eustace (Black Sail) will strive to add their name to the honour roll.
David O'Prey will be hoping for a longshot victory with This Skilled Cat and is the only hometown trainer with a runner.
In form hoop Blaike McDougall will target his first Wodonga Cup with the ride on Keats for trainer Michael Moroney.
Last year's winner Vungers will make the trek from Bendigo to defend his crown.
The Brendon Hearps-trained gelding will once again be partnered by Zac Spain who is chasing a third win in the cup.
Racing Wodonga's general manager Steve Wright was delighted with the quality of the cup field.
"There are plenty of quality horses in the race and it shapes as a good betting race with no standout runner," Wright said.
"The whole meeting has good fields with capacity numbers.
"There are some big stables targeting the cup including Peter Moody and Maher and Eustace.
"There are some talented jockeys coming as well.
"It would have been nice to see a few more local trainers with runners in the cup but they decided not to accept for whatever reason.
"I'm looking forward to it."
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Wright said the club had its fingers crossed that the forecast rain over Thursday and Friday didn't arrive.
The weather bureau is forecasting up to 50mm on Thursday and the chance of a further 40mm on Friday
Wright said any rainfall on cup day could put the meeting in jeopardy.
"It's probably not the amount of rain we get but when it falls that is the biggest issue with the track," he said.
"If we get a massive downpour on Friday morning we could be in trouble.
"The track is in fantastic shape at the moment but we are in the lap of the gods and all you can do is hope for the best.
"If we don't got any rain on Friday morning, I'm confident the track will be fine.
"The problem with the weather forecast, every time you have a look it seems to change."
Wright is expecting a crowd of more than 5000.
"All the marquees are sold out and alongside pre-purchased tickets we have 4500 at the moment (late Wednesday)," he said.
"So 5000 plus is a realistic expectation depending on the weather.
"Patrons just need to be double vaxxed to gain entry."
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