CHAMPION Sydney trainer Chris Waller has weight of numbers in his favour as he chases a fourth Wagga Gold Cup victory on Friday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The nominations for the $200,000 Wagga Gold Cup (2000m) were released on Monday morning with Waller boasting seven of the 34 entries.
Last-start Caulfield winner Yonkers, group three winner Polly Grey and Albury Gold Cup second placegetter The Lord Mayor headline his nominations, that also include He Runs Away, Miss Sentimental, Me Satchmo and Wu Gok.
Richard and Michael Freedman's last-start JRA Cup winner, Paths Of Glory, is among the nominations, while Gai Waterhouse will look to win her third Wagga Gold Cup with imported stayer Knights Order.
Murrumbidgee Turf Club chief executive Steve Keene is delighted by the quality of nominations.
"It's very exciting," Keene said.
"There is a lot of quality in the fields and a lot of the big players, the metropolitan trainers, are setting something for it.
"The club is really excited to see how the field comes together on Wednesday morning."
Keene was particularly pleased to see seven nominations from the country's leading stable.
"The fact that Chris Waller targets the carnival every year is a great tick for the carnival itself," he said.
"This year is no different to any other. He's really keen to win it, like a lot of them are."
The total nominations of 34 is up on last year and is one of the bigger lists in recent times, however 15 of the entries are also entered for the $250,000 Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) the following day.
Many of the metrpolitan visitors are hoping for soft conditions, including the Joe Pride-trained Stockman and Victorian raider Crimson Ace.
The Graham Byatt-trained Blazing Zone is the only Wagga nomination for the Cup, while the Southern District Racing Association (SDRA) may also be represented by John Whitelaw's The Doctor's Son and Kerry Weir's Bouddi.
The TAB opened an 'All In' market for the Gold Cup on Monday and installed the Waller-trained Yonkers as the $6.00 favourite.
The money came immediately for horse and he was backed in to $4.50.
Paths Of Glory was on the next line of betting at $8.00, along with Waller's Polly Grey.
There is 20 nominations for the $80,000 MTC Guineas (1600m) and 28 for the $75,000 Queen of the South (1400m).
The fields will be out on Wednesday morning with the barrier draw to be held at the MTC Member's Lounge at 10am.
Wagga Gold Cup weights
Young Rascal (Archie Alexander) 61 kilograms, Spirit Ridge (Mark Newnham) 60, Inverloch (Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young) 58.5, Wu Gok (Chris Waller) 58.5, Paths Of Glory (Richard & Michael Freedman) 57, Polly Grey (Chris Waller) 55.5, Mr Satchmo (Chris Waller) 55.5, The Lord Mayor (Chris Waller) 55, Yonkers (Chris Waller) 55, Huntly Castle (Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes) 54, Maid Of Ore (Nick Olive) 54, Knights Order (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott) 54, Miss Sentimental (Chris Waller) 54, Attention Run (Kris Lees) 54, Mr Marathon Man (Richard Litt) 54, He Runs Away (Chris Waller) 54, Sweet Thomas (Matthew Smith) 54, Parry Sound (Bjorn Baker) 54, Skelm (Terry Kelly) 54, Stockman (Joseph Pride) 54, High Opinion (Kris Lees) 54, The Doctor's Son (John Whitelaw) 54, Total Recall (Paul Messara) 54, Crimson Ace (Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young) 54, Mercurial Lad (Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones) 54, Roland Garros (Adrian Corboy) 54, Upper House (Norm Gardner) 54, All But Gone (Damien Lane) 54, Avion Fury (Glen Thompson) 54, Slatey Bay (Brett Thompson) 54, Singapura (Glen Thompson) 54, Blazing Zone (Graham Byatt) 54, Rond De Jambe (Emma & Lucy Longmire) 54, Bouddi (Kerry Weir) 54
