RACING Orange chair Ellie Brown believes Sunday’s TAB meeting at Towac Park will serve as a form guide of sorts ahead of April’s rich Orange Cup.
Following a bumper round of nominations earlier in the week and then yesterday’s acceptances further solidifying Sunday’s meet as a strong one for the club, Brown said she was looking forward to the $15,000 Millamolong Polo Benchmark 65 handicap over 1600 metres.
The benchmark 65 handicap will be run over the same distance as that of Racing Orange’s feature race, the Orange Cup, in two month’s time.
“It’ll be a good day, especially the 1600 metre race. It’ll be a good prelude to the Orange Cup in April,” Brown said.
“A few of those horses will be looking for a bit of form and seeing how they fare before nominations for the Cup.”
In the hunt for victory in the 1600 metre race on Sunday will be a mixture of local and metropolitan chances.
Alison Smith’s Side On will be joined by Mudgee trainer Brett Thompson and his shot Eureka Joh.
Liverpool-based trainer Bruce Cross has Haut Normandie in the running while Canberra will also be represented on Sunday with Rein Leica Dane, trained by Allan McRae, drawn barrier six for the race three handicap.
McRae’s hope, Rein Leica Dane is sired by VRC Derby and AJC Spring Champion Stakes winner Nothin’ Leica Dane.
Brown was enthusiastic about the support Sunday’s meeting has received.
“We’ve had good acceptances, we had a lot of nominations. We’ve got strong fields with good provincial and metropolitan support,” she said, adding trainers the likes of Canberra’s Greg Hickman and Con Karakatsanis are also back at Towac for another run.
Smith, Peter Stanley and Sylvia Szabo headline the local hopes.
“A lot of local trainers are supporting us too which is great to see,” Brown said.
Sunday will be a family fun day at Towac Park while James Sheahan Catholic High School will be at the track raising funds for its Sri Lanka tour later in the year.
Gates open at 12pm.
The first race, $15,000 Parkview Maiden Handicap (1000m), jumps at 2pm.