Orange's richest race looks set for one of its best editions after a stack of quality nominations came flooding in for the $67,500 Orange Gold Cup on Monday morning.
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The groundswell of support for Racing Orange's biggest day on Friday comes after the Central District took a blow on Sunday with the rain out of Mudgee's meeting, leaving plenty of ready-to-go horses without a run.
Alison Smith's emptied out the stables, nominating 10 horses throughout the day, while Peter Cornish's Athena's Voice is set for a rematch against Happy Partner in the 2100m Gold Cup - the Sharon Jeffries trained hope paid $31 in a thrilling prelude victory at Towac Park in March.
Not only will Athena's Voice be up against Happy Partner in the main race, she'll have to fight off Zoffany's Lad as the Canberra-based, Joseph Ible-trained gelding will bring its seven-win, the most recent of which came over 1900m at Rosehill, record to Towac Park.
Athena's Voice is coming off a so-so run at Wellington where she finished mid-pack against a class field of horses and although Cornish might not normally be happy with a fourth-placed finish, he indicated he was using that event as a warm up race for the Gold Cup.
Vaquero shapes as Alison Smith's biggest threat for some prize money and she'll feel good about her horse's chances to make some waves after it picked up a win in its last outing at Orange, storming home as a $26 chance.
She'll also look for some form from Mr Magsman and Supreme Gem as the pair are coming off disappointing runs at Wagga on March 30.
Smith's indicated that Supreme Gem's 'better than her form' suggests but we haven't seen the four-year-old be competitive in over a year as she's spent some time recovering from an illness recently.
Mr Magsman is still searching for its maiden win as the four-year-old gelding followed a fifth-placed finish at Orange on with a tenth at Wagga.
Also nominated for Smith is Absolute Ripper, Panuara, Fanny Chenal, Cankina, Cotton on George, Electrostep and Krissy Krystyna.
The Buckley's Carpet Court Orange Gold Cup kicks off proceedings on Friday.
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