SUCH is the burgeoning popularity of Scone’s annual Cup carnival that a staggering 600-plus entries have been received for this week’s two-day meeting.
Scone Race Club chief executive Jason Hill, preparing for his maiden carnival, reports 315 nominations are in for Friday, and 297 for Saturday’s metropolitan stand-alone fixture.
“Our nominations are fantastic, and we’re headed for another bumper two days of racing,” Hill said soon after entries closed at 11am on Monday.
“Not one of the 18 races have needed to be extended.”
Provincial stables figure prominently amongst the 36 nominations for Friday’s $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m), which carries eligibility for The Big Dance over the same distance at Royal Randwick in November.
Wyong’s Sara Ryan has nominated last year’s Big Dance winner Attractable (pictured), and fellow Wyong trainers Kim Waugh (Bethencourt) and Kristen Buchanan (Oakfield Waratah) also have entries.
Other provincial Cup nominations include Newcastle trainers Mark Minervini (Hosier) and Paul Perry (Sky Lab), and leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup has entered recent Rosehill Gardens runner-up Ruby Flyer.
Saturday’s meeting features the $250,000 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m), which has 25 entries, $200,000 Listed Luskin Star Stakes (1300m (30), $200,000 Listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m) (25), and $200,000 Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m), which also has 25 nominations.
A ‘Heavy 8” track rating was listed when nominations closed on Monday morning.
Story John Curtis,May 13, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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