More than a quarter of a million dollars in prizemoney will be on offer at a bumper showcase meeting at Dubbo Turf Club on Friday.
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A huge 179 nominations, fitting the occasion, were released on Monday.
Friday's meeting will consist of eight races at this stage, however, there is the chance an extra race could be added due to the sheer number of nominations for a number of events.
The meeting is headlined by the inaugural Dubbo Winter Country Classic Final, but that is just one of a number of features which will be contested.
Aside from that final, the meeting will also consists of the Dubbo Rhinos Cup and the Kings Hall Jewellers Silver Goblet two-year-old feature.
The two heats of the Winter Country Classic series were contested last month, with two local hopes winning those.
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The Connie Greig-trained Squared was a shock winner of the fillies and mares qualifier before California Fox from the stables of Allan Gibson scored a commanding win in the colts and geldings event.
Those two, as well as the next best seven from each heat, won through to the final.
The pair will no doubt be popular with punters on race day, but there's also plenty of other contenders in the field.
Mudgee trainer Bob Howe is fresh from a double at Gulgong on Sunday and prior to that he had Petain run second to California Fox in the heats.
The consistent Ecstatically, trained by Stephen Jones, will also be in action, as will the Brett Cavanough-trained duo of Mark My Word and Rosesay.
The Silver Goblet attracted 18 nominations, with three of those from local stables.
Gibson is again in the running for that feature, with Alaskan Aura put forward, while Clint Lundholm and Michael Lunn nominating Matter Of Factor and Witness Collector respectively.
Alaskan Aura has had one start for Gibson after making his debut in Victoria last year, and ran fifth at the Dubbo track last month.
Matter Of Factor heads into the event having scored a maiden win at Gilgandra last time out.
As well as the racing on the track, the day is set to be a massive one off it as well.
"It will be a great afternoon with delicious food, cold beverages and entertainment with the talented Sam Coon," Dubbo Turf Club general manager Vince Gordon told Racing NSW.
"And heat 2 of the Gift Closets Fashion on Fields will be held with a 'people's choice' ballot and the winners announced at Daily Liberal Melbourne Cup Day."
Final fields are released on Wednesday.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
