The nominations are out and everything points to Mudgee Cup day again being one of the best in the region.
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A massive 173 nominations were received for the iconic event, with 15 of those for the $75,000 Robert Oatley Vineyards Mudgee Cup Showcase (1600m).
The nominations are headlined by Coonamble Cup winner Falcon Island, the five-year-old coming from the famed Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable while Richard and Michael Freedman, Bjorn Baker, and Jarrod Austin are other city-based trainers in the running.
Austin nominated Hirokin, who is a two-time winner of another Mudgee feature, the Gooree Cup.
Dubbo trainer Dar Lunn is also a chance to rub shoulders with some of racing's great after putting forward Chilcotin.
The six-year-old is a country cup regular and while he hasn't broken through for a win for Lunn he's consistently been thereabouts.
Chilcotin is coming off a seventh-placed finish in an open class event at Narromine last week.
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Narromine trainer Wayne Collison nominated A Martin Placepick while Sea Lady from the Coonabarabran stables of Wayne Martyn is also in the mix.
Scone based trainer, Jeremy Gask is also in the running after nominating his "enigma" Weather Channel for the feature.
"He can be a bit of an enigma but in saying that, he's a lovely, sound horse that enjoys his racing," Gask told Racing NSW.
"He is consistent but during a race, the rider needs to let the horse decide what to do; you can't force the issue. He gets back and needs to be buried in a field and has also been troubled by drawing bad barriers."
The cup headlines Friday's eight-race showcase meeting.
The $50,000 Montrose Mudgee Cup Day Sprint Showcase (1200m) attracted 15 nominations also.
Among those are the Clint Lundholm-trained Good Time Charlie while Wellington trainer Garry McCarney has put forward a newcomer to his stable, Spinning Gold.
There is also a strong hometown feel to the nominations for the sprint feature, with Cheryl Crockett's Bravissimo, Gayna Williams' Beeokay, and Vineyard from Mack Griffiths' stables all in the running, alongside former Mudgee trainer Cameron Crockett's hope Ori On Fire.
Final fields are released on Wednesday.
