Arguably the local club’s biggest day on the calendar, the Benalla Gold Cup also means the world to the local trainers who dream of etching their name in the history books.
For Benalla trainer Russell Osborne, the memorable nine-race card — which features the Gold Cup (2046m) — raises the atmosphere around the Rose City.
“It’s probably one of the biggest days racing-wise and town-wise,” he said.
Osborne will be eyeing off success in the $125,000 Gold Cup with nominated runner Dancing Duck.
However, a long list of fellow nominated runners and a field restriction of 12 could see Osborne’s six-year-old mare run in the BM64 race six event.
Regardless of what race Dancing Duck slots into, Osborne believes his mare should relish the wet conditions with the track rated a Heavy 10 on Tuesday.
“She loves the wet, she could run in the cup but I dare say she’ll run in the weaker races," Osborne said.
“Everyone loves to win their home cup, she’d be a long shot to go in that, but I dare say she wouldn’t get a run in it if the odds are good.
“In the 2000 metres she’d be pretty hard to beat, and that goes for Noble Nightowl as well.
“They’re both going in with a bit of form and both ran second at their last starts. Up a little bit in grade, but being on their home track they’re expected to run pretty well.”
Dancing Duck is coming off back-to-back seconds and a win looks certain to be around the corner.
Osborne hoped his stayer will be able to make the final field for the highly-sought after Gold Cup.
“Dancing Duck absolutely loves the wet and you’re probably not going to get too many cups that are going to be wet, so that’s the thing that we’re juggling at the moment — do we have a crack at the surface that she likes, but she might be well outclassed,” he said.
“If we run in the 2000m race we can win that, but you can win that any time of the year.
“You only get one chance to have a go at the cup.”
Osborne has nominated a couple of Dancing Duck’s stable mates for Friday’s race meeting.
One in particular is Onemorekimmie.
The four-year-old mare is yet to break her maiden status from six career starts, but Osborne will be hoping that the wins begin on Friday.
Nominated in race two (1206m), Onemorekimmie is coming off an eighth-place finish last-start at Wodonga.
The lightly-raced sprinter has one placing from five attempts on wet ground, but trialled well on rain-affected tracks last year.
“She’s only had about six starts, ran two fourths and a second,” Osborne said.
“I don’t know whether she quite handles the wet like the other two do, she’ll be there or thereabouts.”
The fields for Friday’s race meeting will be finalised on Wednesday.
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