Last year’s Wyong Gold Cup winner Destiny’s Kiss heads a strong line-up of nominations for the 2018 race to be run on Friday.
Trainer Joe Pride has given the 10-year-old gelding a similar preparation to 2017, running him in Saturday’s Group 3 Premier’s Cup, following a short let-up.
The renowned Cup specialist showed he can still match it in good company, taking out the Listed McKell Cup at Randwick on May 18 and running placings in Stayers and Winter Cups before spelling.
He finished second behind Harper’s Choice in the 2400m Winter Cup, with the Gerald Ryan trained gelding also nominated at Wyong.
Harper’s Choice was impressive taking out the Premier’s Cup Prelude at Rosehill on August 11 and will be one of the main contenders.
Testashadow, from the Portelli stable, is also among the 18 nominations, and is coming off a third in Saturday’s Premier’s Cup
Darren Weir could have his first Wyong Cup runner, with Mongolian Wolf a likely starter.
Raced by Australian Bloodstock, the five-year-old is a proven stayer claiming the Group 3 Frank Packer Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in April, with a win and two placings over 2000m and further since resuming.
James Cummings has nominated last start Mooney Valley winner Morton’s Fork, while the Waller stable has five horses nominated including Quick Defence, who was a last start winner at Rosehill over the 2000m.
Shalmaneser, trained by Richard Freedman, gained automatic entry following his impressive Taree Cup win, while Kim Waugh with Goathland and Damien Lane with All But Gone, will be keen to take out their home town Cup.
Kris Lees has decided not to start Sunday’s Cup Prelude winner Dubaiiinstyle, but will have another of his headline fillies Smart Melody resuming in the 1100m Benchmark 74.
The Listed Mona Lisa Stakes has also attracted strong nominations including the Waller trained Egg Tart, a last start Group 2 winner and multiple group winner Foxplay.
Full nominations for the meeting: https://racing.racingnsw.com.au/FreeFields/Nominations.aspx?Key=2018Aug31,NSW,Wyong
