Cup winners are littered through Sunday’s Guyra Cup field and all will be desperate to add another piece of silverware to the cabinet.
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The $25,000 Watson, McNamara and Watt 1400 metre Guyra Cup has again drawn a sensational field as part of the eight-race meeting at the Armidale Jockey Club.
Armidale horse Latitat headlines the field with the Stafford Wain-trained gelding shooting for the remarkable feat of three cup wins in a month.
The six-year-old will have to do it carrying an extra three-and-a-half kilograms than he carried in last Friday’s Quirindi Cup win.
It will be somewhat offset by the one-and-a-half kilogram claim by apprentice jockey Kasie Stanley, but in doing so loses the experience of Leanne Henry, who produced two extraordinary rides in Latitat’s past two wins.
Sue Grills’ duo of Monashee Woods and Jet Style pose huge threats to Latitat, while Craig Martin’s Devilgate Road will be looking to bounce back following a disappointing Walcha Cup showing and Paddy Cunningham’s Miss Caitlyn has been in hot form in 2015 as well.
Armidale Jockey Club secretary Jim Dedes said he is expecting a fierce Guyra Cup.
“It’s a top field,” he said.
“Miss Caitlyn had a good win here last start.
“Devilgate Road will be hard to beat.
“Monashee Woods was fourth in his last start at Randwick.
“Then you’ve got Latitat who has just won Walcha and Quirindi Cups, it doesn’t get much better than that.”
Racing NSW has put on an extra race on Sunday after a number meeting were washed out last weekend.
Aside from the Guyra Cup, punters will also have a keen eye on the Armidale Cup Prelude, which Dedes believes could be dominated by local horses.
“Dusty’s Felt [reigning Armidale Cup winner] has been knocking on the door again,” he said.
“The other two Grills horses, Luna Lang and Kingston Time have won their last two.
“Ken Martin’s Go Dragon has won its last three.”
The Armidale track is in superb condition, but rain forecast for the weekend may slow it up slightly.
“The track is looking beautiful,” Dedes said.
“It was a good three this morning [Thursday].
“A little bit of rain won’t hurt it, but hopefully it doesn’t get too much.”