Horse Racing

One of the best early year provincial Cup clashes is set to run next Thursday, January 12, with the 2012 Gosford Gold Cup, nominations for which were taken by Racing NSW today.

Summer Cup winner Yulalona is one of the top 2012 Gosford Gold Cup nominees

This year 19 early entries were nominated for the $125,000 Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2100m), including last year’s third placegetter Alexander Of Hales.

Twelve months ago veteran Danehill stallion Alexander Of Hales finished two lengths away third to winner Keepin’ The Dream in the Gosford Gold Cup, a brave finish considering the Chris Waller-trained stayer was blocked for a run throughout.

Waller also prepared last year’s second placed Strike One, and along with Alexander Of Hales has also nominated Altered Boy and Wazn as he looks to atone and take out the feature this year.

Alexander Of Hales was last seen finishing seventh beaten four lengths by Straight Albert in the Listed Tattersalls Club Cup (2095m) at Warwick Farm on January 2 and will need to improve significantly if they are to turn the tables next Thursday with their last-start conqueror also featuring among the Gosford Gold Cup 2012 entries.

Guy Walter’s Magic Albert four-year-old Straight Albert posted their third win on the trot with their gritty Tattersalls Club Cup win, the consistent galloper out to secure their third Cup victory in four starts next week having also won the Goulburn Cup back in November.

The horses that finished second, third and fourth respectively behind Straight Albert in the Tatt’s Club Cup last Monday – the David Payne-trained Winning Glory, John O’Shea’s Winter Cup winner Legsman and the Gai Waterhouse-trained Group 2 Shannon Stakes winner during the spring King Lionheart – have also all been nominated for the Gosford Gold Cup.

Other notable Gosford Gold Cup nominees for 2012 include Peter Moody’s classy Zabeel mare Zoomania who easily defeated her rivals by five lengths in the Joe Brown Handicap (2000m) at Caulfield on Boxing Day, and the Peter Snowden-trained Yulalona last seen taking out the Group 3 Summer Cup (2400m) at Rosehill.

Gosford Gold Cup weights will be released shortly, followed by the final field of acceptors early next week.

Stay tuned to Races.com.au for all the Gosford Cup updates and when you are ready to trade in the long lines and poor prices on offer at the land-based bookies, visit our preferred online bookmaker Luxbet.

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2012 Gosford Gold Cup Nominations

Gosford – 12/01/2012