Will Clarken’s City Of Marion Stakes winning mare Cavaloce is the highest-rated of the early entries for the Christmas Handicap 2016 in Adelaide on Boxing Day, December 26.

In-form local mare Cavaloce is the key 2016 Christmas Handicap nominee for the Adelaide Boxing Day feature race. Photo: Jenny Barnes.

Nominations for this summer’s $100,000 Listed Adelaide Galvanising Christmas Handicap (1200m) attracted 14 hopeful sprinters including a number of last start winners.

One of those is the in-form Cavaloce, the six-year-old daughter of Testa Rossa coming off a narrow victory from a wide barrier (12 of 12) in the Listed City Of Marion Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on December 10.

She returns to the same track and distance next Monday for the Boxing Day races in Adelaide chasing back-to-back black-type victories.

Her record over 1200m is strong with four wins and a second from eight starts and connections will be hoping for a more favourable barrier draw than last time out.

Clarken has also nominated for the consistent Mio Dio who won three on the trot before a last start fourth when only a length beaten in a Benchmark 90 over 1000m at Morphettville Parks last weekend.

The former Melbourne-trained God’s Own six-year-old has been at Morphettville’s course proper five times for three top three runs including a recent November 5 victory by two lengths carrying a hefty 58kg.

The sprinters that finished second and third behind Cavaloce in the City Of Marion Stakes are also nominated for a rematch in the Christmas Handicap with Lope De Capio (2^nd) and Mubakkir (3^rd) both among the early entries.

The Wayne Francis & Glen Kent-trained Lope De Vega four-year-old Lope De Capio was beaten only a neck last time out following a Morphettville win on November 26 over 1050m.

He is yet to win over 1200m, but after the wide run last time out from gate 11 shapes up as a danger again next week.

Mubakkir is prepared by local horseman Bill Papazaharoudakis, the nicely-bred Commands six-year-old having won four from 11 at the track with his latest win being under 58kg over the 1200m back in June.

Along with Cavaloce other sprinters looking for back-to-back wins if accepted into this year’s Christmas Handicap field include the Kym Hann-trained Bendigo raider Glenrowan Prince who is yet to race at the track and Royal Spinner for Bill Cerchi.

Other headliners in the mix include City Of Marion Stakes fourth-placegetter Casino Wizard, the returning Dick Leech-trained son of Reset Gallant Express from Darwin, Turffontein four-year-old Finke recently sent to star local trainer Phillip Stokes and the Robert Smerdon-trained Group 1 performed The Bowler.

Check out the official early Christmas Handicap 2016 nominations below, the final field and barriers set for release on Thursday December 22 followed by betting at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).

2016 Christmas Handicap Nominations

Morphettville Racecourse – 26/12/2016