The feature event running at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday, the $100,000 Listed Stayer’s Cup (3200m) originally only drew five horses when nominations closed on Tuesday.

After the diminutive number of nominees, the Australian Turf Club (ATC) extended the 2011 Stayer’s Cup entries until 11am (AEST) Wednesday.

There is the option for club officials to abandon any race in New South Wales if there are less than eight acceptors, but even if there are seven or fewer runners in the Stayer’s Cup the ATC are unlikely to abandon the feature.

“We will try to run the race if at all possible,” ATC racing manager Colin Tuck confirmed.

“It’s only right that we keep faith with owners and trainers.

“Obviously a race like this (3200m) doesn’t come along all that often, but we’ve had a 2800 metre race at Canterbury last week as well as the Winter Cup and the McKell Cup as lead-up races.

“The Queensland Cup is run over two miles next week and maybe there’s a bit of competition there but that was the case last year.

“Still, maybe it’s something we can look at.”

The $150,000 Listed Queensland Cup (3200m) runs at Eagle Farm on Winter Stakes Day, the final Queensland Winter Carnival meeting for another season.

Late nominees included the Chris Waller-trained duo of Our Cannavaro and Patrician’s Glory, who join star stablemate Strike One.

Waller has a stranglehold over the staying races and horses in Sydney, with out-and-out staying thoroughbreds becoming a rarity in the state’s racing scene.

In this year’s Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m), Waller prepared two of only four Sydney-trained horses in contention for the feature with winner Stand To Gain.

The Hawk Wing five-year-old managed to beat home Gai Waterhouse’s Older Than Time in the Sydney Cup this year, Waller having also been represented by Danehill Dancer seven-year-old Strike One who finished six lengths away seventh.

Strike One will be vying for back-to-back Stayer’s Cup wins after their one and a quarter length success over the Gwenda Markwell-trained Lang in the race 12 months ago.

The 2010 Stayer’s Cup win was the last for imported galloper Strike One who has failed to finish better than second in their following 11 runs.

Most recently Strike One finished four lengths away fourth to Legsman in the Listed Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill on June 4 and Waller is hopeful they can stop their loosing sequence before it reaches a dozen on Saturday.

The Matthew Hyland-trained Cranbourne galloper Phaze Action was another late Stayer’s Cup entry and is a previous two-mile winner having saluted in the 2009 Andrew Ramsden Stakes over 3200m at Flemington.

Other notable Stayer’s Cup entries also include the Heath Conners-trained Davcon; rising nine-year-old galloper and 2008 Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap winner Newport; and Gai Waterhouse’s progressive four-year-old Reuben Percival.

The Stayer’s Cup is one of the final off-season black-type races in New South Wales before the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival kicks off.

January kicks off with the Perth Cup on New Year?s Day and worth $400,000 in prize money, the event is attracting Paul Perry and his AJC Metropolitan winner Newport.

On the same day, Flemington will host the Group Three Standish Handicap, a 1200m sprint worth $200,000 in prize money.

On January 9, Caulfield will host the 1100m Group Three Rubiton Stakes while Moonee Valley will offer the $180,000 Carlyon Stakes on January 22.

January 30 is a huge race day at Flemington with the Lightning Stakes Day offering over $900,000 in prize money.

The day kicks off with the Group One Lightning Stakes worth half a million dollars in prize money and is followed by the Group Three CS Hayes Stakes and The Vanity worth $200,000 each.

Hobart will also participate in the New Year festivities with the Group Three Tasmanian Derby held on January 30.

This 2200m event is a set weight race for three year olds is another $200,000 staying event.

With the help of local trainers Graeme and Deb Rogerson, the five year old is hoping to redeem himself after a disappointing spring campaign which saw him finish eight in this year’s Melbourne Cup.

Purchased by Lloyd Williams after his 2008 NZ Derby win, C’est La Guerre finished an outstanding third in the 2008 Melbourne Cup however since then his greatest race has been a fourth in the Group Two Makybe Diva Stakes in his first race of the 2009 campaign.

Nominations for the illustrious race have peaked at 168 which includes 2009 winner Spin Around, Mr Tipsy, NZ Cup winner My Scotsgrey, Queensland Derby winner Court Ruler and Sterling Prince.

Newcastle stayer Newport was expected to fly to New Zealand to compete in the Auckland Cup however his trainer Paul Berry is eager to send the gelding over to Western Australia for the Perth Cup on New Year’s Day.

If the seven year old makes the journey to Western Australia, he will join All American, Ortensia, Sniper?s Bullet, Largo Lad and Gold Salute which are already in Perth for the Railway Stakes.

The grey gelding had a good season last year after winning the Metropolitan Handicap however only managed to place tenth behind Shocking in this year?s Melbourne Cup.

Closer to home, Perry will also see Prince Braeman and Guderian race at Rosehill in the coming weeks.

After three consecutive wins in last year?s campaign, Prince Braeman will be entered into the Jacob?s Creek Sparkling Moscato Handicap (1200m).

The five year old gelding won by more than four lengths on a heavy track at Randwick in May and seven days later he managed to win by more than five lengths at Rosehill.

Four year old Guderian will run in the Paul Goode Benefit Handicap (1500m) as his fourth run from a spell.

The rest of the field were removed from the gates stalling the start of the race.

The eight-year-old Zipping was extremely distressed, crawling from Gate 5 through to Gate 2, injuring himself, removing the $6.50 chance from not only the Mackinnon but also for next Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup, for which he was a $17 chance. Trainer Lloyd Williams now has only one Cup winner in C’est La Guerre ($31).

Newport, in the gate beside Zipping was also injured as Zipping kicked out at the rival but continued on to run.

Zipping lay motionless for minutes before finally rising and leaving the field hopping on one leg in a devastating late scratching.