One of the key support races on the Villiers Stakes Day program in Sydney on Saturday is the Christmas Cup 2013 where a small eight horse field of stayers is set to face off.

Top 2013 Christmas Cup hope Hoylonny comes off a nice ATC Cup second from a fortnight ago. Photo: Steve Hart.

Held this year at the Kensington track after the course proper at Randwick failed to recover from a recent track upgrade, the $100,000 Listed Inglis Christmas Cup (2400m) is shaping up as an interesting showdown this year.

Heading the field and weights on 59kg is the Joe Pride-trained Maluckyday.

In their heyday the now seven-year-old son of Zabeel ran second to the French-trained Americain in the 2010 Melbourne Cup.

It’s been a long time since the ageing gelding was at their peak however with Maluckyday not having won a race since the Lexus Stakes three years ago.

They come off a credible fourth however behind the Gai Waterhouse-trained Perth Cup chance Travolta in the Listed ATC Cup (2000m) at Rosehill two weeks ago.

Also coming via the ATC Cup are fellow Christmas Cup hopes including Hoylonny (2^nd) and Secessio (3^rd).

Hoylonny goes up from 57kg to 58kg and will jump from gate two with Peter Robl to ride and is one of three chances for Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller.

Waller will also saddle-up the in-form Secessio (barrier eight) who won their last start over the mile and a half during the winter, as well as Permit (barrier four).

Permit ran a disappointing eighth in the ATC Cup but gets the chance to bounce back here over more distance.

The other big name acceptor is then the Gerald Ryan-trained Martinvast.

The imported French galloper is on a short back-up having run a nice third at the same track over 1800m behind Solemn last weekend.

They will be fourth up for the season and look ready to step up to the 2400m here where they get a chance to be very competitive.

Rounding out the Christmas Cup field are then Gosford galloper Frozen Rope, French Gift and the Michael Moroney-trained Garud who will also be accepted for the Listed Werribee Cup (2600m) in Victoria on Sunday.

See below for the full Christmas Cup 2013 final field, barriers, jockeys and weights.

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2013 Christmas Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw

Kensington Race 4 – 3:10pm (AEST) – 14/12/2013