A field of 15 spring stayers do battle in the 2021 Newcastle Gold Cup on Friday chasing a ballot exemption into next month’s Group 1 The Metropolitan at Royal Randwick.

Berdibek headlines the 2021 Newcastle Gold Cup field facing off on Friday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Group 3 $250,000 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) headlines a top day’s racing at Newcastle Racecourse and the field is led by the in-form John O’Shea-trained Berdibek.

The French-bred son of Dark Angel may be an eight-year-old, but the classy grey is in top form chasing a third win on the trot after completing the Rowley Mile – Wyong Gold Cup double.

He carried 56.5kg to victory from barrier 14 of 14 at Wyong over 2100m on September 3 and is currently paying $4.80 in the Newcastle Gold Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au to cart an extra two kilograms to victory on Friday.

Christian Reith comes aboard for the ride from barrier 11 on the hard-to-beat market mover.

Berdibek is now equal in Newcastle Gold Cup betting with Harpo Marx ($4.80) who also chases a hat-trick in the feature.

Jumping from gate four, the Bjorn Baker-trained Galileo six-year-old won over 2400m at Randwick with a hefty 62.6kg on his back in early August before a narrower win at Kembla Grange last time out defeating Spirit Ridge in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2000m).

With winning form up to 2500m the step back-up in distance should suit in the Newcastle Gold Cup and Harpo Marx goes up from 53kg to 56kg.

Despite the size of the field just one other runner is currently under double-figures for the win with Luncies ($5) looking to hand local horseman Kris Lees with back-to-back Newcastle Gold Cup victories.

Last spring Lees took out the event with Mugatoo, subsequent winner of this year’s $5 million The All-Star Mile at The Valley.

Drawn midfield in gate seven, Iffraaj grey Luncies boasts a 50% winning strike rate to date having won from of his 10 starts.

His latest effort was a seventh in the Premier’s Cup behind Harop Marx, a performance that saw him only two lengths beaten ahead of the rematch on Friday.

Other notable Newcastle Gold Cup hopes in the mix include 2021 ATC Derby hero Quick Thinker ($10), the Chris Waller-trained Wyong Gold Cup runner-up Criminal Code ($10) and Matthew Dunn’s Ad Valorem seven-year-old Laure Me In ($17) with previous winning form at the track.

The Newcastle Gold Cup is set to run as Newcastle Race 7 at 4:40pm (AEST) on Friday with the latest markets from Ladbrokes.com.au available in full here.

2021 Newcastle Gold Cup Field & Barriers

Table Credit: Racing Australia.