When final acceptances are declared this morning, a crackerjack field is expected for the $7500 Tim Redfern’s Forbes Concrete and Landscaping Supplies Bedgerabong Picnic Cup (1400m) on Saturday.
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Bathurst trainer Paul Theobald nominated his brilliant sprinter Dragon’s Keep for both the Cup and 800 metre Clearview Bracelet.
Dragon’s Keep, a recent Wyong winner against top company, won the Bracelet last year humping a record weight of 72kg.
For this year the handicapper has given Dragon’s Keep massive weights, 74kg for the Cup and 75kg for the Bracelet.
Winner of over $170,000 prizemoney Dragon’s Keep has started 58 times but only once over 1400m when last in Sydney.
If Theobald elects to start in the Bracelet, Dragon’s Keep will need to break every weight carrying record in the book to beat the 2011 Bracelet winner Nanny Jenny and the 800m Parkes track record holder Dodge Tide.
Back to the Cup and there are many good chances amongst the nominations.
Sea Commands beat Rockbuster by a nose in the Geurie Cup and they are set to clash again.
Forbes trainer Frank Hayes has Chiasma working back to fitness after a short break.
Last spring Chiasma won three TAB meeting races in succession at Narromine, Dubbo and Warren.
At Warren, Chiasma beat a field of 15 in the Cotton Cup. Forbes based Stuart Brown is expected to ride Chiasma on Saturday.
Wyong trainer Glen Moore has Swindle nominated for the cup.
At the most recent outing Swindle finished fast on the outside to beat smart galloper Eureka Joh at Mudgee.
Another potential galloper nominated is Dr Remlap from the Connie Greig stable at Hawkesbury.
Connie Greig trained a winning double at the recent Wellington meeting, Cierto Segura and Reigns Above.
Poker Pro, as a 21.00 outsider, won the 2012 Bedgerabong Cup and is back to defend the title.
Trained at Cowra by Kevin White and ridden by Stewart Cole, Poker Pro shot to a big mid-race lead last year and wasn’t threatened in a runaway win over Orbit and the 2011 Cup winner Carry the Dance.
At the recent Geurie Picnics, Poker Pro ran a good third behind Sea Commands and Rockbuster.
Dubbo trainer Garry Lunn, who won the 2011 Bedgerabong Cup with Carry The Dance, has Rockbuster and To The Keeper nominated this year.
The most lightly raced horse in the Cup is Plaisance with three wins (including Sydney) from 15 starts.
Since joining the Steve Beattie stable at Condobolin, Plaisance has produced a couple of excellent runs including a third behind Fox Solid and Spectacular Iam at Wellington and a fourth behind Pennyforyathoughts in the Cowra Japan Cup.
From out west, Cobar trainer Wayne Prisk has the Hay Cup winner Teraset nominated.
A final preview will appear in Saturday’s Forbes Advocate.