Port Macquarie gallopers are among 13 nominations for the $11,000 Hastings Co-op Woop Woop Cup (1800m).
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The event is at Wauchope Jockey Club's home track off Beechwood Road, Wauchope, on Boxing Day.
Port gallopers are among 53 nominations for the five-race card, with gallopers coming from many districts to be part of the festive atmosphere and the popular Fashions On The Field at the picturesque country track.
The Port gallopers are Blinkin Snazzy, trained by Tom Higgins, Camelot Gold (Margaret De Gonneville), Condover Hall (Neil Godbolt), Dangerous Dan (Matthew McCudden) and Mister Hootabell (Peter Cheers).
Others come from Wauchope (Achilles Pride and Khorloo), Grafton (El Teniente), Gosford (Fresh Hope),Kempsey (Perkins and Waikeke Island), Cessnock (Thomson River) and Taree (Towel Token).
Wauchope trainer Colt Prosser won the cup last year with Raining On Sunday and had three other winners-Metre Eater, Achilles Pride and Miss Mac-on the card in a meritorious day.
He is no stranger to winning the cup in recent years, scoring with Rigamarole in 2013 and 2014, and Steel Allure in 2012.
He has Achilles Pride nominated this year but admits its program may be a bit short for it to be declared a good hope.
"I have been looking for races to fit him for the cup but it might be too late," said Mr Prosser.
A guide to its chances could be gleaned from Achilles Pride's run in the Class Three Handicap over 1250m at Manning Valley Race Club's meeting at Taree.
Higgins is no stranger to winning the cup, having Sydney and Brisbane winner Sky Biscuit scoring in the event in 2007.
Then there is Godbolt. He won the cup with Windon in 2008.
Both trainers are certainly live hopes this year because their charges should cope well with the distance and the uphill battle in the straight.
Blinkin Snazzy comes off two seconds recently and was in the Summer Cup at Taree on Sunday in a race over 1600m.
Five-year-old gelding Condover Hall (NZ) is owned by Godbolt and his wife Maxine and three starts back won over 2000m on its home track and since has notched a fourth over 1800m at Coffs Harbour and a 4.15 lengths fifth to Controlthewitness over 1900m at Kempsey on December 16.
Mister Hootabell from the Peter Cheers stable has registered seven wins and will be having its 100th start in the cup, it being hard fit as a seven-year-old gelding.
Three starts back it scored over 2000m at Bowraville, likes to bowl along up front and is tough.
Any one of the visitors can run well and all eyes will be on what mounts Port Macquarie 52-year-old jockey Peter Graham takes as he is rated the 'king' of the Wauchope race circuit.
At the club's last meeting at home, he rode four of the five winners.
There is plenty on offer to whet your appetite at a holiday venue which has plenty of social atmosphere.
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