DESPITE a heavy 10 rating the Bathurst Cup day has still attracted an excellent field of nominations for this Sunday's meeting at Tyers Park.
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The day is headlined by the second running of The Panorama (1,300 metres), which features $80,000 in prizemoney, and has attracted 31 nominations.
Twenty horses have also been nominated for the $40,000 Bathurst Cup (1,800m), including several classy entrants from the recent Dubbo and Wellington Cup events.
Bathurst Thoroughbred Racing manager Michelle Tarpenning has been buoyed by the 127 nominations across the meeting, especially in the face of recent downpours the track has received.
"We're really excited for Sunday and fingers crossed we don't get too much more rain," she said.
"The numbers prove that The Panorama's concept is working. I've heard nothing but positive feedback from owners and trainers about the concept of this race and the level of interest that it's generated has been very exciting for the club. With the additional prizemoney it's really positive for owners and trainers in our area."
The club had hopes that the creation of The Panorama would attract runners for the upcoming $1.5 million The Kosciuszko, and while that hasn't unfolded they're still confident the race has a big future ahead of it.
"It's slow steps but you need a vision to start with but the prizemoney increase shows that Racing NSW are fully supportive of this concept," Tarpenning said.
"Over the years our aim is to grow this race and see that come to fruition."
There are six Bathurst nominations among the field for The Panorama.
Leading the way in that group is Gayna Williams' returning Country Championship Final contender Healing Hands.
The I Am Invincible gelding is back for his first start since the April event at Randwick, looking to build on that superb campaign which included three successive wins.
Roy McCabe's I Stole Your Love and Gaze Beyond are among the nominations, as is Dean Mirfin's Skipper Joe and Worldly Pleasure along with Paul Theobald's Attilius.
Acceptances for the Bathurst Cup meeting will be made on Thursday morning.