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By John Curtis

Hawkesbury boss James Heddo says the addition of Big Dance eligibility to the Group 3-Richmond Club Hawkesbury Gold Cup has given the feature extra focus.

The $250,000 race headlines a huge 10-race metropolitan stand-alone program on Saturday, celebrating the 20th anniversary.

“There’s no doubt our Cup is now an even bigger carrot for trainers with an eye on the $3 million Big Dance at Royal Randwick in November,” Heddo said today. “Both races are over 1600 metres.”

Classy galloper My Oberon (Chad Schofield) - is one of 22 entries for Saturday's Richmond Club Hawkesbury Gold Cup. Image by Bradley Photographers

Hawkesbury Race Club received 212 entries for the meeting, which features three $250,000 Group 3s – the Elite Sand & Soil Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) for three-year-olds and Pioneer Services Hawkesbury Crown (1300m) for fillies and mares, along with the Cup – and $200,000 Listed-Hawkesbury XXXX Gold Rush (1100m) for the speedsters.

The St Johns Park Bowling Club 2YO Clarendon Stakes (1400m) adds further lustre to the card. “Very happy with the entries,” Heddo said.

“The Gold Cup again will be a great race, whilst the Guineas is a pre-cursor to Brisbane winter features for the three-year-olds, and the Crown looks like being a beauty, having drawn 31 nominations.

“And the 2YO Clarendon has shown in the past that it can throw up a top horse or two of the future.”

The Cup drew 22 entries, the Guineas 23, Gold Rush 21 and Clarendon Stakes 15.

Nominations for both the Clarendon and Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m) – which currently holds 12 entries – have been extended until 11am on Tuesday.

The rail will be in the TRUE position, and the track was rated a Heavy 8 today following 64mm of rain in the previous 24 hours.

“However, it is fine here today and, being inland, we have escaped bigger totals which have been recorded on the coast,” Heddo said.

Pending acceptances on Wednesday morning, TAB.com.au has issued early markets on the four Hawkesbury features.

Summer Cup winner Tavi Time heads Cup betting at $3.50 ahead of Provincial-Midway Championships Final winner Matcha Latte ($4.50).

Ciaron Maher’s talented filly Snitzanova, already a dual Group 2 and 3 winner this season, is $4.50 favourite for the Guineas.

Kiwi mare Belclare at $3.50 heads the Crown market, whilst last year’s Golden Slipper runner-up Coleman (a new addition to the Chris Waller stable) and Dragonstone dispute favoritism at $4.50 for the Gold Rush.

To view the Hawkesbury nominations CLICK HERE