Northam, who trains at Scone, won this event last year with Prior Baron, which, incidentally won a 1200 metre Handicap at Randwick last week.

Dubai Direction was beaten in a photo finish by a head at Muswellbrook on a slow track on May 22 when resuming from a three month break. His only win in eight starts was at Skellatar Park.

The Cup has attracted a strong field with three last winners in the race. Local trainer Jan Bowen will saddle up last start Scone winner Eminent Lady. Other last start winners are Steve Hodge’s Blue Groper and Michael Dwyer’s The Mongoose.

Rosehill trainer Pam Webber is making her first visit to Muswellbrook for some time with several runners, and has Second String in the cup.

Muswellbrook Race Club has been inundated with a mammoth 230 nominations for the seven races programmed. This will result in divisions in several races, and the number of events could be extended to 10.

The 1450 metre Maiden attracted 42 horses, while 39 youngsters nominated for the two-year-old Handicap (1000m).

Club secretary Sue Bayliss said the club hoped to give as many horses as possible a start, especially those gallopers which have been balloted out at recent meetings.

Up and coming young jockeys will be out to impress in the $10,000 Rating 77 Handicap which will feature apprentice riders only.

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Local trainer Marcus Wilson went within a neck of winning a double at the Randwick meeting on Monday last.

Wilson saddled up equal 4.00 favourite Carrizo Creek, winner of the $45,000 P.J. Bell Country Championship over 1400 metres.

In the next race his other runner at the meeting, Helene Brilliant (Blake Shinn) was beaten in a photo finish by Parfumier in the Coogee Welter Handicap (1300m).

An ex-Hong Kong galloper, Carrizo Creek was having his sixth start for Wilson, who has high praise for top Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman.

“It was a 10 out of 10 ride by Hugh,” the trainer said.

Carrizo Creek had previously won five races before being acquired by Wilson, whose stables are situated at Glennie’s Creek, south of Muswellbrook.

Wilson plans to give the 8-year-old gelding a brief let up before his next start. “He needs about two or three weeks between races now,” the trainer added.

Five-year-old gelding Helene Brilliant is also an ex-Hong Kong galloper.