The nominations for the $75,000 City Handicap at the Albury Gold Cup Carnival have been released, setting the stage for an exciting race on March 15, 2024. This 1175-meter sprint, now in its distinguished history, has drawn attention from trainers and racing enthusiasts alike, signaling a promising edition of the event.
Notable past winners of the City Handicap include Asgarda, who triumphed in 2023 under the guidance of trainer Doug Gorrel. Other prominent names on the honour roll are Flying Sultan and Espirito, both trained by Mitch Beer and Paul Murray respectively. The race also saw the remarkable Mount Horeb, trained by the late George Osborne, clinch victory three times in a row between 2019 and 2021.
Albury Racing Club’s CEO, Steve Hetherton, emphasized the significance of the City Handicap, referring to it as one of the most sought-after races on the SDRA racing calendar. He noted, “The City Handicap is certainly a popular race and, talking to trainers, it’s a race they want to win.” Hetherton highlighted the race’s impact on the careers of sprinters, stating, “After winning the City Handicap, quite often they go on to win even better races.” He cited Mnementh, who won the City Handicap in 2022 before going on to achieve victory in the $200,000 Wagga Town Plate a year later.
The Albury Racing Club faced significant challenges last year when the Cup meeting was cancelled due to unsafe track conditions following over 40mm of rain within 24 hours. This unfortunate situation resulted in an estimated loss of $500,000 for the club, excluding prizemoney. Despite these setbacks, Hetherton expressed optimism about this year’s Cup, noting that early support has been encouraging. “Hospitality bookings are up on last year, which is always a good sign,” he mentioned, adding that pre-purchased general admission tickets have also seen a slight increase.
The nominations for the $200,000 Albury Gold Cup are expected to be released on Monday, with the final field set to be declared on Wednesday morning, followed by the traditional barrier draw at the Commercial Club Albury. Hetherton anticipates strong participation from leading training stables across Australia, particularly from Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. The duo recently announced their intention to target the Albury Cup with their horse, Bear On The Loose, who narrowly missed out on victory at Royal Randwick Racecourse in his last outing.
With anticipation building, Hetherton remarked, “All indications are that some of the biggest trainers in both Melbourne and Sydney have the Albury Cup on their radar.” He expects both the Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher stables to submit nominations for the Cup as well.
A number of competitors who participated in last Sunday’s Canberra Cup are also expected to make their way to Albury. Additionally, several high-profile jockeys will be featured on Albury Gold Cup Day. Leading Sydney jockey Tyler Schiller has already confirmed his attendance. Schiller boasts a successful track record at the Albury Gold Cup, having won the race twice; his victories came aboard Harmony Rose in 2022 and Fawkner Park two years prior.
The City Handicap is shaping up to be a remarkable event, not only for its competitive field but also for the potential it holds for emerging and established sprinters alike. As the Albury Gold Cup Carnival approaches, all eyes will be on the track as trainers and horses prepare for what promises to be an exhilarating race day.
