Now a 10-year-old, last year's winner Daka's Gem is racing in super form on the country cup circuit _ impressive enough to give the feature event a massive shake on Wednesday.

Daka's Gem has had a third in the Moe Cup, third in the Bendigo Cup and second in the Kyneton Cup at his past three starts.

Sentire won the cup two years ago and then finished second 12 months ago.

No one has saluted in the race twice since the George Hanlon-trained Royal Caliph in 1998 and 2000.

Ballarat Turf Club yesterday received 37 entries for the Sportsbet.com.au Ballarat Cup, which carries $10,000 more stakemoney than last year.

BTC chief executive Shane Brennan believes the quality of nominations is the best in five years.

He attributes this to the Bendigo Cup now being held before the Melbourne Cup _ instead of a week before the Ballarat Cup.

Brennan said the former schedule gave stayers two options after the Melbourne Cup Carnival and the bulk of other leading country cups.

He said the new-look calendar meant the Ballarat Cup was now the only option on the provincial circuit for stayers still chasing a spring feature victory.

The Mick Price-trained Miss Maren is the class nomination.

Her past two starts have produced a third in New Zealand's group one Kelt Capital, 2040m, and second in the group one Mackinnon Stakes, 2000m.

Miss Maren is engaged in the group two $350,000 Sandown Classic, 2400m.

The Ballarat Cup has also attracted Melbourne Cup runners Gallions Reach and Ista Kareem, and country cups king Bourbon-streetblues.

Ista Kareem was an unplaced equal favourite in last year's Ballarat Cup.

Bourbonstreetblues is racing in career-best form, with victories in the Murtoa, Horsham, Terang and Kyneton cups in his past four starts.

Bart Cummings has nominated Geelong Cup runner-up Dandaad, which was vying to be the master trainer's fourth runner in this year's Melbourne Cup before failing in the Lexus Stakes on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

BALLARAT Turf Club is irrigating the Dowling Forest Racecourse racing surface every second day with the aim of having a "dead3" rating on Wednesday.

Shane Brennan said a good fall of rain and cooler weather on Monday would be an ideal preparation.

Monday's forecast is "a shower or two" with maximum temperature of 24 degrees.

Tuesday: shower or two. Maximum: 23.

Wednesday (Cup Day): Sunny. Maximum 29.