THE three jumping stars of the Warrnambool May Carnival are set to tackle two major features in Ballarat on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Galleywood Hurdle winner Stand To Gain is nominated for the $100,000 Australian Hurdle, 3400m.
Grand Annual Steeplechase winner Regina Coeli and Brierly Steeplechase victor Thubiaan are among entries for the $100,000 Australian Steeplechase, 3400m.
Trained by Ciaron Maher at Warrnambool, Regina Coeli is the form chaser of the season.
The six-year-old mare has had almost a faultless preparation, with three wins in five starts over the fences.
Maher set her for the elusive Warrnambool double – the Brierly and Grand Annual.
She came up short with a fourth to Thubiaan in the Brierly, but then put in a masterful display two days later in the Grand Annual.
Another clash between Regina Coeli and US-bred Thubiaan from the Eric Musgrove barn is a tantalising prospect.
But the seven-year-old Thubiaan is a natural, with wins in the Von Doussa at Oakbank and the Brierly.
Jervois, which finished third in the Von Doussa and second in the Brierly for Warrnambool trainer Jarrod McLean, is also among 10 nominations for the Australian Steeplechase along with the Gai Waterhouse-trained Valediction.
Stand To Gain broke through for his first feature jumps event in the Galleywood.
He is joined by the Dan O’Sullivan duo of Beer Garden and Tuscan Fire in the 11 nominations.
Racing Victoria has extended nominations for the Australian Hurdle and Australian Steeplechase until Wednesday.
These races were originally scheduled for Sandown on Saturday, but were transferred to Ballarat after the Sandown track was closed for remedial work to the racing surface.