Finn McCool saluted in the 1860m feature last year at just his second for Smith after being acquired from the Darren Weir stable.

The Avoca Cup was the Irish-bred galloper's first Australian win.

Finn McCool went on to have an expansive campaign, with a series of strong performances in country cups.

The now six-year-old won the Penshurst Cup on Boxing Day and also ran forward races in the Bordertown Cup (third) and Great Western Cup (third), and just finished outside the top three in the St Arnaud Cup and Edenhope Cup.

Finn McCool has not raced since April and is among 30 nominations for Saturday's Avoca Cup.

They include another former Weir import in Loresho from the Warrnambool stable of Matthew Williams.

Loresho has been in Australia since early 2017, but has not shown a lot in that time with a third at Moonee Valley in August two years ago his only placing.

The nine-year-old has been raced only sparingly over the past four years.

He resumed for Williams in June after almost two seasons off the scene and has had five starts.

As well as shooting for a second consecutive Avoca Cup, Dane Smith also has his sights on two cups in as many weeks.

He has a second entry in Tre Dieci, which took out the Murtoa Cup on Saturday.

Penny To Sell (Gunbower) and Not To Know (Manangatang) are others last-start cup winners.

Avoca Shire Turf Club has programmed seven races for Saturday.