The winner of the Prelude over 1600m is exempt from ballot for the $80,000 Gold Cup over 2000m on Sunday,August 21, with the winner of the prestigious cup automatically qualifying for the $160,000 Wyong Gold Cup over 2100m on September 2.

The big prizemoney,with other races on cup day having a minimum of $30,000 as “showcase” events, is bound to attract gallopers from afar.

Tuesday’s meeting has started the ball rolling with 177 nominations being received from local and distant stables.

The Victorian nomination is five-year-old gelding Lock And Load, trained at Mornington by Mitchell Beer and Max Hinton, it already on the Mid North Coast showing its colours with a win over 1315m at Coffs Harbour on July 24.

Another aiming high is five-year-old gelding Hargy, trained at Albury by John Taylor, it having a fourth behind The Cavalry over 1500m at Port Macquarie on July 29.

Hargy and  The Cavalry, trained at Kempsey by Tony Green, are also nominated for the Benchmark 55 Handicap over 2000m in case Hargy fails to get a start in the Benchmark 70 Handicap of the Prelude.

Another interesting nomination for the Prelude is five-year-old gelding Don’t Nicme which would give Hawkesbury trainer Mitch Newman his first runner at the Bushland Drive Racecourse,which like many courses in the area,have been hit by solid rain.

Don’t Nicme has won twice at 1600m, in heavy ground and last start was fifth over the distance behind Crown Moss in soft going at Wyong on July 26.

One that does appreciate rain-affected going is Wyong nine-year-old gelding Bonus Spin, trained by Jeff Englebrecht, which was second in heavy ground behind

Dowdstown Charlie over 2200m on the Beaumont track at Newcastle on July 23 and has a win at the track at the Prelude distance.

Another with four wins at the distance at the track is Gosford six-year-old mare Bettabet Red, trained by Fred Cowell, which was a good fifth behind Gold Horizon over 1610m in the $52,000 South Grafton Cup on July 10 and has won five of its eight races in soft-to heavy ground.

Taree trainer Ross Stitt is no stranger to winning country cups and he has eight-year-old gelding Wollartant ready to make its present felt after a good second on his home track behind Wyong galloper Bandit Bay over 1614m at Taree’s last meeting.

Kempsey gelding Malleable has been knocking on the door for a big win for trainer Barry Ratcliff and was a good fourth behind Stitt’s Single Spirit in the $25,200 Sawtell Cup at Coffs Harbour on July 24.

The most winning trainer at Taree in the last six months is Newcastle’s Paul Perry and he has nominated six-year-old gelding Quartermaster, which hasn’t been far away in its last two starts at Canterbury and has won three races at the distance,two of them in heavy ground.

Acceptances are taken on Friday.