The $125,000 bet365 Kyneton Cup is the highlight of a nine-event program on Wednesday.
The 2020 Cup meeting highlights Kyneton and Hanging Rock Racing Club’s season, with the district club’s premier day sandwiched between the Melbourne Cup and Oaks Day at Flemington.
Last November, the Patrick Payne-trained Double You Tee seemingly had the Kyneton Cup wrapped up before a blistering finish by outsider Midterm took out the feature event in a photo-finish at the end of 2000m.
Double You Tee, a very consistent middle distance galloper, will be looking to make amends for last year’s narrow defeat, and the six-year-old carries 58.5kg and will again be ridden by Billy Egan.
Double You Tee has a career record of eights wins and 14 placings from 35 starts.
New Zealander Our Big Mike comes off an impressive win in the 2040m Moe Cup on October 17, leading throughout to score by nearly two lengths.
Our Big Mike, who was third in the 2018 Kyneton Cup, is a bold frontrunner and will be ridden again by veteran Noel Callow, who was on board in the Moe win.
Top horseman Brett Scott is training Our Big Mike on this trip to Victoria and a repeat of the Moe run should see him in the finish.
The eight-year-old will be having his 41st start, looking to add to his record of 11 wins and numerous placings.
Premier Australian trainer Chris Waller is sending topweight Captain Cook on an expedition to Kyneton, following two runs in from a spell.
Michael Walker will ride the topweight who carries 62.5kg from barrier two.
Seven of the 11 runners in the Kyneton Cup, race 8 at 4.40pm, are on the minimum weight of 56kg.
Kyneton trainer George Osborne has a large contingent of runners on Wednesday.
Coming off a close second placing in the Benalla Cup, ultra consistent nine-year-old Reine Happy will be chasing his 14th win for the local stable.
Apprentice Zoe Lloyd, sister of the in-form Madison Lloyd, will claim 4kg on Reine Happy, reducing his weight to 60kg in the BM70 event over 1450m.
Fine weather is anticipated, and it is unfortunate that COVID-19 protocols mean spectators cannot attend the time-honoured Kyneton meeting.
Attendances on Kyneton Cup Day are restricted to licensed industry participants, essential staff and regional staff with a horse running on the day.
