In what is a disappointing field, in that only six horses accepted for the feature event, what the race lacks in numbers it makes up for in the interest with this exciting clash.

Add to it the Bathurst trained Moment of Clarity, who has a good record at the Mudgee track, and an upset could well be on the card, as is often the case in small fields.

Mudgee trainer Tracey Bartley said he could not be happier with Slick Sniper who paid his way on a recent Brisbane winter carnival campaign.

He returned from a spell to run 5th, just 2.9 lenhths from the winner, at Eagle Farm on Anzac Day and then ran 4th to Three Swallows and only beaten a length at Doomben.

He was then an impressive winner over 1600 metres at the Sunshine Coast before finishing a half length fourth to Bereena over 1600 metres at Eagle Farm on their big Group One program on June 6.

His only run since returning was on a bog track at Rosehill last weekend when 5th to Mossurmi.

“He didn’t quite run the trip (1900m) out in Sydney last week,” Bartley said.

“He will be a lot better suited back to the 1600 metres for his first start at his home track.”

Juerga, who won the 2008 Mudgee Cup over this distance is getting on in years but has been racing well without winning since his triumph here last December, which is his only win at the track in four starts, but he has run second twice.

Moment of Clarity has won twice and been placed three times in eight starts at the track and has good form in recent weeks with his second to All Black Miss on Canberra’s Acton track a good pointer for this.

Bartley believes the small field could be Slick Sniper’s biggest obstacle, even though he believes the younger full brother to Sniper’s Bullet should win.

“There is a shortage of Open company horses around and this is why this field is so small,” Bartley said.