With two-time defending Robert Oatley Vineyards Mudgee Cup champion Tahsin not returning the 1600-metre showcase's crown will change hands and, from early looks, punters could worse than set their sights on Boomtown Rat.
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From Bjorn Baker's Warwick Farm stables, the five-year-old has opened as the 2019 Mudgee Cup favourite and by some way too, he sits at $2.40 odds from the next best rated Valree at $5.
Granted, Boomtown Rat hasn't saluted since a win at Canterbury in February and he's not won for Baker at all, the celebrated trainer acquired the gelding from Richard and Michael Freedman just a couple of months ago.
Naturally his career has largely spanned metropolitan runs and in fact he's never chased a win in the country, his two career runs outside the city coming in provincial meetings at Gosford and Wyong.
However, with that drop in class combined with his recent form and the fact he's jagged barrier one for Friday's $75,000 showcase, all signs point to the gelding powering Baker to his second Mudgee Cup.
Boomtown Rat comes in from a sixth finish at Kembla Grange after two promising trials but he was far from disgraced and strips much fitter, and has Brandon Lerena on the reins on Friday afternoon.
Barbara Joseph's Mercurial Lad carries the top weight but will remain a threat while Jeremy Gask's 'enigma' Weather Channel is set to jump at shorter odds than most, at $7, too.
Weather Channel saluted at Muswellbrook last start, charging late to score in the final bounds, has drawn well too and will carry next to nothing at 54 kilograms with Brooke Stower on board.
"He can be a bit of an enigma but in saying that, he's a lovely, sound horse that enjoys his racing," Gask explained.
Dubbo trainer Dar Lunn will saddle up Chilcotin in the feature event.
To be ridden by Billy Cray, six-year-old Chilcotin will carry the bottom weight of 54kg and jump from wide out in barrier 10.
Friday's showcase meeting at Mudgee begins at 1.05pm with the cup at 4.35pm.