PATRONS are expected to flock back to today’s Dunkeld Cup, the club’s first meeting with crowds since 2019.

With COVID protocols meaning no crowds in 2020 and 2021, then no racing due to unseasonal wet weather last year, the club will welcome getting back this popular event to the status that has made it so iconic in country racing.

To appease the patrons, pleasingly for the club, some of the state’s leading trainers have ensured racing will be at an exciting and competitive level on the eight-event program.

Danny O’Brien, Moody Racing, Ciaron Maher and David Eustace along with Annabel Neasham have multiple runners between them to set up plenty of competition for our south-west trainers.

The $50,000 William Thomson Dunkeld Cup is the obvious feature race, but the support program in particular two sprint races have attracted very good fields.

The cup, while small in quantity, looks to have three outstanding chances, all with city class quality.

Neasham will saddle up Blazerro, but strong opposition is expected from Pitchanun and Station One, trained by Danny O’Brien and Liam Howley respectively.

With very strong recent country cup form despite not winning, any of the three gallopers could start cup favourite.

Blazerro and Station One both finished third in the Peninsula Cup at Mornington and Kyneton Cup respectively, while Pitchanun was a close-up fifth in the Ballan Cup at Geelong.

That form looks the strongest in the race and the cup winner should come from that trio.

Station One looks the race leader and from that viewpoint, a good ride from Alana Kelly makes him my selection.

The only horse I give a winning chance outside that trio is El Gladiador, trained by Andrew Bobbin, two runs from a spell including a nice effort in the Avoca Cup will have him fitter for today’s race.

The two benchmark sprints are terrific lead-up races, again with city class potential runners.

The BM64 Carrazzo Tauto Sprint over 1000m looks an ideal race for Kev’s Girl, trained by Adam Chambers.

With speed to burn, the mare to be ridden by Jaylah Kennedy will look to burn off her opposition around the tight Dunkeld circuit.

Should she be off her game, there are a number of chances including Frose, It’s Kind Of Magic, First Division and It’s My Turn.

The Catanach’s Jewellers BM70 sprint over 1200m also features four promising sprinters that look hard to split.

Danny O’Brien has city winner, Morpheus Bragi, in good form in stronger races and he looks the one to beat.

Solid chances are also given to Zourata who has won three of his last four starts, while O’Brien’s second stringer Walk Of Fame is also well placed.

One for the regional stables is Port Louis, trained by south-west legend, Denis Daffy, in partnership with his granddaughter, Harriot Place.

A nice first-up fourth at Kyneton comes off the back of good trial form, and he should strip fitter for today.

It will be an exciting day for two young trainers, as they produce their first runners, both in the same race.

Nell Carter and Annalise Maragos will respectively have Six Shots In and Zee Pretty One contest the MC Security 4YO+ Maiden Plate over 1400m.

Wherever Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman take their runners you should take note, and among today’s runners they have two first starters in the maiden races.

A boutique stable with good quality gallopers, I expect both debutants, Thargomindah and Agave, to give punters a nice fill up in the first and third races respectively.

For those looking to head home a winner, I’d be prepared to give Takumi, trained by Aaron Purcell, another chance in the ‘get-out’ stakes.

Although the eight-year-old has not won for almost three years, his first-up effort at Geelong last weekend was good when finishing fifth.

The opposition today is not strong and from a good barrier and the in-form Tom Madden riding, he gets a chance to win again.

Good punting.

Morg’s selections

Race 1: Thargomindah, Just Bolts, Little Sandy.

Race 2: Lady Loti, Chance Romance, Witnessimpact.

Race 3: Agave, Sign From Above, Lonjourno.

Race 4: Ceejay, Verbosity, Trust In Rosie.

Race 5: Morpheus Bragi, Zourata, Walk Of Fame.

Race 6: Kev’s Girl, First Division, Frose.

Race 7: Station One, Blazerro, Pitchanun.

Race 8: Takumi, Hell Follows, Bellator.

Best Bet: Kev’s Girl

Next Best: Station One

Each Way: Port Louis

Long Shot: Bellator