By David Nagel
Pakenham’s richest ever raceday is just days away with almost $2.2million in prizemoney up for grabs across a 10-race card on Pakenham Cup Day 2024.
The time-honoured $300,000 Listed Sportsbet Pakenham Cup (2500m) has attracted a strong list of 24 nominations, with 2021 Pakenham Cup winner Smokin’ Romans looking to become the first dual winner of the race since locally-trained Coroner won in 1979 and ’80.
Melbourne Cup winner Vow and Declare has also been nominated for the gruelling test for stayers, with the now nine-year-old gelding running unplaced in Group 1 and Group 3 company in his last four starts.
Cranbourne trainer Ciaron Maher has a dominant hand in the race, having exactly a third of the nominations with eight runners in contention.
This year’s Pakenham Cup looks to be a wide-open affair, with none of the 24 nominations having won at their previous start.
The Pakenham Cup will this year share the stage with a new feature race, with the $1million The Supernova (1400m) sure to attract plenty of attention on Saturday.
A total of 14 entities invested $100,000 each into the Southside Racing Slot Series, which consists of the $1m The Meteorite (1200m) on Cranbourne Cup Day and The Supernova ran over the slightly longer distance of seven furlongs.
The Maher-trained Nadal saluted in dominant fashion in The Meteorite and will no doubt start a warm elect when runners head to the barriers down the back straight at Tynong on Saturday.
Nadal will have plenty of opposition however, with Arkansaw Kid, Buffalo River, Here To Shock, Just Folk, Munhamek, Welwal, Tuvalu, Roll On High, Roots and Windstorm all Group-winning horses in the race.
Only Nadal, Chorlton Lane, Pascero and Robrick have yet to salute the judge at Group level.
2024 PAKENHAM CUP NOMS
Smokin’ Romans C Maher
Lady In Pink L&T Corstens/W Larkin
Muramasa T Busuttin/N Young
Serpentine G Waterhouse/A Bott
Herman Hesse C Maher
Vow and Declare D O’Brien
Interpretation C Maher
Le Don De Vie C Maher
Goldman G Waterhouse/A Bott
Star of India A Neasham/R Archibald
Magnaspin L&T Corstens/W Larkin
Hopeful A Neasham/R Archibald
Mankayan C Maher
Strawberry Rock C Maher
Promises Kept C Maher
Shaiyhar T Busuttin/ N Young
Grand Pierro J Warren
Savoir Faire M Walker
I’m A Dirty Rascal M Walker
Samuel Langhorne M Kent
Commando Drift T Sadler
Convener C Maher
Divus Romulus N Ryan
Sambucus R Laing
