2021 Wiilow Tree Cup: Big race will be staged at Quirindi on Saturday

There have been 112 nominations for the six-race TAB program, which will be headlined by the $12,000 Willow Tree Cup, a 1000m benchmark 50 handicap that has attracted 25 potential runners.

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The Quirindi Jockey Club secretary manager, Ted Wilkinson, explained why the Willow Tree Cup meeting was an important day for the club:

"The meeting has been around since 1983. It promotes businesses in the village of Willow Tree, which is 15km south of Quirindi, and the meeting is very well sponsored and the town looks forward to the meeting."

Willow Tree might not have their own racetrack but the community will be buzzing on Friday evening, with an already booked-out Calcutta set to build nicely into Saturday's meeting in Quirindi.

"For this meeting, in particular, we expect a lot of people will travel across from Willow Tree, because we have the Calcutta," Wilkinson said.

"It's being held at the Willow Tree Inn, and the dining room is already booked out. So they'll be flowing into the TAB room, and it should be a good night."

He added: "There is fashions on the field for the men and women [on Saturday] and the winners will receive a sash and $100 worth of flowers.

"There are four bookmakers coming, which is double the number we normally get, and that is probably because of the good racing."

The 2020 Willow Tree Cup winning trainer, Mark Ostini, has Mr De Niro nominated as his main chance in this year's race. While the Melissa Dennett-trained Ballast was the No 1 ballot in the race and would be the top weight, at 64kg, if connections decide to accept.

The Quirindi-based trainer Geoff O'Brien, who has Gold Skye nominated to race in the Cup, said the course was in good condition. And based on the nominations, he thought it would be a good betting meeting.

"They have done a heap of work on the track, and it's been patched up since the last meeting and it looks pretty good," O'Brien said.

"It's on a weekend and we should get a few people, and I think there will be chances in every race. So it should be a good day."

The gates will open at 11am on Saturday.

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