A FIELD of 10 has accepted for the $12,000 Strathmore Cup (1400m) to be hosted by the Barcoo Amateur Race Club at Blackall on October 19.
As important as it is, this renewal of Cup offers an additional incentive because it is one of the qualifying events for the $105,000 Country Cups Challenge to be held in Brisbane on November 30.
The list of Strathmore acceptors includes three last start winners, one of which is topweight Fully Maxed.
Trained in Barcaldine by Todd Austin, Fully Maxed collected his eighth career victory when successful at Longreach on September 28.
Matthew Palmer rode the gelding on that occasion and their partnership remains intact for this assignment. But Fully Maxed will shoulder an extra three kilograms on the weight he carried in Longreach, rising to 61.5kg.
The Bevan (Billy) Johnson-trained Fab's Cowboy returned to his best with a rousing win at Charleville the same day Fully Maxed rediscovered winning touch.
A real flag bearer for bush racing with 33 wins and 15 placings in 74 outings, Fab's Cowboy has the same impost to carry (61.5kg) and will be ridden by Paul Randall.
Remarkably, Fab's Cowboy has started only twice at Blackall in his long career, finishing sixth in a minor event in November 2017 before breaking the ice at the corresponding meeting a year ago.
Natalie Morton will be a new rider for the Mt Isa-based Menacing, a winner at his most recent appointment at Jundah on October 5.
Jundah has raced eight times at Blackall but is yet to win on the course where he has managed two minor placings.
In Charters Towers, the trainer to respect in the Amateurs Cup (1800m) might be the Mackay-based John Manzelmann.
He has set stablemates Elle A Walking and Deja Doom for the race and engaged jockeys Anthony Dykes and Ray Hancock for respective rides.
Elle A Walking was a winner on its home track on September 10 and has since finished third at Townsville (September 17) and at Bowen (October 12).
Apprentice Elyce Smith (once) and senior hoop Chris Whiteley (four) have ridden Elle A Walking in its past five runs.
Deja Doom is yet to show his best for Manzelmann after being transferred from the stable of Victorian trainer Wendy Kelly.
In three runs for Manzelmann's Mackay yard, Deja Doom finished last of seven at Twin Hills (September 27), 10th of 12 in Mackay (October 5) and seventh of eight at Bowen (October 12).