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By Geoff Newling

Tamworth Jockey Club is full steam ahead to a Melbourne Cup Day meeting that is almost full of horses and patrons.

TJC general manager Mitch Shaw is prepared for a massive day after the five-race non-TAB meeting drew close to full fields for Tuesday’s meeting.

The club has 39 runners, one shy of a full complement of 40 for the five races on the B Grass.

The TJC can only start eight runners in each race on the B Grass and a traditional Melbourne Cup day meeting for more than 20 years.

“It should be a big day,” Mitch Shaw said. “We’ve got close to full fields and the marquees are close to full. We’re hopeful of having around 1500 people on course.”

Shaw said the local trainers have been in good form too.

Last Sunday’s Coonabarabran Cup meeting had four Tamworth-trained horses win – Miss Kokkinakis (Colin Dixon), Derby Star (Cody Morgan) and Under The Thumb and Burning Crown (Sue Grills).

“We’d also had four winners at Gunnedah the previous day as well and that followed a couple at scone last week too. So all our horses are going pretty well.

“The five races here look pretty good too and the B Grass is in pretty good nick too. Lindsay (Bowne) and the track boys have done a brilliant job. Should be a great day.”

Muswellbrook Race Club also stages a seven-race TAB meeting on Tuesday, highlighted by its $25,000 Muswellbrook Shire Council Mayors Cup, a benchmark 74 handicap over 1750m and the $25,000 Muswellbrook Coal Company Bowman Sprint (900m).

Tamworth trainer Sue Grills, who landed a double at last Sunday’s Coona Cup meeting, has The Real Boss, a last Gold Coast winner over 900m, having his first run for her in the Bowman Sprint.

She also has Untamed Princess and Rockatoo running at Tamworth as well.