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By Mark Brassel

They will be coming from far and wide as they converge on Bathurst this Sunday with one of the last remaining opportunities to gain a berth in the $2 million The Big Dance.

First two runners home in the $50,000 Daffodil Cottage Bathurst Cup (1800m) are eligible for The Big Dance run at Royal Randwick on November 1.

The Bathurst Cup is one of the final Big Dance chances with just Port Macquarie (October 7) and Coonamble two days later to follow, prior to the Big Dance Wild Card on October 15.

From the Bush and Grant Buckley take out last year's Bathurst Cup. Image by Janian McMillan (Racing Photography)

Early nominations for the Bathurst Cup include the Maher/Eustace-trained Mayfair Spirit, a Moonee Valley winner two starts back, and dual Rosehill Gardens winner Caesars Palace who is trained by Anthony Cummings.

Another important feature next Sunday is the Ray White Emms The Panorama (1300m) that now boasts $110,000 in prizemoney (up from $80,000).

The Panorama, named after Bathurst’s renowned Mount Panorama, has become the Central Districts premier event for sprinters and is unique in that country-trained horses receive a ballot preference into the race.

The Panorama is perfectly placed being just under three weeks out from The Kosciuszko at Royal Randwick on Saturday 15 October.

Last year the race was taken out by talented galloper Spiranac who was then a luckless third to Art Cadeau and Handle the Truth in The Kosciuszko.

“The rise to $110,000 prizemoney for The Panorama has been great news not only for racing at Bathurst but for the Western Region,” said GM of Bathurst Thoroughbred Racing, Michelle Tarpenning.

“In just three years The Panorama has established itself as a major lead-up to The Kosciuszko and with a multimillion-dollar upgrade to our training facilities, the aim is to produce not only locally trained winners of The Panorama but Bathurst-trained winners of The Kosciusko.”

Early Panorama nominations include the promising Easy Rosie (three wins at Canberra and one at Goulburn from just 13 starts) and the locally-trained Healing Hands (a five-time winner from 15 starts).

Another highlight on next Sunday’s program is the ‘King Billy’ Aspros ride of the day.

“Markeys Saddlery have been fantastic supporters of BTR and The Panorama and once again they will provide a fully mounted raceday saddle valued at around $1,500 to the ride which Richard Callander and Billy Apros deem the ride of the day,” said Michelle Tarpenning.

“Some outstanding jockeys have won the Markeys fully mounted raceday saddle in recent years including the recently retired country champion, Greg Ryan.”

On a Racing NSW Country Showcase meeting carrying $350,000 in prizemoney, other notable Bathurst races include the Grainforce Bill Aspros Cup (1200m) and the Agriwest Tulloch Cup (1800m).

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Grafton
Tuesday: Orange
Thursday: Lismore
Friday: Scone, Goulburn
Saturday: Gunnedah, Jerilderie (non-TAB), Grenfell (non-TAB), Come-by-Chance (non-TAB)
Sunday: Bathurst, Port Macquarie