The much anticipated Alex’s Imports-sponsored Gold Cup, which is slated to be run tomorrow, is generally regarded as the leading handicap race in the country.

This year’s Gold Cup sees seven of the leading horses in training vying for top honours, including Uppa Tune, Uncle Taf and Perfect Neighbour. All the entrants in the Gold Cup, while obviously wanting to win, will be looking forward with both eyes wide open to the biggest prize of all, the rich Diamond Mile.

The Gold Cup distance of seven furlongs (1,400 metres) is seen as the ultimate test for the sprinters, while giving the horses who prefer to run longer a great opportunity to shine. This year the Gold Cup was moved from its traditional running spot in December to October over the Heroes’ Day weekend.

The Gold Cup still remains one of the races to win and still carries great prestige. In the past we have seen some great horses winning this race. We will never forget the early victories by Kilowatt, the much revered run by Monte’s Stitch, Rimsky or even the one, two, three result for trainer Harry Parsard last year. Such is the nature of the Gold Cup.

The seven-furlong distance of the Gold Cup fits nicely with that of the Diamond Mile. After the Gold Cup tomorrow there is one more ‘big’ race before the Diamond Mile, the 10-furlong Superstakes in early November. So the sprinters will have the opportunity to fly their flag in the Gold Cup with the stayers lurking in the background.

All in all we have a good mix of racing to end the year, the Gold Cup tomorrow, the Superstakes in November, and the inaugural running of the Diamond Mile in December.