The feature race, of the two-day carnival, received 21 nominations, with James Cummings’ duo Duca Valentinois, the 2017 winner, and Spectroscope the top-weights.

The imported Irish galloper scored a length-and-a-half victory last year for Godolphin – and interim mentor Darren Beadman – from God’s In Him, while 2016 champion Pajaro finished a further long head away in third.

“I won this race as a jockey but this was a better feeling [today],” a delighted Beadman said afterwards.

“He ran a cracker.”

Cummings then took over the reins in May, after almost a decade at Leilani Lodge at Randwick in Sydney as foreman, co-trainer with his grandfather Bart Cummings, and ultimately as head trainer.

The Snowdens, well-known in Scone racing circles, will pin their hope on Nancy, while the Hawkes stable returns to the Upper Hunter with Kingsguard.

Bjorn Baker (Lubiton), David and Ben Hayes (Cool Chap), Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott (Sedanzer), Joe Pride (New Tipperary) and Chris Waller (Black On Gold) are also eyeing off the $200,000 1600m listed fixture.

Newcastle’s Kris Lees will launch a two-prong assault – Articus and Karavali. 

Local trainer Rod Northam has nominated After All That, which has placed second at its past two starts.

Others in the mix include Jason Coyle (More Energy), Allan Kehoe (Get On The Grange), David Pfieffer (Pelethronious), Rodney Ollerton (Royal Tudor), John P Thompson (Invincible Knight), David Atkins (Plaisir), Mack Griffith (Most Exalted) and David J Smith (Bezel).