Sapphire Coast Turf Club secretary/manager Rob Tweedie said there were fantastic nominations for the spring carnival on Thursday, with growing interest from visiting trainers. 

“We’re generating a lot of interest at the moment and I think it will only continue to build after Thursday and the Melbourne Cup,” Tweedie said. 

“This is a great opener for the summer racing season and it’s just going to keep heating up right through to the Bega Cup Carnival.”

Thursday will provide a full seven-race card running later into the afternoon as the club welcomes the extended daylight savings hours. 

Gates will open from noon with races to run from about 2pm right through to a finish around 6pm, Tweedie said. 

“We can really enjoy that extra daylight and we’ve got free buses running to and from the club with all the details available on the website.”

The conditions at the course are shaping as some of the best in recent history, with recent spats of rain refreshing the course. 

“We have just fertilized and the rain has come at the exact right time – it’s looking sensational at the moment,” Tweedie said. 

While next Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup will draw a lions’ share of the fashion stakes, Thursday’s race meet will have plenty to offer, while also drawing in the punters, Tweedie said. 

“Thursday is the day where the punters try and get a bit of ammo for the Melbourne Cup and get ready for the big days of racing ahead,” Tweedie said. 

And going in for a tip ahead of the day, Tweedie suggests a good look at anything coming out of the Barbara Joseph and Paul Jones stables. 

The trainer-duo are the first to begin putting horses through their paces at the new Sapphire Coast Turf Club facilities and will be a solid bet on Thursday. 

“I think now we've got to take note of anything Barbara Joseph and Paul Jones put out, they’ve got about 20 horses in work here at Sapphire,” he said. 

“They’ve been training very well with four winners at Moruya just a couple of weeks ago, two winners at Bombala … I would be keeping a good eye on whatever they start.”

Early nominations are also showing good potential for some new visiting trainers. 

Tweedie said the Bega District News spring race day would make a great start to the season, while the Melbourne Cup next Tuesday had it’s own drawcards.

“The fashions will be a big draw card up Cup day,” Tweedie said. “And Dane Waites will also be out here running a lap, we’re presenting him a $500 cheque and people can meet him and donate to his cause.” Gates open at noon on Thursday and bus info at www.sapphirecoastturfclub.com.au.