Wagga Gold Cup week hit full swing on Tuesday with the release of the final fields for Thursday and Friday followed by the barrier draw at Wagga Marketplace.

More than 11,000 racegoers are tipped to pass through the turnstiles at MTC this week and chief executive Scott Sanbrook could not be happier with the racing that will be on offer.

“The fields are terrific,” Sanbrook said.

“So much quality at the top end, a lot of depth in the races as well. To have 17 acceptors and 23 in the two feature races reflects the strong prizemoney on offer and also the high opinion the trainers hold of the track.”

The Wagga track received 31 millimetres of rain in the space of six days last week to push the rating into the heavy zone.

It has improved sharply since and was upgraded to a soft five on Tuesday morning after experienced Wagga jockey Brad Clark galloped a horse on the course proper.

It is expected to be upgraded to the good range by Thursday’s meeting.

“It’s kept on improving, we had two horses gallop over it this morning and it’s been upgraded to a soft five so that’s a very promising sign,” Sanbrook said.

In further good signs for MTC and the carnival, fine weather is predicted for Thursday and Friday.

“It’s supposed to stay fine for the two days of the carnival, temperatures in the low 20s so it should be absolutely perfect,” Sanbrook said.

He is hoping to match last year’s crowd figures of 2500 for Town Plate day and 9000 plus for Friday’s main event.

“We’d expect over 2500 people on Thursday and hopefully around the 9000 mark on Friday,” Sanbrook said.

“They would be very strong figures if we could reach those.”

MTC president Stuart Lamont hopes they can push the 10,000 barrier on Friday.

“I would think there could be very close to 10,000 there,” Lamont said.

“Generally with good weather it brings people out, that and good horses. There’s certainly a lot of visitors coming to town.

“The weather looks great. No rain predicted, a little bit of cloud predicted I think but it’s all good.

“The track and the grounds look sensational so we’re hopeful. 

“We’re expecting a really good carnival.”

Lamont is equally impressed about the field assembled for this year’s Kristopher Graydon Jewellers Wagga Gold Cup (2000m).

He even has an early tip for punters.

“It’s very strong. Hopefully they all go around,” Lamont said.

“I think Montauk has got in very well on the minimum, but look there is 11 metropolitan trained horses in it, the good news is that the locals have also got a go too.

“It’s a good blend.”