Strong entry list for Clifton Cup day card

2019 Clifton Cup heads town’s annual race day.

Mendelssohn (red) finishes strongly to down Haradify (inside) and Sultry Testa (blue) in last year's Clifton Cup.

RACING : Race entries from Texas to Dalby and Sunshine Coast have helped bolster a strong nomination list for this week's 2019 Clifton Jockey Club cup-day meeting.

Saturday's annual race day is headed by the Pacific Seeds/Pursehouls Rural Clifton Cup Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1580m.

Thirteen entries have been received for the cup including consistent Toowoomba gelding Just Favulous from the Ducky Baker stable.

Other entries include recent Tara Cup winner Ritchford, and in-form Clifton gelding De Bandit Vega for trainer Kieran Kirwin.

The program also features strong entry lists for the PB Agrifoodd Benchmark 65 Handicap (1100m) and Ray Bunch Machinery QTIS Maiden Plate (1100m).

Club secretary Margaret Cross said despite the region's prevailing drought conditions the Clifton track has been given the thumbs up for Saturday.

"The dry conditions have been terrible and have made track preparations difficult but the surface is good and safe," Cross said.

"The stewards were out today to inspect the track and have given it the okay for Saturday. We've had marvellous social bookings for the day. All marquees were just about sold out by the end of September.

"We've also had a great response from owners and trainers to the meeting.

"We've received 74 entries for the day and the cup noms are excellent along with the Benchmark 65 Handicap and QTIS Maiden Plate."