HANGING Rock's popular Australia Day race meeting has captured the attention of a swag of central Victorian trainers.
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Sutton Grange mentor Paul Banks heads the acceptances by saddling up three runners on the seven-race card.
Plenty of interest for local punters surrounds the potential appearance of the Danny Curran-trained Caves in the Hanging Rock Cup (1800m).
The seven-year-old is attempting consecutive wins at Hanging Rock after winning at the picturesque circuit on New Year's Day, but Curran will need a scratching to gain a start with the mare.
Caves had a subsequent run at Flemington, when sixth in a small field.
The cup has attracted interest from several class trainers, including Darren Weir, who has multiple city winner Now and Zen and September Moonee Valley winner Star Circle entered.
Among the top hopes is Vianden for Swan Hill trainer Austey Coffey, who is backing up after a third in the Great Western Cup last Sunday.
This will be the gelding's fourth straight cups race start, including a win at Nhill on Boxing Day and second at Burrumbeet on New Year's Day.
A busy day for Banks will kick into gear in race three, with three-old Incision contesting a 1000m maiden.
The gelding will be making only his fifth race start, his most recent a close up third at Hanging Rock on January 1.
His opposition could include Bendigo galloper High Flying Joe, from the Arthur Pace stable.
Pace will be hoping for improvement with the four-year-old last on debut at Ararat less than a fortnight ago.
John Keating is booked to ride High Flying Joe (third emergency) in what is a busy day for the Bendigo jockey.
Banks' day continues with three-year-old gelding Party Bag engaged in a benchmark 58 handicap (1000m), while likely his best chance is Super Rockstar in the benchmark 58 handicap (1600m).
Super Rockstar was an impressive winner over the same distance and over the same venue last time and encounters a similar class field here.
Bendigo's Steven Lake and William Turner and Sutton Grange’s Michael Sell each has one runner on the program.
The first race starts at 1.16pm.
For fields visit https://www.racing.com/form/2017-01-26/hanging-rock#/
