He’s stuck in a funny position. While Edmonds said the club, and the region in general, “needs rain desperately”, he’d be thankful if it came after Sunday’s Gunnedah Gold Cup.

Last year’s cup was was washed out, and eventually rescheduled, and the president didn’t want to see that happen again.

And with clear skies predicted, things are looking pretty good.

“I don’t think we’re going to get any interruptions this year,” Edmonds said.

Despite the lack of rain and the presence of a large number of kangaroos at the track – who eat the grass – Edmonds said the course was in pretty good nick.

“The track’s in good condition, it should be a good three,” Edmonds said.

“The boys have been putting plenty of water on it and we haven’t had to mow because the kangaroos have been helping us out there.”​

GJC secretary manager Mark Storey was a “little surprised” by the quantity and quality of nominations for Sunday’s Showcase Gunnedah Gold Cup.

The GJC official thought the eight-race TAB meeting, with $30,000 minimum support races to the $40,000 Hope Fuel Gunnedah Showcase Case Cup (1600m), would match last year’s numbers at least.

“I think we had 193 for last year’s washed out cup,” Storey recalled.

“160 nominations for eight races is OK but I thought it might be a lot more given they are $30,000 Showcase races.

“I also thought the class of horse might be a bit better for the cup too.”

However, all eight races are just about at full capacity while several races have emergencies listed as well.

Newcastle’s Kris Lees will be one of the bigger trainers to take horses to Gunnedah with six runners nominated while Wyong-based Damien Lane has Choice Larga nominated for the cup. Newcastle’s Ken Lantry also has entered Egyptian Ruler, who was third to Evangelist in this year’s Quirindi Cup.

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“Great to see Kris support us so well,” he said.

“Plus good to see Greg Hickman has nominated Dream Folk again.

“He came home last year, too, to try and win the cup with Dream Folk.”

Edmonds said there was a “pretty full day planned” on and off the track.

“The first race is at 12.20pm and we’ve got a calcutta on at the Gunnedah Hotel the night before,” Edmonds said.

“We’ll have fashions in the field which has $1000 in prizemoney up for grabs.

“We’ve got pony rides, jumping castles and entertainment.”

While the first race jumps at 12.20pm the main race, the Hope Fuel Gunnedah Showcase Cup will run at 4pm.

Egyptian Ruler has been given the top weight for the cup but will jump from barrier one while Peter Cleal’s Comacina has drawn the short straw with the 18 barrier.