Townsville Cup winner Chivadahlii features among the nominations for the 2017 $75,000 Red Beret Hotel Cairns Cup (2100m) at Cannon Park in Cairns on Saturday.

Flying Light, above, is among the nominations for the 2017 Cairns Cup at Cannon Park. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Cairns Jockey Club has elected to extend the nominations dead line for the Cairns Cup until 9am on Tuesday, August 8, after only thirteen horses were entered this morning.

Rockhampton trainer Jamie McConachy has worked his way North with Chivadahlii who ran second in the $75,000 Mackay Cup at (1800m) at Ooralea Race Course in Mackay on July 1 before collecting a winning double in Townsville.

Chivadahlii got a feel for Cluden Park circuit at Townville with a win in the won the $25,000 Townsville RSL Royal Rewards (2000m) on July 15 before winning the $100,000 Mater Townsville Cup (2000m) on July 29.

Former Victorian galloper and Townsville Cup third placegetter Flying Light is also among the nominations for the Cairns Cup and will be having his first start for Townsville trainer Errol Sewell who took over the preparation of the five year old from Eagle Farm trainer Barry Baldwin after the Townsville Cup.

Sewell has also nominated the six year old Go By Rio for the Cairns Cup.

Leading local trainer Trevor Rowe will be looking for back to back Cairns Cup wins with Great Pretender after collecting the trophy last year with Chateau Dettori.

“He (Great Pretender) is Cairns’ horse of the year, he has won six races here in the last 12 months,” Rowe told the Cairns Post.

“I think he will run the 2100m no worries.”

Rowe has also nominated Mukaddamah Son for the Cairns Cup but the veteran stayer needs to improve on his last start fourteenth in the Townsville Cup to be competitive.

Nominations for the 2017 Cairns Cup (2100m)