Imported galloper Mouro will carry the top weight of 59 kilograms in the 2014 Hawkesbury Gold Cup at the standalone Hawkesbury meeting on Saturday.

Mouro has been included in the 2014 Hawkesbury Gold Cup field. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Mouro started his autumn preparation with a narrow win in the Group 3 TAB Rewards Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 1, but was unable to perform at his best in both the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 22 and the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 12.

The Grand Slam entire will jump from barrier two when he takes his place in the 2014 Hawkesbury Gold Cup field and will be ridden by jockey Tim Clark.

Also backing up from the Doncaster Mile will be Steve Englebrecht-trained Malavio, who took advantage of the scratching of Boban to run eighth in the Group 1 event.

Malavio has performed consistently during his autumn preparation, finishing fifth in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m), third in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) and fourth in the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude (1500m), but has not scored a race win since he took out the Group 3 Tramway Stakes (1400m) during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival.

Leebaz was denied a maiden win at Group level in the Doncaster Prelude by imported stayer Weary, but looks well placed to add a black type win to his racing resume in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup this weekend.

Jockey James McDonald is looking to atone for what he believes was a poor ride on Leebaz in the Doncaster Prelude and will need to be at his best to steer the Zabeel gelding to victory from barrier nine.

Peter Snowden will end his partnership with the Darley operation at the end of the Hawkesbury meeting and has the opportunity to finish his association with a win in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup after including Wistful in the final field for the $150,000 race.

Wistful (barrier one) made a slow start to her autumn preparation, but returned to a semblance of her best form with a second place finish behind Destiny’s Kiss in the Dunkirk Handicap (1600m) at Warwick Farm on ANZAC Day.

The 2014 Hawkesbury Gold Cup field is rounded out by Peter Moody-trained Full Of Spirit (barrier six), talented mare Keep Cool (barrier five), Gai Waterhouse-trained The Great Snowman (barrier eight), veteran gelding Court Connection (barrier four), Guy Walter-trained Flying Bay (barrier ten), Kiwi hopeful Iggi Pop and fan favourites Star Wars (barrier seven).