Ipswich Cup quinella Self Sense and Benzini highlight the nominations for the Listed $175,000 The Pump House Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.

Kiwi stayer Benzini, above, is among the nominations for the Caloundra Cup at the Sunshine Coast. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Fifteen stayers were nominated for this weekend’s Caloundra Cup with last Saturday’s Tattersall’s Cup third placegetter War Baby also among the entries for the 2400m staying test.

The David Brideoake trained Self Sense was the heavily back favourite for the Listed $175,000 Channel 7 Ipswich Cup (2150m) at Ipswich on June 17 and kept the punters happy when he romped home with a six and three quarter lengths victory over Benzini who was burdened with 60kg.

The Adrian and Harry Bull trained Benzini has been a consistent performer during the 2017 Queensland Winter Racing Carnival but has failed to find the winner’s stall from three runs with the seven year old stayer’s best result being a last start second under a huge weight to Self Sense in the Ipswich Cup.

Benzini’s other two Winter Carnival runs resulted in a fourth to Kaiser Franz in the Group 3 $125,000 Channel Seven Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Eagle Farm on May 27 followed by a fourth to Chocante in the Group 2 $300,000 Evergreen Turf Brisbane Cup (2200m) at Doomben a fortnight later.

The Hunterville trained gelding’s last win was just over twelve months ago when he was successful in 2016 Brisbane Cup.

The Kelvin Hickmott trained War Baby is quickly developing into a promising stayer and after win in a 2150m BenchMark 80 Handicap by six and half lengths at Ipswich on June 17 went on to run third behind Rudy and More Energy in the Group 3 $200,000 Carlton Mid Tattersall’s Cup (2200m) at Doomben last Saturday.

The Darren Weir trained Neverland is also among the nominations for the Caloundra Cup and is coming off a last start sixth to Chocante in the Brisbane Cup.

The former West Australian trained mare is a proven stayer and went down narrowly when second to Delicacy in the Group 2 $500,000 Perth Cup (2400m) at Ascot in January, 2016.

Randwick based Kiwi trainer John Sargent has nominated Paragon for the Caloundra Cup and the five year old is coming off a last start fourth in the Ipswich Cup.

Nominations for the 2017 Caloundra Cup (2400m)