Australian Racing Hall of Famer Robert Thompson and close friend Jeremy Sylvester have made the Cessnock Leagues Club Jungle Juice Cup their own since the race was first run in 1981.
Therefore it is no surprise that the pair will combine with the probable favourite Three Sheets in next Tuesday’s 2016 event.
Sylvester expects to also start 2015 runner-up Collar in the Cup and may start a third, Queensberry Rules.
Three Sheets is raced by a huge group of owners from Cessnock and the Hunter.
The four year old bargain buy was brilliant at Randwick last Saturday.
It was Three Sheets second win at Randwick in two weeks as he bolted in on June 11.
Bought in a package deal with Snappy One for $40,000 Three Sheets has won five from fifteen with six placings and prize money of $241,000.
Both horses were bought by the Hong Kong Jockey Club in 2013 on the Gold Coast. They paid $360,000 for Snappy One and $250,000 for Three Sheets.
When it was time for the horses to go to Hong Kong, they failed an examination and were put on the market.
European stayer Queensberry Rules hasn’t raced for two years or at all in Australia.
Sylvester said that all going well, Collar and Three Sheets were certain starters and a decision on Queensberry Rules is to be made.
Thompson and Sylvester have combined to win six Jungle Juice Cups. Sylvester was also successful with two others while Thompson has ridden 11 winners in total.
Another Cessnock trainer Todd Howlett is expected to start Music Man first up in the Jungle Juice Cup.
The annual event will also feature a Fashions on the Field competition and the Jungle Juice Marquee.
Cessnock Leagues Club will kick things off with a Calcutta on Monday night.
