More than a dozen Moruya trainers have entered gallopers for the eight-race meeting, which will kick off at 1.28pm.

Moruya Jockey Club manager Brian Cowden, who tipped at least three local winners on their home track, said locals and holiday-makers alike could expect a competitive day of racing.

“I think Moruya’s trainers will have a good chance,” Cowden said.

“A lot of our horses are fit and racing well and they like racing at home.”

The feature race will be the Christmas Community Cup, over 1425 metres, which has a prize-money pool of $20,000.

In the race, Steve Stephens’ Adaminaby Cup winner Baldovino will come up against Colbey Hill’s Ward and two-time Narooma Cup runner-up Quichang, who is trained by Luke Pepper. 

At trackwork on Thursday morning, Stephens said the seven-year-old gelding had been prepared for the race before tilts at the Narooma and Moruya Cups in January.

“He’s been working fine,” Stephens said.

“The Narooma Cup is the goal if he pulls up okay.”

Ward, a six-year-old gelding, will make its first run for Hill, but she said she expected a strong showing.

“I expect him to run a bold race,” Hill said.

Ward is returning from a spell and will also have his first run at his new home  track.

“He goes good fresh but I can still learn a bit about him,” she said.

Three other horses trained by Hill have been accepted – Lighty Tonighty, Magic Franco and Counter Rose – and she said they were all chances in their respective races.

“I’d say they are good each-way chances and they’re all ready to run for this meeting,” she said. 

Hill backed Cowden’s sentiments that local horses would dominate on their home track.

“On paper it looks that way,” she said. “You can never be too confident, though.”

After heavy downpours in the past fortnight Cowden said the track was “absolutely brilliant”.

“Six weeks ago I was a bit worried about the track and surrounds but the rain did a magnificent job,” he said.

“It’s pulled up beautifully.

“We might water it once and it will probably be rated as a good four.”

The raceday is a combined effort between the Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma Rotary clubs and the Jockey Club to raise funds for the new oncology unit at Moruya Hospital, and Cowden said he was optimistic it would be bigger than last year.

“We have more bookings and the weather forecast is perfect,” he said.

“We’re running it very much the same as last year, which was a great success, and predominantly it’s a really great community day.” 

Picnic jockey and Moruya trackwork rider Tim Phillips said he could not wait for Sunday’s meeting to begin.

“It’s a good idea and it should also be a great social day for the town,” he said.