The big race of the day that will be drawing the crowds and punters is the $100 000 Listed Australia Day Cup (2400m).

A star studded field of nine are engaged in the event, including the Gai Waterhouse-trained Rabbuka and Anthony Cummings’ Zavite.

Six-year-old Rabbuka is coming off a brilliant win ahead of Spinney in the Frank Underwood Cup at Rosehill a fortnight ago. The Giant’s Causeway gelding has drawn barrier five and will be ridden by Blake Shinn who was onboard for his Underwood Cup victory.

Rabbuka is also the top weighted horse in the Australia Day Cup, carrying 59.5kg. His only concern will be the step up in distance to 2400m as he has never won at a distance greater than 2000m in his eight career wins.

Zavite, carrying the second heaviest weight of 59kg, has drawn the far outside barrier nine, the experienced seven-year-old winner of the Group 2 Ajax Stakes will have in-form hoop Glyn Schofield riding him on Tuesday.

Top training team Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes have their five-year-old Zabeel gelding, Rainbow Styling entered in the race. Rainbow Styling will be ridden by Jim Cassidy, has won his past two starts and will start from barrier six.

Currently sitting second on the NSW Metropolitan Trainers Premiership board, leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller will be represented in the Australia Day Cup by his runner Come On Cugat, drawn ideally in barrier three.

The lightweights of the field all carrying 53kg are the Peter Moody-trained Fairygem (br.2), Brave Lancer (br.7), Just Jammin (br.8) and Karim gaining the inside running with barrier one.

The Australia Day Cup will run as race five on the day’s super eight-race programme.

2010 Australia Day Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw:

The opening race on a mega eight-race programme, this year’s Villiers Stakes’ nominations are in and the 17 hopefuls include a top quality collection of runners including Ipswich Cup winner Our Lukas.

Queensland trainer Robbie Heathcote is vying for his first Sydney victory with Our Lukas in the Villiers on Saturday after coming an unlucky second in the Listed Heritage Stakes in September with Funtantes.

Our Lukas is also nominated for an Open Handicap event at Doomben on Saturday, with Heathcote making his decision on which race to run the dual Listed winner in later in the week.

Peter Snowden, coming off a sensational set of four victories at Rosehill last weekend, has three runners nominated, Gosford Cup winner Spinney, Offenders and Togni as he attempts his first Villiers victory.

Meanwhile the prolific Gai Waterhouse is expected to pay up for both her nominees Rockwood and Rabbuka as she aims for a second win in the race following her victory back in 2005 with Aqua D’Amore.

The trainer dominating the Sydney trainer’s premiership this season with 33 city winners to date, Chris Waller will also face off against Snowden and Waterhouse on Saturday when he starts Love And Kisses in the Villiers. Waller has also won the race once before in 2007 by protest with Honor In War.