The other two mile feature at Flemington Racecourse aside from the iconic Melbourne Cup runs this weekend with a field of stayers to face off in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes 2014.

Ancient King (inside) and Shoreham (outside) are two of the top 2014 Andrew Ramsden Stakes entries for Saturday. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

A total of 17 horses make up the nominations for this year’s $150,000 Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (3200m) running as one of two stakes races in Melbourne on Saturday along with The Straight Six.

Leading the Andrew Ramsden Stakes nominations and weights with 60kg, a big ask over the testing 3200m of the feature, is Saab Hasan’s Shoreham.

The local Reset four-year-old is on the up-and-up progressing through the ranks this preparation and handling a number of distance increases.

Shoreham ran fifth to Our Voodoo Prince in April’s Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield before heading to Warnambool for the Cup over 2350m.

It was a mud track that day and they did well to finish sixth behind Akzar in the event.

Then last start they went up to 2800m at Flemington on May 10 and finished second to Ancient King, getting in with 58kg thanks to a two kilo claim from Jye McNeil that they’re likely to cash in on again this weekend.

The Peter Moody-trained winner of that handicap clash, Ancient King, is also set to back up in the Andrew Ramsden.

The fellow four-year-old had 56.5kg for the Momentum Energy Smilepower Trophy but will go up two kilos to 58.5kg for the Andrew Ramsden rematch.

Moody has also nominated for Vatuvei, the Reset five-year-old last seen crossing fifth in the Warnambool Cup.

Other gallopers coming via a lead-up run behind Ancient King meanwhile include close third placed Wells, the David Hayes-trained Unchain My Heart (4^th), Gottino (6^th) and Supremacy (6^th).

Following Shoreham in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes weights on 59kg meanwhile is the Darren Weir-trained Gotta Take Care.

Veteran of the field the rising Rubiton 10-year-old is racing in top form despite their age and shoot for their third straight win on Saturday.

Gotta Take Care enjoyed a victory over fellow Andrew Ramsden hopes Unchain My Heart (2^nd) and Ancient King (3^rd) in a 2600m handicap at Flemington on Anzac Day before winning again just five days later at Warnambool on April 30.

The Flemington win was on a Good (3) track while they overcame a Heavy (10) at Warnambool to post an easy three and a quarter length victory over the two miles, imposing form for Saturday from the Ballarat based champion.

Other notable hopes include the Leon Corstens-trained Zabeelionaire who is also nominated for the $100,000 Listed WJ McKell Cup (2400m) in Sydney on Saturday and the in-form Ominous.

Nigel Blackiston’s Oasis Dream five-year-old Ominous has won their past two on the trot during an Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival raid, the most recent of which saw them beat home Zabeelionaire by just over three lengths in the Listed Port Adelaide Cup (2500m) on May 10.

Check out the full Andrew Ramsden Stakes 2014 nominations and weights below, final acceptances closing on Wednesday morning.

Then to get in on the Flemington racing and betting action for this weekend, plus check out exclusive pre-nomination 2014 Melbourne Cup odds where The Offer ($15) is the early favourite, head over to the country’s leading online bookie Ladbrokes.com.au!

2014 Andrew Ramsden Stakes Nominations & Weights

Flemington Racecourse – 24/05/2014