The first three horses in each heat and the fastest fourth-placed horse will earn spots in the 55^th running of the the time-honoured $30,000 group 3 Inter City Pace on Saturday, December 30.

Thirty-four horses were nominated for the much sought-after trophy. They have been narrowed down to 33 starters across the three heats, races two, three and four on the nine card meeting which starts with the Peaks Mini Bus/Maitland Mercury Plate at 6.22pm.

Former Inter City Pace winning trainer Michael Formosa has two runners in the heats. Four-year-old mare Rocknroll Emma is in barrier six on the front row in heat two and four-year-old gelding Mondooley Heaven and is racing from barrier three in heat three.

Sydney trainer Jim Bates, who is the only other Inter City Pace winning trainer with a horse in the heats, has  four-year-old entire Megs Monaro running from barrier four in race two.

Heading the Maitland charge are Mitch Chapple (Derringer, No.5 heat two), Geoffrey Dorn (Mista Taptoe Lombo, No.10 heat two) and  Paul Morgan (Oh Really, No.2 heat one).

Cessnock district trainers Formosa, Cameron Davies, Bevan Pringle and Clayton Harmey have two runners each. Shane Harmey, Roy Roots jnr and Stacey Elliott have a horse each.

Sydney trainers Joe and Mary Rando, James Rando and Kerryann Turner all have two starters as well.

Other leading trainers making their way to the Hunter for the series include Tony Hagney, Bernie Hewitt and Mark Jones.

Maitland Harness Racing Club secretary Wayne Smith said nomination numbers were down on previous years but the quality of horses entered was up there with the best they’ve had.

“The race’s interest is still out there across a wide section of the industry with a leading group of trainers travelling to the event.

“There are only two trainers who have won it previously Jim Bates, from Sydney, and Michael Formosa so we could have a new trainer add their name to what is a much sought-after trophy.

The winning driver from the past three years Luke McCarthy will not be making this year’s series after saluting last year on Sydney horse Express Stride to claim three titles in a row and an unprecedented fourth overall crown.

Gates open at the Maitland Showground on Saturday at 5pm and racing is scheduled to start at 6.22pm.  The final race is at 10.14pm

Race Two 6.53pm: AUSSIE MAITLAND 55TH INTER CITY PACE HEAT 1

1 91451 STEVIE DEE  Cameron Davies

2 60341 OH REALLY  Paul Morgan

3 4121s ROYAL STORY  Bernie Hewitt

4 47025 ROLLING ALONG  Bevan Pringle 

5 459s7 ALL ABOUT ART (Em 1)  Nathan Anderson

6 23521 WRANGLER DUKE  Tony Hagney 

 ------------------------------ Second Row ------------------------------ 

7 2144s DELIGHTFUL MEMPHIS NZ  Mark Jones 

8 53118 THE TIMES A CHANGING NZ  James Rando

9 70211 MARK OF INTEGRITY NZ  KerryAnn Turner 

10 05391 OUR BUSHWACKER  Stacie Elliott 

11 249s2 CAPTAIN ROCKEY  David Grant 

Race 3 7.18pm: STANDARDBREDTRADER.COM.AU 55TH INTER CITY PACE HEAT 2

1 459s7 ALL ABOUT ART (Em 1)  Nathan Anderson 

2 26462 CATCH A RUBY  Bevan Pringle 

3 0380s TACT OLLIE NZ  Roy Roots Jnr 

4 27s32 MEGS MONARO  James Bates 

5 42031 DERRINGER NZ  Mitch Chapple 

6 s2313 ROCKNROLL EMMA  Michael Formosa 

 ------------------------------ Second Row ------------------------------ 

7 36241 HES PERFECTLY IDEAL NZ  J A Rando

8 s3161 OUR TRIPLE PLAY NZ  Brad Hewitt

9 23224 APOLLO THIRTEEN NZ  Clayton Harmey

10 08299 MISTA TAPTOE LOMBO  Geoffrey Dorn

11 55568 QUICK INCOME NZ  James Rando

Race 4  7.50pm: WINDSOR CASTLE HOTEL EAST 55TH INTER CITY PACE HEAT 3 

1 459s7 ALL ABOUT ART (Em 1)  Nathan Anderson 

2 72124 I AM SERENGETI NZ  KerryAnn Turner

3 s2121 MONDOOLEY HEAVEN  Michael Formosa

4 27515 ALL POSITIVE  J A Rando,

5 4s020 MOONLIGHT CRUISER  Neville Greenwood 

6 24011 CERRENA  Garrett Newton

 ------------------------------ Second Row ------------------------------ 

7 25313 FRANCO STORM  Neil Thompson

8 8s46s KOORA KHAN  Bevan Pringle

9 5s342 JIMMY THE EDITOR NZ  Clayton Harmey

10 75588 STEVIE WANDER  Dennis Lindsay

11 2s225 HALFWAY HOLME  Cameron Davies