A strong crowd is expected trackside again this weekend with an eight-race TAB meeting scheduled for Sunday.

Nominations were released on Tuesday and the meeting attracted a healthy 123.

That number could grow with the two-year-old handicap attracting just four possible starters, and nominations have been extended through until Wednesday morning.

“This is our final race meeting before the Boot in April,” Wellington vice president Malcolm Brown said.

“The only meeting we clash with on the Sunday is Coffs Harbour.

“Boxing Day was a huge crowd, the crowd didn’t want to leave at the end … it was quality racing.”

The fact the only other meeting in the state is at the far north coast, a number of travelling trainers have opted to make the trip to Wellington on Sunday.

Hawkesbury trainers Scott Singleton and Brooke Somers have put forward chances while Pat Farrell headlines a large group of Muswellbrook-based trainers who have all nominated numerous hopes.

Wagga’s Scott Spackman, Tamworth’s Sally Torrens and a large group from the Newcastle region also nominated.

There is, as always, a huge amount of nominations coming from the local Wellington and Dubbo region as well as many from the wider western area.

There are a number of last-start winners among the 123 nominations.

Rodney Robb’s Bryan’s Babe was a popular winner at Gilgandra last time out while Brett Thompson’s Chatteriz has won two on the bounce and Gillie Mooch and We’ll Take Cash, both trained at Dubbo by Justin Stanley, scored in their most recent races.

With temperatures expected to sore again this weekend, Brown said plans were already in place to make the day safe and enjoyable for horse and human alike.

Brown also added plans for the Wellington Boot carnival are “coming along well”.