One of Geraldton’s top trainers says he is getting ready for another run at the race that bears the name of his home town next month.

Reigning trainer of the year Graeme Hammarquist had his second win of the season at Geraldton Turf Club on Thursday — seven meets in — but said the timing was right for a tilt at the Walkaway Cup on January 27 after Black Money came in first in race four.

“That horse, he doesn’t even fire up until he’s done 1900m,” Hammarquist said.

“Adding an extra 35m today made the difference.

“We’re setting him for the Walkaway Cup.

“That’s where he’s aimed.”

Stablemate and Carnarvon Cup winner Marxian might be in the barrier alongside the six-year-old, owned by Walkaway Cup sponsor and Mt Augustus Tourist Park operator Don Hammarquist, Graeme’s brother.

That’s if Marxian doesn’t get weighted out.

“We’re working on three (runners) at the moment, including Marxian,” Graeme Hammarquist said.

“It depends on what they do for the weight.

“If they won’t let us claim then he won’t be going around.”

Hammarquist is a Walkaway local but had never won the Cup until Freez’emoff got up in 2020.

Walkaway, which at the most recent census had a population of 270, was once a thriving metropolis — even having its own racetrack.

The Walkaway Cup is one of the oldest races on the WA calendar.

Dark Peak won in race one at Geraldton for local trainer Kim Anderson, while Corn Cob saluted in race two for Julia Martin.

Nurhaci won race three for Karnup-based trainer Adam Durrant and Serpentine-based trainer Ben Owen had a win in race five with Interstate.

It was a good day for the city-based trainers, with Three Sessions winning race five for Bullsbrook-based Barry Newnham.

Local stalwart Willie Parker had a win in race seven with Tricky Trix — the third for the five-year-old in the past five starts, which have also included a third placing — and Quan won race eight for Sean Rains.