TOLGA trainer Darryl Paradise will be seeking home-town success when likely favourite and top weight Sky Mountain lines up in today%u2019s Eacham Place Produce Malanda Cup.

The six-year-old bay gelding has won three of his past four starts, including a last-start win at Innisfail on New Year's Day.

Those three wins have come over 900, 1000 and 1250m, meaning the 1100m distance of today's feature race should pose few problems.

Neither should a Tolga track which has had little rain on it in the past week.

Atherton Turf Club officials are predicting about 500 punters will be trackside for the Australia Day weekend meeting.

Paradise said Sky Mountain was always competitive, but there were many dangers in the six-horse field.

"He's a pretty competitive horse, and he’s been racing well, but there are no certainties in racing," Paradise said.

The main threats to Paradise winning the cup appear to come from Stoney Planet, Enzeel or Unite And Prosper.

Stoney Planet, out of the Atherton stable of Graham Purdy, looks more suited to the longer distances, and Purdy was worried the Malanda Cup would be too short for his nine-year-old gelding.

"He pulled up well from Innisfail last weekend, but he’s probably dropping back in distance which is not in his favour," he said.

"I probably would have run him in Townsville, but you have to support the home-club meetings." Jason Stopps will get the ride on Stoney Planet, who has an excellent record at Tolga, winning four and placing in eight of his nine starts at the track.

The Atherton-trained Enzeel will start from the inside barrier as he looks for his first win since last May at Gordonvale.

The best Cairns-trained hope looms as Unite And Prosper, trained by Glen Baker. Whether the nine-year-old veteran has fully recovered from a virus remains the question on his chances, but like Stoney Planet, he has a liking for the Tableland track.

The Malanda Cup is the last of a five-race card, starting at 4pm. Racing action starts at 1pm with a Maiden Plate over 1100m.