The Hawkesbury Gold Cup has figured in a new-season move in a shift designed to strengthen NSW provincial racing's involvement in the Sydney spring carnival.

Run for $150,000 at Group Three level, the Cup has been brought forward from a November timeslot to August.

It will be held on August 22 and as a 1600m race, it will provide a suitable lead-in to the $150,000 Wyong Gold Cup (2100m) on September 6 and the $175,000 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) on September 19.

"We felt the race was being overshadowed by the Melbourne spring carnival and would be better placed as a lead-up race to the Wyong and Newcastle Cups," Hawkesbury chief executive Brian Fletcher said.

Support races during the new meeting will include the Ted McCabe Memorial, a $50,000 race for restricted-class horses.

Recent Hawkesbury Gold Cup winners have been Darci Be Good (2012), Somepin Anypin (2011) and Thankgodyou'rhere (2010).

The latest switch in dates for the Cup is the third such move in modern times with the race once a vital lead-up to the Villiers Stakes when it was run in December.