Leading Wagga trainer Trevor Sutherland hopes to continue his run of success at the Wellington Boot showcase meeting on Sunday.
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Sutherland has enjoyed a big couple of weeks that kicked off with Demanding Mo's win in the Albury Guineas, followed by an open company double at Wagga on Monday courtesy of Azaryah and Real Key.
Sutherland is no stranger to Wellington Boot success and has the meeting picked out again, nominating six horses for the meeting.
Sutherland has two of the 21 nominations in the $200,000 Wellington Boot (1100m) in Charming Pat and Mortal Engine.
Sutherland has a high opinion of the unraced Mortal Engine and hopes the Unencumbered two-year-old can sneak into the field.
"He's a very nice horse," Sutherland said.
"He trialled at Wagga (on Monday) and trialled nice. He ran fourth but wasn't shaken up.
"I want to get into the Boot with him but I'm not sure he'll get in, being a first starter. Hopefully he can sneak into the field.
"He will go to Singapore in time but he's good enough to stay here and win races."
Mortal Engine led in his trial on Monday and was not knocked about when fourth behind Mitchell Beer's import Enzed Beer, formerly known as Bobby Dazzler.
The two-year-old is owned by Singapore clients of Sutherland.
Chris Heywood is another Southern District trainer eyeing off the Wellington meeting.
He has Fermanagh Lad nominated for the Wellington Town Plate, as well as Corazon de Oro, Fabulous Fran and Cherry Pie in supporting races.
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WODONGA trainer Craig Widdison has been disqualified for two years.
Widdison was handed the punishment by Victoria's Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board on Wednesday.
Widdison was charged with three offences, two of which were eventually droped, all relating to an elevated bicarb reading taken from Cash Crisis at Sandown in February last year.
Widdison is a regular in the Southern District Racing Association (SDRA) despite his base across the border and finished equal second in the 2017-18 trainer's premiership.
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IT'S showtime for Southern District's two representatives in the Country Championships Final at Randwick on Saturday.
The SDRA will be represented by Albury mares Sky Call and Bennelong Dancer.
With the restrictions in place for jockeys, Glen Boss will replace Teo Nugent on Sky Call, who has come up with barrier 10.
Albury trainer Donna Scott has booked Rachel King for Bennelong Dancer, who has drawn barrier 15 but will come in several gates after scratchings.
Both camps could not be happier with their mares.
Beer's sister Ash rides Sky Call in all her trackwork and rated her work last Friday as the best she has done.
Beer is thrilled to have Boss on with the pair previously combining for group three success in Melbourne.
Bennelong Dancer did her final piece of work on Tuesday morning and trainer Donna Scott said she is in outstanding order.
It will be Bennelong Dancer's third consecutive Country Championships final after running fourth and third at her past two attempts.
The prizemoney for the final has been reduced by Racing NSW from $500,000 to $400,000 due to the impact coronavirus is having on the industry.
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GOULBURN trainer Kurt Goldman believes there is a bright future ahead for Private Agent after his win on debut at Wagga on Monday.
Private Agent bolted in by 4.4 lengths when winning the Tarcoola Turf 2YO Handicap (1000m) at Wagga. They didn't forget to back the gelding either as he started the $2.90 favourite after as much as $8.00 was available in early betting.
Goldman did have idea of taking the two-year-old to Queensland for the winter carnival, but with the restrictions now in place, is happy to bide his time.
Goldman believes Private Agent will develop into an ideal 'Guineas horse'.
"He's still a fair way off and will need time to fill out and mature," Goldman said.
"What he's doing now is only on natural ability and I don't want to fry him.
"I won't spell him but I might give him say five weeks between runs now. I think he's a real Guineas horse over a mile."
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EXPERIENCED jockey Mathew Cahill was suspended for his ride on Jodhpur at Wagga on Monday.
Cahill pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding after he attempted to force a run to the inside of Il Professionale halfway down the straight, that forced it to clip heels and blunder.
Cahill was suspended from April 6 to April 19. Jodhpur charged home to run second.
Apprentice jockey Amy McLuas also picked up a suspension, from April 6 to April 12, for careless riding on Basil.
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TALENTED Wagga mare Lady Mironton's Gold Cup campaign has been abandoned.
The mare has undergone surgery to have a bone chip in her knee removed and will have six months in the paddock.
The Carroll stable has also retired Rock 'N' Roller due to injury.
The son of Pierro won four of his 13 starts but struggled in recent times due to injury.
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SNAKE Gully Cup winner Don't Give A Damn has also been retired.
Owned by Keith Carmody at Young, Don't Give A Damn won eight of his 21 starts and amassed $556,000 in prizemoney.
The six-year-old as injured last week at trackwork and connections made the decision to retire the son of Bon Hoffa.
Don't Give A Damn won the Snake Gully Cup at Gundagai last November and was a five-time city winner.
He ran second in the 2018 Country Championships Final, and fourth in the inaugural Kosciuszko and seventh in last year's edition.
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THERE was just one late nomination for Sunday's $32,000 Gundagai Cup (1800m).
The late nomination of Albury stayer Footmark took the overall nominations to 12.
The clash with the Wellington Boot meeting, a showcase card, would not have helped, while race meetings at Canberra on Friday and Albury (non-TAB) on Saturday means there are plenty of options around for SDRA horses.
It might have been a smart decisions by the connections of Footmark, with plenty of rain predicted for the region late in the week.
Last-start city winner Zoffany's Lad has been given the top weight of 63 kilograms for the Cup. Cisco Bay is next with 61kg.
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WHAT'S ON
GALLOPS
Saturday: Albury (non-TAB)
Sunday: Gundagai (TAB)
TROTS
Friday: Wagga (TAB)
Sunday: Wagga (TAB)
Tuesday: Wagga (TAB)
DOGS
Thursday: Wagga (TAB)