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In-form mare Takissacod has two feature race assignments ahead of her in the next two weeks commencing with the Stan Sadlier Stakes (1400m) at Wagga on Friday.
Takissacod, who will be ridden by Wagga jockey Nick Heywood, has only started twice for current trainer Donna Scott winning first-up at Queanbeyan before running second at Warwick Farm.
Donna Scott [pictured left] said the plan was to start Takissacod, a placegetter in last year's Country Championships qualifier at Wagga when prepared by Norm Loy, in Sydney earlier this week.
"The owners would like to win a metropolitan class race with her for breeding purposes so that will be one of her goals," Scott said.
"The distance got changed for the race and then the meeting was transferred to another track in Sydney so Wagga was the better option when that happened.
"I couldn't be happier with how she is going and I think she is fairly weighted with 59 kilograms so hopefully she can win."
Takissacod has drawn well in barrier two and Scott expects the five-year-old to settle just off the speed and be too strong for her opponents.
Last year Sky Call captured the Stan Sadlier for Albury trainer Mitchell Beer who will be represented on Friday by impressive last start winner Branders Rule.
The former Peter Moody-trained galloper is unbeaten in two local starts at Albury and was only two and a half lengths from the winner when sixth at Benalla in between those starts.
Jockey Simon Miller has been in charge for both wins on Banders Rule who had a four kilogram weight advantage from Takissacod.
The topweight Upper House is proven in this class and is a three-time winner at Wagga where he also took out the Ted Ryder Cup in December.
Thistledo is nearing another win and ran third last time out at Wagga behind the Scott-trained Oamanikka. It was the mare's second start back from a spell and she is likely to head next in the same direction as Takissacod.
Scott plans to start her mare in the $100,000 Snake Gully Cup (1400m) at Gundagai on November 12 before returning to Sydney trying for that elusive metropolitan win.
"They are both good races for this area and if she can win on Friday she will then go to Gundagai," Scott explained. "She will relax well just off the speed and should get every chance from where she is drawn."
Heywood also has a strong chance of capturing one of the other feature races – the MTC Mad Scramble (1000m) with Forever Newyork. There are again a host of major chances with Shores Of Avalon, Oriental Runner, Magnavale and Proud Mia all capable of winning.
The speed test is in stark contrast to the Mountaineer Cup which will be held over 3200 metres – the same distance as the Melbourne Cup.
The test of stamina sees Barmah Al return to Wagga after his last start victory at the course for Echuca trainer Daryl Archard and jockey Brendan Ward. In a stirring duel over the concluding stages of the 2500 metres, Barmah Al just managed to hold out Fiorzana which he faces again.
Dismayed ran third in the same race and will start again on Friday, while last start Orange winner Will To Excel brings new form into the series. Will To Excel was having only his third start for new trainer James Ponsonby and like most of the horses he is against hasn't been tested at the two miles.
Ward said Barmah Al had the strength and stamina to stay the distance. Barmah Al has a win and a second to his name over 2500 metres at Wagga and has also been successful at 2837 metres at Echuca.
"He gets over the distance so that won't be a problem. The long distance races are often less tactical and you have a lot more time to think, but you also have to be mindful of other things," he said. "They can go very slow in these races so you have to consider what best suits your horse."
