3 minute read

Local trainer Donna Scott will use this week’s Albury Cup carnival to complete the NSW Country Championship preparation of her impressive final qualifier Bennelong Dancer.

Bennelong Dancer staked a big claim for the $500,000 Country Championship Final over 1400m at Randwick on April 6 when she won the southern districts qualifying heat at Albury on February 23 by dominant 3.5 lengths as a short-priced favourite.

The heat win left Scott having to map out a program for Bennelong Dancer to fill in the six weeks gap from the qualifying heat to the final.

Her first intention was to start Bennelong Dancer in Thursday’s $50,000 Albury City Handicap (1175m), the feature sprint on the first day of the Albury Cup carnival.

However the Albury trainer has now decided to take advantage of a barrier trial that is scheduled for Thursday’s meeting.

"I've decided against racing her at Albury and she will trial after the last race on Thursday instead," Scott said.

"I haven't done a lot with her since she won. She’s had two gallops on the grass and now we have got the trial.

"She won’t race again before the Final. We plan to give her a nice hit out in the trial.”

Bennelong Dancer finished fourth in last year’s Country Championship Final won by Victorem after finishing second in the SDRA qualifier at Wagga when she was still eligible for Class 2 races.

She has gone ahead over the last 12 months with the lightly-raced 5YO mare now boasting four wins from her 16 starts.

Bennelong Dancer is sharing the third line of betting for the Country Championship Final at $11.00 with Sunday’s Grafton heat winner La Scopa favourite at $4.50.

Wagga-trained mare Lady Mironton, the other SDRA qualifier for the Country Championship Final after finishing second to Bennelong Dancer in the Albury heat, may also contest Thursday’s barrier trial at Albury.

Lady Mironton was nominated for Thursday’s Albury City Handicap but Wagga trainer Wayne Carroll did not declare her an acceptor after indicating that he prefers the trial for his 4YO mare.

Lady Mironton has raced only 13 times for three wins and six placings.

Mudgee trainer Mr Cameron Crockett has advised Racing NSW Stewards that Soul Secrets, winner of the CDRA Country Championships Qualifier, has sustained an off hind lameness.

Soul Secrets was transported to Randwick Equine Centre for treatment and stewards have received a veterinary certificate declaring that she is unsuitable to race in the Country Championships Final on April 6.

Following consultation with Racing NSW Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Toby Koenig, the mare has been withdrawn from the Final.

The stewards also received certification from Mudgee Veterinary Hospital that Barbass, which was the CDRA Qualifier 1st emergency when placed 3rd, has been found to have laryngeal paralysis and will undergo surgery to treat the condition.

After consultation with Dr Koenig, the gelding has been withdrawn from the Final.

Ori On Fire, which was placed 4th in the CDRA Qualifier, now gains a start in the Country Championships Final.

Ori On Fire is not eligible to compete in the Country Championships Wildcard to be conducted at Muswellbrook this Sunday.