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You know it’s Country Championships time when the preview races start popping up around the countryside and Thursday’s Albury program will lead the charge.
Albury Racing Club will stage the $27,000 Border Bandag (Tyre Service) Southern Districts Country Championships Preview (1175m) on a seven-race TAB program.
Local trainer Mitchell Beer has nominated four well-performed runners for the race – Sunrise Ruby, Hardware Lane, Flying Sultan and Well In Sight.
Sunrise Ruby is a Randwick winner, Hardware Lane is city-placed, Flying Sultan is a four-time winner and Well in Sight is a track specialist, having won all four of his races around Albury.
Sunrise Ruby appears one of the better chances with the mare not being seen since finishing fourth to Miss Madison at Warwick Farm on the October long weekend.
Another Albury-trained galloper Clever Art, who is prepared by Donna Scott, could well become Beer's biggest hurdle.
The mare was a close second at Wangaratta on debut before winning her next three starts at Albury (twice) and Corowa.
Her last victory at Corowa was especially impressive, coming from last on the turn to swoop past the leaders and go to the line eased down to score by nearly two lengths.
Another Albury trainer Ron Stubbs will be represented by Baledon – a Rosehill Gardens TAB Highway winner in August – and Race Against Time who is a Morphettville winner having only raced twice for the Stubbs stable.
Also entered for the Preview is last start Wagga winner Dantain's Magic who will be resuming from a 10-week let-up for trainer Doug Gorrel.
Gorrel will also be starting Brothers of Antrim who was runner-up to top Country Championships contender Kappy's Angel at Wagga last time out.
Albury will host the $150,000 Newhaven Park Southern Districts Association Country Championships qualifier (1400m) on Saturday 25 February.
The day is a Racing NSW Country Showcase race meeting providing a total of $370,000 in prizemoney.
Port Macquarie will follow Albury next Sunday with their $27,000 Mid North Coast Country Championships Preview (1200m).
And the following day is Bathurst's turn in the spotlight with the $27,000 Central Districts Country Championships Preview (1200m).
Mudgee trainer Mack Griffith has already nominated four-time race winner Amicus Curiae for the Bathurst preview.
The big one – the Newhaven Park Country Championships Final (1400m) – will be run at Royal Randwick on Saturday 1 April.
UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Dubbo
Tuesday: Grafton
Thursday: Albury
Friday: Walcha
Saturday: Gilgandra, Walcha (non-TAB), Braidwood (non-TAB)
Sunday: Goulburn, Port Macquarie
