3 minute read
The Country Championship series has struck a chord with regional trainers with a full field accepting for the opening heat on Saturday.
Sixteen acceptors plus four emergencies have been assembled for the Sera Country Championships Qualifier (1400m) at Goulburn.
The winner and second-placed horses in this heat and seven others to be run across the State will qualify for the rich final at Randwick during The Championships on April 4.
Canberra provides eight of the final acceptors for the Goulburn heat with Matthew Dale – Karakuchi, Northern Fury and Hermosa Beach – and the Barbara Joseph and Paul Jones partnership – Bank On Henry, Because We All Can and Darts Away – each providing three runners.
Danny Williams provides five of the seven runners from Goulburn, his charges including Shutter Bug, Ashjata and La Bella Rouge, plus the emergencies Istanbul and Tiger By The Tale.
Other leading chances include Bring A Secret for Nick Olive, Hudson County for Joe Cleary and Lofty’s Menu for John Bateman.
The TAB has Dale’s Hermosa Beach as a joint favourite to win the Country Championships Final at Randwick at $11.
Others in the Goulburn heat well in the market for the final include Bring A Secret, Karakuchi, Lofty’s Menu and Shutter Bug all at $15.