That is the case again but this time the big screen is here to stay.

MTC has invested close to $100,000 in a seven metre by four metre big screen that will stay as a permanent feature at Wagga.

The big screen sits two metres off the ground and is situated 50 metres from the winning post.

It has been erected and a few technical issues are being finalised to have it operating for next week's two big days of the Gold Cup carnival.

The big screen will double as the club's semaphore board and can be used to screen replays, Sky Channel and advertising.

MTC chief executive Scott Sanbrook believes it will be a popular addition for race goers.

"We think it will be a great asset for racegoers," Sanbrook said.

"They won't miss a beat of the action.

"It will also be good for the club as far as sponsors go."

The late MTC director John Clark was one of the main instigators behind the development.

Sanbrook said it would have made Clark proud to see it in operation at next week's Cup.

"It's been two years in the planning stage," Sanbrook said.

"One of the great instigators was John Clark.

"Clarky would have been extremely proud to see it up and going in action at Cup time."

...

ALBURY trainer Brett Cavanough has welcomed metropolitan winner Number One Gun to his stable.

Formerly trained by John O'Shea, Number One Gun has been in the paddock since a last-start 12th in the $328,000 Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at Gold Coast.

Number One Gun was recently purchased by Perth businessman Emile Panossian, owner of Niblick, who has sent the horse to Cavanough.

Number One Gun is nominated for Flemington on Friday but will not go with the $85,000 Wagga Town Plate a possible first-up option.

"He's got a few issues but he can gallop," Cavanough said.

"He might be my Town Plate horse."

Number One Gun is a winner of $212,000 in prizemoney with four wins and eight placings from 21 starts.

Cavanough also nominated Loved Up, Boys On Tour and Ceccanti for Flemington on Friday.

Cavanough has nominated Scatcat, Price Of Glory and Niblick for Sportingbet Park, Sandown, on Saturday but they are unlikely to go.

Scatcat is a possible starter in the Wagga Town Plate, while Price Of Glory and Niblick are likely to head to the Wagga Gold Cup, especially if it is wet.

Cavanough's other exciting three-year-olds, Just A Bullet and The Monstar, have both been sent to the paddock, while Bossdon City bled from both nostrils at Tocumwal last Saturday.

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ONE jockey happy just to be alive, let alone riding, at Murrumbidgee Turf Club yesterday was Rebecca Williams.

The young Victorian apprentice made her comeback to race riding at Tocumwal last Saturday and followed up with three rides at Wagga yesterday.

Williams was about to celebrate her 21st birthday in April last year when she suffered a terrible accident at the track.

Just as she was about to mount Steelmore at Kerang's Easter race meeting, when another horse bumped him and the grey gelding kicked Williams in the chest, catapulting her five metres.

Williams' heart stopped for six minutes and she eventually underwent heart surgery along with other complications in the recovery process.

But some 12 months later, she is back doing what she loves and Williams' return proved popular on course at Wagga yesterday, as she received plenty of well wishes.

Williams is no stranger to the Southern District and was apprenticed to Brett Cavanough at Albury for some time.

She rode Maxport for her mother Jennifer Williams in the MTC Country Cup yesterday.

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MURRUMBIDGEE Turf Club director Brett Bradley looks to have another quality racehorse on his hands.

Bradley is part-owner of Our Voodoo Prince, winner of the $150,000 group three Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield last Saturday.

Our Voodoo Prince is another Chris Waller-trained import that has now won all three of his Australian starts.

The stable has now suggested the six-year-old will head for a spell with some of the big races in the Spring in mind.

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FORMER Southern District apprentice John Kissick will be on board Devised in Friday week's $140,000 Wagga Gold Cup (2000m).

Kissick was given the nod by Wagga trainer Tim Donnelly last week.

"He goes well for him," Donnelly said.

"John was out for a while and I just wanted to see if he was back in form, which he obviously is.

"When you get to the metro jockeys they want to leave it as long as possible before committing, apart from if the horse is flying, so it was good to jump in and get John."

Kissick has ridden Devised in the past two Wagga Gold Cups where they have been beaten a nose on both occasions.

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NOMINATIONS for the two big days of the Wagga Gold Cup carnival close on Friday.

The nominations close at 11am on Friday and will be released to the public shortly afterwards.

Weights will be released on Monday afternoon and the fields on Tuesday morning.

The barrier draw for the Wagga Gold Cup will be conducted at the Wagga Marketplace at 9.30am.

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WAGGA sprinter Living On A Prayer rounded off his Wagga Town Plate preparation at Caulfield last Saturday.

Living On A Prayer settled well back and appeared a little lost around the bend before finishing strongly for 10th, beaten 4.7 lengths, by Pago Rock.

Last year's Town Plate winner Unanimously finished a narrow second in the same race after being wide for the majority of the 1100 metre trip.

Trainer Matthew Dale plans to set Unanimously for the race in a bid to go back-to-back.

Another Town Plate contender, Play Master, ran a strong race at Caulfield on Monday when second behind Written Intent.

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LOCALLY owned mare Zakynthos Star has produced her first group winner.

Zakynthos Star's son Divine Ten continued his rise up the ranks when he took out the group three Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1000m).

Divine Ten is trained by Me Tsui and has won five of his six race starts.

Zakynthos Lodge Racing Stables owner Tony Loukissas hopes the win will attract some attention for her next foal, a colt by Congrats.

Loukissas also said that Zakynthos Lodge looks like firing with all cylinders again with its eager anticipation of young Todd Smart obtaining his trainer's licence and locating in Wagga.

Smart, formerly of Gundagai, will have the full support of Loukissas.

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GOULBURN-based jockey Richard Bensley reached his 50th win of the season last Sunday.

Bensley brought up his 50th victory when guiding Go Marching In to victory at Nowra last Sunday.

Bensley, a regular rider in the Southern District, could have had more had he not been sidelined for several weeks with a broken bone in his wrist.

The jockey recently also won six events at the Sydney Easter Show in carriage driving.

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DENILIQUIN Racing Club will hold its annual Anzac Day meeting on Friday.

The club has received 77 nominations for the five-race card.

The $6000 Deniliquin RSL Club & Roy Higgins Memorial Diggers Cup will be the feature, a Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1400 metres.

Last-start Tocumwal winner Spaghetti Western, My Southern Slew, Partexpectation, Ruby Diamonds and Racers 'N' Chasers are among the nominations.

...

What's On

Racing

Friday: Deniliquin (non-TAB)

Harness Racing

Friday: Coolamon (TAB)

Saturday: Leeton (TAB)

Sunday: West Wyalong (TAB)

Greyhound Racing

Friday: Wagga (TAB)