RACING
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EXPERIENCED Wagga jockey Andy Bloomfield rates Heysen a live chance at Canterbury on Friday night as he heads to Sydney for a rare metropolitan ride.
There will be a Southern District flavour to Friday night's meeting at Canterbury with both the Wayne Carroll-trained Heysen and last-start Lilly Pilly Cup winner Golden Sally engaged.
Bloomfield only has a handful of metropolitan rides a year but is more than happy to make the quick trip to Sydney to partner Heysen in the $40,000 Benchmark 75 Handicap (1900m).
Heysen is rated a $17 chance with TAB but Bloomfield believes Heysen is a live chance.
"I think he should race well," Bloomfield said.
"Racing in the city in general, it's always harder there but I don't think it's an overly strong race.
"I think it's a suitable race in town for him.
"He's come back good, except for when we had the fall, his record is pretty good so he deserves a chance."
Heysen finished strongly to score at Canberra over 1600 metres last start.
He has placed in metropolitan grade on a Saturday when second at Caulfield in May last year.
The five-year-old has since undergone surgery earlier this year but has returned in fine fashion this preparation.
Heysen has drawn barrier five in Friday night's seven-horse field and Bloomfield is not overly worried about where he settles.
Bloomfield's last metropolitan winner came back in 2005 when he scored on Sheedy's Sheila for Brett Cavanough at Warwick Farm.
The opportunity to ride in Sydney is not something that bothers Bloomfield.
"I don't mind it, but it doesn't faze me," he said.
"If they put me on, I'm happy to go and ride, but I understand if owners want to try the big Sydney jockeys.
"It's good to get recognition off owners when they do want to put you on up there."
Also rated a $17 chance is the Peter Clancy-trained Golden Sally in the $40,000 Benchmark 75 Handicap (1100m).
Wagga apprentice John Kissick will return to the 'big smoke' after finishing his time with Chris Waller in June.
Golden Sally, after leading all the way to win at her last start, faces barrier 10 in the 11-horse field.
Meantime, Wagga trainer Gary Colvin has two of the better-performed horses from his stable in action on Friday.
Zatigeroo will tackle the Benchmark 70 Handicap (1200m) at Canberra, while Miss Bemuse is down to run in a Benchmark 70 Handicap (1170m) at Wangaratta.