LEADING Wagga trainer Chris Heywood may be undecided on what race High Opinion will resume in on Friday but he knows one thing for sure – there are exciting times ahead.
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High Opinion is one of Southern District’s most exciting staying prospects and he will be one of the leading chances for the $100,000 Country Championship heat at Wagga later this month.
The four-year-old resumes from a spell at Murrumbidgee Turf Club on Friday but what race he takes part in is still to be decided.
High Opinion has been given the top weight of 61 kilograms in the SDRA Country Championship Prelude – Class Four Handicap (1300m).
He also has 61.5kg in the Bedrock Landscape Supplies Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m).
Heywood will talk to the owners of High Opinion before they decide what race they use as a final lead-up to the $100,000 feature on February 27.
“That’s a good question, I still haven’t decided,” Heywood said.
“I’m probably leaning a little bit towards the 1200 metre race but I still haven’t made up my mind.
“He goes well off a run so I don’t think it will worry him too much.
“Second up last time he was beaten by a nostril at Canberra so he goes good second up.”
With the Country Championships along with Albury, Canberra and Wagga carnivals coming up, Heywood is happy with how High Opinion has returned.
“He’s not far off,” he said.
“I reckon he will race well (on Friday) because he always races well.
“Obviously this is not his ultimate goal though, that’s coming up.”
High Opinion is not Heywood’s only horse that he has set for the Country Championships.
Imperious resumed with an eye-catching second behind Bring A Secret at Wagga on Australia Day and will contest the SDRA Country Championship Prelude – Class Four Handicap (1300m) on Friday as his final hit out before the $100,000 heat.
“He’s going super, I’m pretty happy with him,” Heywood said.
“I think he will give them a run for his money on Friday.”
Mitchell Road may also head to the Country Championships heat but he will contest the Bedrock Landscape Supplies Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m) on Friday after another second placing last time out at Albury.
“He’s in the best form of his career,” Heywood said.
“I reckon he will give it a real shake.
“I’ll see what he does Friday before I make my mind up with him but I would like to send him to the Championships. He was only beaten three and a half lengths in it last year and I’m not sure this year will be as strong. He’s a lot stronger now too.”
Heywood has seven horses in total set to run on Friday and he rates them all as legitimate chances.
“I think they will all race well,” he said.
“There is seven running and they are all in good form or first up.”
