The Murrumbidgee Turf Club was reluctantly forced into the move because the main surface isn’t yet suitable for racing after significant drainage work. 

Wagga’s Gary Colvin and Tumut’s Kerry Weir trained the minor placegetters in Monday’s prelude on the inner track and said it’s a shame the $30,000 feature would also be on the Riverside course.

“We were hoping it’d be on the main track,” Weir said.

“The Riverside, it’s doing the job but it’s a horses-for courses track, it suits the leaders. It’s not ideal. We’ll nominate (Bondo) but we were hoping it be 1600 on the main track.

“But there’s not much you can do. You’ve got to work on the track when you need to. It had to be done.”

The race will be over 1660 metres and the field restricted to 12 runners. Colvin’s prelude runner-up, Danetrille, may not be among them.

“It’s not the ideal for a Ted Ryder Cup,” Colvin said. “That’s my opinion. It’s just not suitable.

“They should’ve looked to hold it over or something.”

The MTC acknowledges it’s disappointing but says there was no alternative. Changing the date wasn’t an option in fairness to horses set for the event.

Sending an iconic Wagga race to another club was never likely, particularly as the MTC contributes the proportion of the prizemoney that makes it a feature. 

Colvin is considering sending Danetrille to Warwick Farm on Saturday instead, for a 1600m Highway Handicap. He said that was partly out of concern for the four-year-old’s ratings prospects but the Riverside course is also a factor.

“It doesn’t suit my horse,” Colvin said.

“He likes to settle and come from behind and it disadvantages those horses there. The front runners get an advantage. He should’ve won (the prelude)... It’s a real leaders-bias track on the inside (track).”

Meanwhile, Colvin said stablemate Forever Newyork will have a short break after his third placing in last Saturday’s Highway Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill. 

“It was a pretty strong race, he acquitted himself well. I think he could improve on that run too, I think it would’ve topped him off but I’ve got to bite the bullet and go for the (country) championships next year.

“He’ll have a couple of weeks off over Christmas and hope Santa Claus comes to him… see if he gives him a bit more speed.”

Forever Newyork was second in the SDRA qualifer this year earning a run in the $500,000 final at Randwick. He hasn’t been out of a placing in three runs this preparation.