Wagga trainer Peter Morgan is confident his talented galloper, Bulala, will be able to handle the step up in distance in Sunday’s $150,000 SDRA Country Championships Qualifier (1400m) at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club.
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The lightly-raced five-year-old heads into the feature after back-to-back wins at Albury (1175m) in December and Wagga (1200m) in February.
Bulala hasn’t raced over more than 1200m but the extra furlong holds no fears for Morgan.
“I don’t think that’s any problem,” Morgan said.
“I’d say he’s harder now than what he was. I think he was still probably on the way up (at Wagga). I think he’s trained on well since then.”
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Bulala has won four of his 10 career starts. In fact, he’s unbeaten on local tracks in the last 12 months, with his previous preparation last winter yielding a win at Gundagai first-up, before three trips to Sydney to contest Highway Handicaps.
Bulala is a $4.80 second favourite, behind the Scott Spackman-trained O’ So Hazy Graham Hulm’s Supplyzing ($9) is the only other runner at single-figure odds.
Barrier 15 isn’t ideal but Morgan will rely on the judgement of experienced jockey Mathew Cahill.
“I’ll just tell Mat to do his best,” Morgan said.
The first two horses home earn a start in the $500,000 Country Championships Final (1400m) at Randwick on April 7.
Morgan said Sunday’s race has always been the plan for Bulala and MTC chief executive Scott Sanbrook said it reflects the growing focus on the event.
“The Country Championships have proven to be a wonderful concept and they continue to build in momentum,” Sanbrook said.
“We are seeing trainers set their horses 12 months out for the Qualifier and this is reflected by the depth of this year’s race.”
The winner’s purse is $80,000. For a race restricted to horses trained in the SDRA, it means the event rivals Gold Cup week in importance for local trainers.
Sunday’s meeting also features the $35,000 Tom Patton Cup (1800m) as well as a $40,000 maiden. Every other race carries $30,000 in prizemoney.
There’s plenty of action off the track at the MTC too, for the return of the race to Wagga after it was held in Albury last year.
Three lucky racegoers will receive a windfall courtesy of the “Win A Horse For The Day” draw. There is $2000 in cash up for grabs, with $1250 going to the patron who draws the winner of the SDRA Country Championship Qualifier.
Free entry is via a coupon in the racebook and all horses in the Qualifier will drawn at 3.30pm.
Sanbrook said there will also be free kids entertainment, a DJ playing throughout the afternoon and hospitality at the Uni Bar.
