ALFREDTOWN trainer Jake Stockton will have his second runner in a final of the Menangle Country Series in as many months after stable newcomer Colin John won his heat of the lucrative series at Wagga on Friday.
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After being purchased by Stockton for $2000 the five-year-old won two of his six starts and been placed on two more occasions, earning almost $8000 and will be in a $25,000 race at Menangle on June 29.
Last Friday's win also saw Stockton claim a $2500 Breeders Challenge Owners Bonus Scheme certificate for the gelding's first non-restricted win in NSW.
"He's flying Colin and he just seems to like it out at home," Stockton said.
"I don't know what the secret is with him."
Before moving to Stockton's yard Colin John hadn't been placed in a race since November and hadn't won since September 2012.
Stockton will start the gelding at Young on Friday before the race at Menangle and thinks the big circuit will suit.
"I think he's better sitting off the speed, and if he happens to draw good the track should suit him as he's doing his best work on the line at the moment," Stockton said.
Its Girl Power finished finished seventh in her Menangle Country Series for Stockton last month, but believes Colin John has a much better chance of success.
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WINNERS come in all shapes and sizes but young Wagga trainer-driver Jay O'Mara can lay claim to a unusual way to bring up his first winner.
Still finding his feet in the sport, O'Mara finished a head second behind Blitz Em Wendy at Junee's meeting on March 23 with Torque About Power.
In her 10th start it was the mare's only placing, but after Blitz Em Wendy was disqualified the race, it has now become O'Mara's first win as both a trainer and driver.
The 23-year-old would love to find the line first in a race, but is still happy to get the win.
"It is unusual and it sort of doesn't feel like a first win, but I supposed it is still classed that way," O'Mara said.
"I would like to win a race outright, but its good to get to the win."
O'Mara will get his chance when Torque About Power returns to the track.
The four-year-old mare had a month off shortly after the Junee race and will be back at the trials in the coming weeks.
Blitz Em Wendy was disqualified after heptaminol was found in a post race swab.
Canberra trainer Graham McLeod was disqualified for 12 months after pleading guilty to presenting his horse to race not free of a prohibited substance and for administering to his horse a prohibited substance.
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DAVID Kennedy has aborted Vicbred Super Series plans with NSW Oaks winner Shes A Runa after the filly finished last in her heat at Shepparton on Thursday.
The Euroley trainer decided to send her to the paddock following her fourth unplaced effort in her last five starts.
After winning seven of her first nine starts this season, which included the $200,000 NSW Oaks, the three-year-old filly has won one of her next five starts.
"I didn't think we were going to qualify for the final after running sixth the other night, but then they only run four heats so she has qualified but I've already tipped her out," Kennedy said.
"I don't think she is going as good as she was when she won Bathurst and I think she's sick of travelling and I know I am."
After Kennedy realised she had qualified for the semi-final he considered bringing her back into work, but after he couldn't catch her in the paddock decided to leave her there.
Kennedy wasn't too disappointed in her last run, but from a wide gate against quality opposition the pair were always going to face a tough task.
"When (Mindarie Priddy) drew barrier one I knew it was going to be a one horse affair, if we had of drawn one and it drew where we drew (5), I'm not saying we would have beaten it, but we probably run second sitting on its back," Kennedy said.
"I've probably been a bit kind to her late in her runs and she probably needed a little bit more work as she was going to run fourth or fifth until the last 50 yards until she had had enough."
With concerns over the change of race programming in NSW next season, Kennedy suggested his star filly won't return for a big preparation next season.
"There isn't much use coming back as a four-year-old and racing as a free-for-aller I'll probably get her back for the Vicbred next year and that will be about it," Kennedy said.
"Have an easy year and then maybe come back as a five-year-old, but I really don't know."
With no open two-year-old race programmed at Wagga tomorrow Kennedy will start Sporty Spook in a C0-C1 race.
Not an ideal situation, but Kennedy wanted to race the gelding finished fourth in his semi-final of the NSW Breeders Challenge at Menangle on Saturday.
Kennedy also has Amanda Von engaged in a three-year-old fillies NSW Breeders Challenge semi-final on Saturday night.
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KERRYANN Turner and Redbank Lodge Standardbreds manager Paul Kahlefeldt combined for a double in the Winter Championship heat at Menangle on Saturday night.
In the M0-M1 series, Lettucefib ($3.80) won the third heat of the series before stablemate Zenable ($10.30) made it a race-to-race double to score by a neck.
Zenable set a new personal best of 1:53.9 in the win and both have now qualified for the $30,000 penalty free final of the series on June 29.
The final is the last leg of the NSW Rising Stars where Todd Prest and Liam Armstrong will represent the Southwest and Riverina.
Redbank Lodge bred a third winner on the night with Bamako Mali taking out a semi-final of the NSW Breeders Challenge for two-year-old fillies.
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FRITH returned to the winners circle after claiming a semi-final of the NSW Breeders Challenge at Menangle on Saturday night.
In a change from her more recent runs Frith was given an easier time in front and was able to hold off Daniel Jack's Priceless Gem by 3.7 metres.
The Kim Hillier trained Tea House also qualified for the $100,000 final for four-year-old mares after finishing fourth in other heat.
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THE Riverina assault on Menangle's riches continues this week with a number of horses racing NSW Breeders Challenge semi-finals at Menangle on Saturday.
David Druitt has McQueen Regal and Sicilian Slumber engaged while Steven Harris has Grin And Gold in a three-year-old fillies heat starting inside the Junee-owned Regaltive.
Lettucerockthem and Lettuceriprita represent Redbank Lodge Standardbreds in the three-year-old colts and geldings series and Lettucefib in the four-year-old series, while Hollywood Sign, Dealer and Wagga Pacers Cup runner-up Nowitzki are in the second four-year-old entires and geldings semi.
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LEADING Southwest and Riverina trainer Shaun Snudden has shown his support for the Give Me Five For Kids promotion and will donate $50 for every winner his trains at Wagga this month.
After the Wagga Harness Racing Club started the promotion by agreeing to donate $50 to the appeal for every winner wearing the number five saddlecloth this month, the Narrandera trainer decided to extend his generosity.
"When the club was doing it I thought it made sense to do it for the same meetings and why not?," Snudden said.
Snudden will back date his winners to the start of the month meaning he has already pooled $200 and has seven runners engaged at tomorrow's meeting.
The number five saddlecloth proved lucky at Wagga's meeting last Friday with four horses winning meaning a further $200 will go to the Wagga Base Hospital Children-Maternity Ward.
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WAGGA will hold another large program tomorrow with 10 races to be run.
Two more heats of the Menangle Country are the feature of the program that will kick off with a two-year-old pace at 1.09pm.
Four last start winners will battle it out for the Quick Tax Professionals Three Year Old Pace, including Attorney Stride who has won his last two races for Bathurst father and daughter team Steve and Amanda Turnbull, who are bringing a strong 10-horse team to Wagga.
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YOUNG will hold a ...-race meeting on Saturday with the first race