All attention will turn to Narrandera on Sunday when it hosts the sole Southern District race meeting for the week.

Narrandera received 185 nominations for the seven-race TAB card with entries extended until 11am today for the Menzplant/Blue Peacock Memorial Cup (1600m).

While only 13 nominations were received for the feature race, there is no shortage of quality.

Parkes Cup winner Sonro heads the nominations, along with Wagga and Albury Gold Cup placegetter Price Of Glory.

Promising Wagga galloper Grand Allowance is also among the nominations, along with the likes of Cee Cee 'N' Dry, Tea Clipper and Rock 'N' Royal.

Narrandera Race Club racing manager Michael Bailey said everything was shaping towards a great day of racing.

"It's obviously the biggest day we've ever had with $105,000 in prizemoney," Bailey said.

"To have all our meetings covered by the TAB is pretty exciting stuff and the track has held up really well from the first meeting.

"We're looking forward to it."

Bailey expects the Narrandera track to be in the dead range, pending the weather leading up to Sunday.

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WAGGA apprentice Megan Taylor has escaped serious injury from a nasty incident at Murrumbidgee Turf Club last Friday.

Taylor was thrown from Rock The Faith leaving the mounting yard on the way to the barriers for the Class One Handicap (1200m) at Wagga.

Not only was Taylor thrown from the horse but was also struck in the face.

She was taken to Wagga Base Hospital where she received three stitches to her cheek.

Taylor, ever positive, was not letting the incident get her down yesterday.

"Yeah I'm okay, still swollen a bit and have a lovely shade of purple on my face," Taylor said.

"My cheek is still swollen but thankfully I didn't receive a fracture from the incident.

"I just ended up with three stitches on my cheek...they must breed them tough out at Hay."

Taylor, who is apprenticed to Brad Witt at Wagga, hopes to be back in the saddle next week.

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IN-FORM Berrigan trainer Emma Steel is eyeing off a couple of Victorian race meetings this week.

Steel's last two starters have been winners at Wagga and Corowa and she hopes to continue her good run this week at Geelong and Flemington.

Steel has nominated last-start Corowa winner Maniere for a Fillies & Mares Benchmark 64 Handicap (1300m) at Geelong tomorrow.

She has also nominated It's Poets Day for a 1000m race at Flemington on Saturday.

Not only have Steel's last two runners been winners, but four of her last six starters have gone on to win.

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NEW Wagga trainer Todd Smart is closing in on his first runner.

Smart has nominated For Mia for the Flying Handicap (1200m) at Canberra but has decided not to run her.

For Mia will either go to Canberra or Wodonga later in the month, then second-up into the Narrandera Cup on August 16.

She will then be given a freshen up with an eye on the Snake Gully Cup.

Smart purchased For Mia from Queensland with the five-year-old mare having earnt $71,000 from 24 starts.

She will start in Smart’s colours of black and gold stripes, black cap, gold spots and gold pom pom.

The colours are inspired by the great Gundagai galloper Carvalin and also of Smart’s beloved Gundagai Tigers.

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SEVERAL other Southern District trainers will head to Canberra on Friday.

Wagga trainer Trevor Sutherland has nominated six horses for the meeting, headed by the likes of My Dear Friend, Drop Kick and Lickin the Bin.

In-form trainer Chris Heywood has full brothers Leucura and Ketchum nominated for Canberra, both going for four straight wins.

Wayne Carroll has also nominated the promising Grand Allowance for a race over the mile, while Gary Colvin has entered last-start winner Court Up In Rio.

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CHRIS Heywood will take a two-win lead in the Wagga trainer's premiership heading into Murrumbidgee Turf Club's final meeting of the season on July 25.

A treble to Heywood put him two clear of Gary Colvin after last Friday's meeting.

Colvin trained a winning double, only for Heywood to claim a treble.

Brendan Ward holds a four-win lead over apprentice Nick Heywood in the MTC jockey's title.

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COWRA-based jockey Mick Travers is in super form at the moment.

Travers enjoyed eight winners in the space of seven days last week.

Travers enjoyed a winner at Corowa last Monday, then backed it up with another win at Wellington on Tuesday.

He travelled to Wagga on Friday where he enjoyed a winning treble.

Travers' good run continued at Sapphire Coast the next day when he landed a double, before finishing a big week with a winner at Mudgee on Sunday.

Travers has enjoyed 44 wins for the season despite missing more than two months due to a back injury.

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CANBERRA-based jockey Brendan Ward is nearing a century of winners for the season.

Ward, who is set to win the Southern District Racing Association (SDRA) premiership for a third time, only needs two wins over the next two weeks to reach the 100-win milestone.

A double at Wagga last Friday, then another winner at Sapphire Coast on Sunday, has taken Ward to 98 wins for the season.

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What's On

Racing

Sunday: Narrandera (TAB)

Harness Racing

Friday: Young (TAB)

Saturday: Leeton (TAB)