LEADING Southern District trainer Chris Heywood hopes to have four representatives in next month's $100,000 Country Championship Heat (1400m) at Murrumbidgee Turf Club.
The preparations of Mitchell Road, Leucura and Dantains Spirit have all been aimed at race at Wagga on March 15.
Only recently has another contender bobbed up that could be the best of Heywood's hopes.
Promising three-year-old High Opinion has proven himself to be a horse on the rise.
He was an eye-catching maiden winner at Wagga on January 9 and then has put in two good second placings at Wagga and Canberra.
Heywood’s only concern is getting High Opinion into the field for the heat.
“He’s only come into it lately,” Heywood said.
“If we give him another run, he’s probably going to be too dour.
“I’m just really hoping he can get in.”
High Opinion will not have another start before March 15 as Heywood rolls the dice on a start.
Mitchell Road and Leucura will go to Albury on Friday, while Dantains Spirit will have another start in either Sydney or Melbourne next Wednesday.
Heywood struggles to split his four.
“They’re a tough lot to split because they all race a little bit differently.
“(High Opinion’s) probably the up and comer, he wants more ground but the race is here so you may as well have a crack at it.”
