Wagga stayer Class Clown will head to the Ted Ryder Cup in top form after taking out the prelude at Murrumbidgee Turf Club on Saturday.
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Class Clown ($19.00) bounced back from a last-start disappointment in the Wodonga Cup to score an impressive victory in the Keogh’s Plant Hire Ted Ryder Prelude (1600m).
Class Clown’s victory was part of a big day for Wagga trainer Chris Heywood, who grabbed first and third placings in the prelude, as Not Too Sure ($5.00) boxed on for third place.
It was also the second leg of a winning double after Fox Beat ($10.00) saluted earlier in the day.
Heywood predicted in The Daily Advertiser that Class Clown was the pick of his two chances in the race but he was still thrilled to see the well-performed stayer back at his best.
“You just had to forget his last run at Wodonga,” Heywood said.
“He’s actually three from three over the mile here at Wagga so his mile form is good, very good.
“His work’s been good. Richie (Bensley) back on made a difference, he seems to know how to ride him.
“Both horses went enormous.”
Class Clown won by 1½ lengths from two super consistent Southern District geldings, Bondo ($11.00) and Not Too Sure.
Class Clown and Not Too Sure will now both push on to the $32,000 Ted Ryder Cup (1600m) at Wagga on December 24.
“I think they’ll both go well,” he said.
“Class Clown is only going to go down in weight, not up, because it’s going to be a little bit stronger again.”
Heywood praised both Bensley for his ride on Class Clown, and his son for Nick for his winning ride on Fox Beat.
“He rode him how he needs to be ridden,” he said.
Meantime, Tumut sprinter Cattledog Cod ($2.80) broke through for a well-deserved victory at Wagga on Tuesday.
Cattledog Cod rewarded trainer Kerry Weir for his perseverance with a fighting victory in the Suez Australia Class Three Handicap (1000m).
Cattledog Cod has shown above average ability ever since winning on debut at Wagga as a two-year-old but his career has been consistently ravaged by injury.
Ridden by Blaike McDougall, Cattledog Cod led and was originally headed off by Wednesday Warrior ($5.50) early in the straight before fighting back doggedly to score on the line.
Halliday Road ($21.00) finished strongly to grab second, closely ahead of Wednesday Warrior.
Weir said Cattledog Cod would head to the paddock for a spell over summer.
Wagga trainers Trevor Sutherland and Gary Colvin both enjoyed back-to-back wins with Oh What A Thief ($7.50) and Tully Toff ($2.70).
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