Million Dollar Gem is looking to finish a massive year on a cup high.
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The reigning Southwest and Riverina Horse of the Year can add to her tally of 12 wins for 2018 in the New Year’s Eve Cup at Albury on Monday night.
She is out to make it a hat-trick after setting a new track record on the border circuit two starts ago.
Despite drawing barrier six in the $10,000 feature, trainer Brett Woodhouse is pleased with how the five-year-old heads into the race.
“I’m happy with how she’s going, she’s pulled up really well and should be able to hold her form into Albury,” Woodhouse said.
A mare who loves to sit off the speed, Million Dollar Gem came from back in the field despite a fast last half of 57.2 seconds to win at Leeton last week
With the wide draw he’s looking for the same thing on New Year’s Eve.
“It’s her go to sit back and try and get a trail into it,” Woodhouse said.
“She just seems to sit on the speed really nice and when she comes off their back she has a couple of hundred metres where she can make up a lot of ground.”
Racing on Albury’s most popular night was never Plan A for the Wagga trainer.
Instead he had the mare dual nominated with a preference to the Leeton Pacers Cup on New Year’s Day, but the race need stood up.
Despite not being able to utilise her mare’s claim, or reinsman Jordan Seary’s concession, Woodhouse hopes she will be just as suited.
He was more than happy to let the young Junee driver take the box seat still too.
“He hasn’t done anything wrong yet, is a nice kid and gets a good thrill out of driving her so I’m happy to put him back on,” Woodhouse said.
It is a quality field with Luvumum running a good second to Million Dollar Gem last time out, Four Shotzzz won five on the bounce in October and is second up from a short break while Red River Glacier won by 21 metres in his last start at Wagga.
Woodhouse has been able to transform the daughter of Million Dollar Cam since purchasing the mare of his father Rod with 13 of her 16 wins in the past 12 months.
A win would see Million Dollar Gem break through the $100,000 mark.
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