Wayne Carroll's Lady Mironton bounced back from her Country Championships campaign in winning style, taking out the $30,000 open handicap (1500m) at Albury on Thursday.
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Coming off a 13th on an unsuitable soft track and wide barrier at Randwick two weeks ago, Lady Mironton ($3.40 favourite) settled just off the pace under jockey Simon Miller and produced a powerful finish for an impressive win.
"It was great, back on the dry track was a huge difference but admittedly into open company, it's a fair step up for her," Carroll said.
"She certainly showed us what she's got today. Simon was really impressed with her, he said when he pressed her, he knew it would take something good to go past them."
Matt Dale's Fun Tickets ($4.20), ridden by Nick Heywood, was second.
It was Lady Mironton's fourth win in 15 starts and the closing sectionals, 35.32s for the last 600m, was the second quickest of the day, behind only the 900m sprint.
Carroll said he's yet to determine a plan for the four-year-old mare, who's better suited over slightly further but has been kept fresh this campaign for the Country Championships.
"I really don't know yet, i'll have to sit down and look at what's available for her. There's a 1600m race on Town Plate Day but her rating's probably going to go up a bit after today," Carroll said.
"I'm not putting anything out of the picture at this stage, we'll just have to see what's right for her."
Carroll arrived back in Wagga with a 'lucky float' on Thursday night with Lady Mironton sharing the ride with Liberty Boy who saluted in the following race.
Under Rebeka Prest, the Doug Vickers-trained Liberty Boy claimed his third career victory, and second at Albury this preparation, winning the $30,000 benchmark 58 (1400m).
Trevor Sutherland's Real Key then made it three in a row for Wagga trainers, taking out the 1000m benchmark 58 event with jockey Billy Owen.
Earlier, in form Wagga apprentice Josh Richards continued his brilliant autumn, with a winning double for Wodonga trainer Wendy Church.
Richards partnered Quiet Lucky and Ariel Miss to victory early on the program, after winning the Town Plate Prelude at Wagga last Sunday on Fermanagh Lad, and the Gundagai Cup a week earlier on Class Clown.
Richards will ride Class Clown again at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club on Tuesday when the Wagga Gold Cup qualifier goes around in a heat of the Murrumbidgee Stayers Series.
Southern District racing heads to Tocumwal on Saturday for a six race card, including the $17,000 Gold Cup (1300m). Wangaratta trainer Russell Green has two horses in the five-horse feature.
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