FLYING: Wagga trainer Trevor Sutherland with Azaryah at his stables on Wednesday after the mare won her third straight race on Tuesday. Picture: Les Smith

WAGGA trainer Trevor Sutherland will take his time to assess the options before deciding on the next step for in-form mare Azaryah.

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The comeback queen made it three wins on the trot at Murrumbidgee Turf Club on Tuesday when winning the Crichton Cup Benchmark 66 Handicap (1800m).

After almost two years out with injury, Azaryah has won all three starts for the Sutherland stable, prompting the leading Southern District trainer to look a little higher.

She won a Gundagai maiden over 1400m last month, then stepped up to Benchmark 58 company, winning over 1800m at Wagga, and then made it a hat-trick on Tuesday.

"I've only ever had three horses win three in a row and that's in 22 years of training," Sutherland said.

"It's hard to do, going up in weight and quality.

"All is good with her and we're not going to rush into a decision."

Sutherland would like to find a suitable Highway Handicap for Azaryah and then intends to freshen her up for a tilt at the $150,000 Country Championships Qualifier at Albury in February.

"We'll probably look for a TAB Highway and then freshen her up and have a crack at the Country Championships," he said.

"She'll be better for the experience and she'll be better on the bigger tracks. I thought it was a pretty good effort (on Tuesday). It's a fair job to win three in a row now days. A maiden, 58 and 66."

Sutherland hopes to have at least three Championships runners, with Lets Get Animal and Real Key also headed that way.

Lets Get Animal will go third-up into the heat, while Real Key can only have one run beforehand.

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SUTHERLAND is looking forward to a trip up the highway on Saturday to contest the $500,000 Inglis Nursery (1000m) with Charming Pat.

Sutherland will take Charming Pat and Two Wrongs Dont to Randwick on Saturday.

Charming Pat ran second behind the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Farnan at Canberra on debut.

Charming Pat is one of just five horses in the field of 16 with race experience and has drawn barrier three with Jay Ford to ride.

"I'm really happy with the two-year-old, he's a very nice horse," Sutherland said.

"A lot of them are having their first start in a race but we've had a race, and won a jump out in between.

"You don't get the opportunity to run in a half a million dollar race very often. I haven't asked much of my two-year-olds early but I think this one is just as good as Power Alert or maybe a little bit better."

Two Wrongs Dont will contest the $125,000 Benchmark 88 Handicap (1600m). Ford will again take the ride from barrier three.

"I'm very happy. It's probably the first time ever that we've gone to Sydney and drawn some barriers," he said.

"I galloped him the other morning and he ran the same times he ever does at his best."

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FORMER Gundagai local Ben Blay enjoyed the first winner of his training career at Tuncurry on Monday.

Blay is the son of Gundagai's Kathy Blay and Jim Scobie and took up training at Muswellbrook earlier this year.

He produced Alot To Hoffa on debut at Tuncurry on Monday and the six-year-old broke the track record when winning the 4YO & Up Maiden Handicap (1200m) at 60-1.

Blay works for Todd Howlett and also trains a couple of horses of his own.

Alot To Hoffa started out with Wagga trainer Chris Heywood but ended up with Blay after suffering back-to-back tendon injuries.

Heywood remains in the ownership, along with Blay, his parents and his girlfriend.

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Sister Hazel's maiden win at Healesville on Sunday.

FORMER Southern District mare Sister Hazel is a maiden no longer.

Sister Hazel broke through for her maiden victory at Healesville picnics on Sunday at start number 53.

Sister Hazel spent the majority of her career with Peter Clancy at Leeton, and also a short period with Chris Heywood at Wagga.

She is now trained at Wangaratta by Chris Davis.

The seven-year-old mare had 18 minor placings to her name before Sunday's breakthrough.

It was also a memorable occasion for amateur rider Jordan Sanders with the victory providing him with his first race win.

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Albury trainer Mitch Beer.

ALBURY trainer Mitch Beer will be out to experience more Highway Handicap success at Randwick on Saturday.

Beer will again combine with former Southern District jockey Tim Clark, this time on Maid In Milan.

Beer and Clark were successful with Princess Cordelia two weeks ago.

Maid In Milan has drawn barrier three in the $75,000 TAB Highway Class Three Handicap (1000m).

She won two straight to kick off this campaign and was fifth at Canterbury last start.

Maid In Milan is one of a number of Beer runners that will be aimed towards the Country Championships heat at Albury in February.

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Simon Miller

CANBERRA-BASED jockey Simon Miller enjoyed a special milestone at Albury last Saturday.

Miller, who was based at Albury for years, celebrated his 500^th winner there on Saturday.

The milestone moment came when Miller guided Coontara home for Wangaratta trainer Dan McCarthy.

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A COUPLE of Southern District two-year-olds are among the nominations for Canberra's meeting on Sunday.

The 2YO Handicap (1000m) has attracted only moderate interest but include nominations from metropolitan stables as well as some from the SDRA.

Trevor Sutherland has nominated debutants Come Get Me and Poetic Power, while Scott Spackman may unveil Queen Street Boss, who trialled well at Wagga back in August. The Nick Olive-trained Proud Mia has also trialled well.

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