Murrumbidgee Turf Club is expecting to welcome the SDRA Country Championships Qualifier to Wagga next year.
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Albury Racing Club hosted another successful rendition of the Country Championships last Saturday and have made no secret of their desire for it to return for a third consecutive year in 2021.
A potential tug-o-war looms with MTC officials expecting to host the raceday again next year, for the first time since 2018.
MTC chief executive Steve Keene believes Wagga is in the box seat to host next year's SDRA Qualifier.
"We've put our hand up," Keene said.
"The recommendation from Racing NSW Country is for Wagga to have the meet back for the next two years so we'll see what Racing NSW comes up with.
"Being the premier club in the SDRA, it makes sense to have one of the premier race days back here in Wagga.
"We hope to do a good job just as Albury has done the last two years."
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THE Wagga Gold Cup carnival has received another boost with the allocation of a BOBS Gold bonus.
A BOBS Gold Bonus of up to $90,000 has been attached to the Maiden Showcase Handicap (1400m) on Wagga Town Plate day.
MTC chief executive Steve Keene believes the highly sought after bonus will be a great addition to Wagga Town Plate day.
"We're really happy. The first one was a great success for our club so we're looking forward to hosting another one," Keene said.
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THE Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable are set to make a rare visit to Murrumbidgee Turf Club on Friday.
Waterhouse runners at Wagga are a rarity outside of carnival time but they have entered debutant Runyoo in the 3YO Maiden Plate (1000m).
The meeting attracted a few extra nominations and entries with two $5000 Magic Millions vouchers, to be used at the Adelaide or Gold Coast March Yearling Sales, on offer.
The vouchers, plus flights and accommodation, are attached to the Maiden Plate (1200m) and the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m).
"It's good to see trainers are supporting it and we wait with baited breath to see who gets the $5000 vouchers," Keene said.
"It's a great first step with Magic Millions and it's something that hopefully we can develop even further in the years to come."
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VICTORIAN apprentice Teo Nugent has been booked for the ride on Sky Call in the $500,000 Country Championships Final at Randwick in April.
Nugent enjoyed the biggest moment of his career last Saturday when guiding Sky Call to victory in the $150,000 SDRA Country Championships Qualifier (1400m) at Albury.
Albury trainer Mitch Beer and owner Steve Watkins have stuck loyal and given the ride to Nugent in the big one on April 4.
Sky Call has gone to the paddock for a couple of days after the big win.
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ALBURY Racing Club has secured group one-winning trainers Peter Snowden and Bjorn Baker to launch its Gold Cup carnival.
The pair will be the guest speakers at the Albury Gold Cup luncheon on Friday week at the Albury Commercial Club.
The carnival is not far away, set for March 19 and 20, and will be the richest in the club's history with more than $770,000 in prizemoney, trophies and bonuses on offer.
The club will also honour the late Wodonga trainer Brian Cox at the carnival. The Albury Mile will be named in his honour for this year.
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WAGGA apprentice jockey Heni Ede continued her good form with a successful trip to Bathurst on Monday.
Ede made the seven-hour round trip for one ride but if paid off when she scored on Alcatran ($3.00) for Dean Mirfin in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1308m).
The Bathurst success backed up a win for her boss, Tim Donnelly, at Wagga earlier in the month when they combined on Powerscourt for a win at big odds.
It continues a successful comeback for Ede, who was out for 14 months due to complications with a broken ankle.
She now has three wins to her name from 26 career rides and is headed in the right direction.
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GUNDAGAI'S Billy Owen is set to miss three to four weeks of riding due to an ankle injury.
Owen, who is only three city wins away from outriding his three kilogram claim, injured his ankle while training.
The 27-year-old has made a big impression in Sydney since joining the John O'Shea stable.
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WAGGA will have a rare clash of the codes on Friday.
Murrumbidgee Turf Club and Wagga Harness Racing Club (WHRC) will both hold TAB meetings on Friday afternoon.
WHRC chief executive Graeme White said both clubs always try to work in with each other to avoid clashes but explained there was little either party could do this time around.
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CARRATHOOL Jockey Club will hold it's popular once-a-year meeting on Saturday.
The $20,000 Rivcott Carrathool Cup (1400m) will be the feature of the six-race non-TAB card.
The Cup has attacted a number of quality nominations, including Trevor Sutherland's Real Key and Jungle Book, as well as fellow Wagga gallopers Delivered and Takissacod.
Real Key ran a strong fifth in the SDRA Country Championships Qualifier last Saturday and has been given the top weight of 61 kilograms in the Cup.
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THERE will be little Southern District representation in the feature races across the two days of the Wangaratta Cup carnival this weekend.
The Jodie Bohr-trained Footmark is among the nominations for the $100,000 Wangaratta Cup (2000m) on Saturday.
Wagga sprinter Fermanagh Lad is entered in the $40,000 Benchmark 70 Handicap (1170m).
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WHAT'S ON
GALLOPS
Friday: Wagga (TAB)
Saturday: Carrathool (non-TAB)
TROTS
Friday: Wagga (TAB)
Sunday: Coolamon (TAB)
DOGS
Sunday: Temora
