Duryea nominated News Girl for the $36,000 Kooringal Stud Wagga Town Plate Prelude (1200m) but has been given 63 kilograms.

Duryea is likely to go to Caulfield on Saturday instead, where News Girl is the first emergency for the $112,000 listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m).

She has drawn barrier one with apprentice Lewis German to ride.

"We'll wait and see what happens at Caulfield but I'd say Wagga is definitely out," Duryea said.

News Girl has a benchmark rating of 94 in NSW, compared to her figure of 88 in Victoria.

Duryea had set his sights on the $160,000 Wagga Town Plate (1200m) on April 30 for News Girl but now has his doubts about that as well.

"That was my aim but it's going to be mighty hard with 61, 62 kilograms," he said.

"If it's possible, I want to run her in the Town Plate. There's a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and then that I can't do anything about so we'll just wait and see."

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NEWS Girl's impost of 63 kilograms did not get her close to the top weight for the Wagga Town Plate Prelude on Sunday.

Kosciuszko winner Handle The Truth was given a whopping 69kg, while Albury Gold Cup winner Spunlago was close behind with 67kg.

News Girl and fellow city winner Stephan were next with 63kg.

A top day of racing looks set for the opening day of the carnival on Sunday, if the 215 nominations are anything to go by.

Joe Ible's city winner Zoffany's Lad was given the top weight of 62kg. He lugged 63 when running second in the Gundagai Cup last start.

Zoffany's Lad is also an acceptor in the $67,500 Orange Gold Cup (2100m) on Friday, where he has 61kg and has drawn the outside barrier.

The Claire Cunningham-trained Travancore was close behind Zoffany's Lad at the weights in the Murrumbidgee Cup with 61.5kg.

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THE Tye Angland Medal will again be in play for the two big days of the Wagga Gold Cup carnival.

Despite the limitation on jockeys and the fact the carnival will go ahead without a crowd, the medal will return for a second year.

The Tye Angland Medal, sponsored by the William Farrer Hotel, will not carry any prizemoney this year but will still be highly sought after by the local jockeys.

Blaike McDougall upstaged the city visitors to win the medal last year and donated the prizemoney to Angland.

Angland himself was set to be a special guest at this year's carnival before the coronavirus outbreak.

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THE powerful training partnership of David Hayes, Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig have been fined $4500 for a positive swab returned at Wagga in February.

Madeira Bay has been stripped of her win in the Maiden Plate (1600m) after the presence of Lignocaine was found in her post-race blood sample.

Lignocaine is a local anaesthetic agent widely used in equine medicine.

A stewards inquiry was unable to establish the reasons for the detection of Lignocaine found in Madeira Bay's sample, but the training partnership pleaded guilty to the charge of AR240 (2).

Stewards considered the guilty plea, the stable's excellent record and forthright evidence and settled on a fine of $4500.

Madeira Bay was subsequently disqualified from the race, with the Darryl Rolfe-trained Opposite promoted to first place.

The disqualification also cost the Hayes-Dabernig team and jockey Blaike McDougall a win in their respective tallies for the season.

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ALBURY trainer Mitch Beer has accepted with Mnementh for the first Highway Handicap back at Randwick on Saturday.

The Highways have taken a brief absence over the autumn carnival but have proven popular on return with a full field plus four emergencies for the Class Three Handicap (1200m).

Mnementh is the second emergency after his last-start victory at Albury on Cup day.

The three-year-old has drawn the outside barrier but will have the services of Glen Boss, should Mnementh get a run and connections decide to start him.

Beer said he was glad he booked Boss last Friday, before his big day out at Randwick last Saturday, where he captured two group one wins and a group two.

The Beer stable had Echuca Cup winner Hanger run sixth at group three level at Caulfield last Saturday.

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ALBURY trainer Donna Scott is planning a hit and run trip to Orange on Friday.

Scott has Helcolore in the $45,000 Country Magic Benchmark 58 Handicap (1300m).

Helcolore was grabbed right on the post at Wagga last start and will get his chance to add to his imposing record since joining the Scott stable.

The five-year-old has had six starts since joining Scott and has only finished out of the placings on one occasion.

Nick Heywood will take the ride. Helcolore has 61 kilograms and is drawn barrier eight.

Top Southern District jockeys Blaike McDougall, Brodie Loy and Heywood are have a strong book of rides at the meeting.

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SOUTHERN District representatives were in the thick of the money at the Moruya Cup showcase meeting last Sunday.

Leading jockey Blaike McDougall landed a winning double on the day, courtesy of Eltham Palace and Revitup Rednut, while Brodie Loy saluted on Rent A Rock.

The Kym Davison-trained Vinnie Vega wasn't far away when finishing second at big odds in the Moruya Town Plate when beaten just over a length by Irish Songs.

Thistledo, for David Blundell and Josh Richards, also ran well when finishing fourth in the Moruya Cup behind Airfree.

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COROWA is the next club to stage a non-TAB meeting on Saturday.

The club received 125 nominations for the six-race card

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GALLOPS

Saturday: Corowa (non-TAB)

Sunday: Wagga (TAB)

TROTS

Friday: Wagga (TAB)

Sunday: Wagga (TAB)