Blaike McDougall to ride Best Of Days for Godolphin in Wagga Gold Cup

McDougall's recent partnership with global racing giant Godolphin helped him land the ride on Best Of Days in Friday's feature race.

The Chris Waller-trained Yulong Prince has been handed the top weight of 61 kilograms for Friday's Wagga Gold Cup but is no certainty to be an acceptance when the fields are released on Tuesday.

That leaves Best Of Days, winner of the 2018 Kennedy Mile, as the likely top weight and one of two representatives for Sydney trainer James Cummings.

McDougall, who has ridden two winners for Godolphin in the past couple of weeks, was over the moon to receive the ride.

"I was overwhelmed when I got the call up," McDougall said.

"It's a really, really good opportunity. And I'm very lucky, obviously with the zones happening, that they asked me to ride for them at the provincials.

"I'm lucky I got some success there and I suppose that led to this."

Best Of Days also ran second behind Regal Power in last year's group one Railway Stakes at Ascot.

McDougall said he was keen to win the Albury Gold Cup last month but had to settle for fourth aboard Willi Willi.

He then set his sights on a big Wagga Gold Cup carnival, and was a little concerned when early enquiries into Cup rides came up empty-handed.

"It paid dividends, but we just had to be patient," he said.

"I really wanted to win the Albury Cup but this race means just as much. Wagga is probably my favourite country track and I've had a lot of success there. I've been on my manager's case for the last few months about wanting to have a big carnival.

"As long as we don't get washed out with all this rain on the way, it's going to be a big thrill."

McDougall was in high demand for the Wagga Town Plate but will ride Lord Von Costa for his former boss, Donna Scott.

McDougall had been booked for 'months' for Lord Von Costa and knocked back rides on key rivals Handle The Truth and Ghostly.

Lord Von Costa ran second behind Santa Ana Lane in the 2017 Wagga Town Plate and was a Flemington winner back in January before being put away with this race in mind.

The Matthew Dale-trained Fell Swoop and Bjorn Baker's Redouble are at the top of the weights for Thursday's $160,000 Wagga Town Plate (1200m) with 62 kilograms.

Victorian visitor Ashlor has 60kg, while Handle The Truth (59kg) and Corowa mare News Girl (55kg) fared a lot better than they did at the Prelude.

WEIGHTS

Yulong Prince 61 kilograms, Best Of Days 60.5, Night's Watch 58.5, So You Win 57, Greysful Glamour 56.5, Mask Of Time 56, Wren's Day 55, Maurus 54.5, Monkery* 54, The Doctor's Son* 54, Master Of Arts 54, Lord Belvedere 54, Savacool 54, Spunlago 54, House Of Cartier 54, Rapido Chaparro 54, Purple Sector 54, Laure Me In 54, Kaapfever 54, Zoffany's Lad 54, High Opinion 54, Travancore 54, Salsonic 54, Azaryah 54, Gentleman Max 54, River Of Gold 54, Cryfowl 54.

*Exempt of ballot

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