David Blundell, Josh Richards and Sandy Tait combine on Monkery in Wagga Gold Cup

Wagga apprentice jockey Josh Richards will combine with Gundagai trainer David Blundell and high profile owners Sandy Tait and his sister Jill Nivsion on Monkery in Friday's $160,000 feature.

The group struck success with Monkery in the Gundagai Cup when the five-year-old returned to form with a victory at 80-1.

The win made Monkery exempt from the Wagga Gold Cup ballot and connections have decided to follow that path to the Murrumbidgee Turf Club.

Richards has only been riding for three years but will line up for his second Gold Cup experience after partnering last year's Gundagai Cup winner Class Clown in the feature.

The 25-year-old is looking forward to again being legged aboard in Wagga's biggest race.

"It's great. It was great to win the Gundagai Cup again and get another local horse into the race," Richards said.

Richards says he is better positioned for last year's experience.

"I guess all experience helps," he said.

"This year it will be more local riders that you're riding against but it will be another good experience. It's probably a bit easier given I got to ride in it last year.

"It's different as well, last year the horse I rode was an on-pace runner and this year I'm on one of the backmarkers."

Monkery has won two of his three starts on a heavy track so Richards is welcoming the rain.

"He loves the wet and that win (at Gundagai) proved it," he said.

"If we can get as much rain as we want you never know what can happen when a wet track comes up."

Blundell also believes the prospect of a wet track will help Monkery's chances.

"He's a bit of a different article when it's wet and he's done well since," Blundell said.

"We were just bloody glad he got in there."

Blundell concedes the horse is only a rough hope but that hasn't stopped he and connections from looking forward to taking part in the feature race.

"We are, actually. Sandy is excited because he's in there. He's only a wildcard, he'll probably be 100-1 again but he's in there," he said.

"The opposition is certainly bloody hot enough. Group horses and that, horses that haven't been beaten far and we're meeting them on the same weights."

Blundell is keen to stick with the winning formula that worked at Gundagai.

"We'll ride him back like that. We won't change a thing. That's what he's happy with, and hope he's got a sprint that last 300," he said.

"Josh knows him. He seems to go alright for him. At Gundagai he went around and just used his hands on him. We'll keep that formula and see how we go.

"It will be good if something turns about but he'll be battling I suppose, it's pretty strong. It will be interesting to see how he goes."

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