RETIRED Wagga trainer Dave Heywood could not be prouder of the heights Man Of Peace continues to climb to.
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The former Wagga galloper will form part of a strong Southern District contingent in next month's $1.3 million Kosciuszko (1200m).
The well-performed frontrunner is now trained in Canberra by Matthew Dale, but was bred, broken in and raced by Heywood before being sold.
Owners Cath Heywood, Bern Milne, Mick Mullins and Ray and Therese Burt kept a share in Man Of Peace and have enjoyed the ride that Dale has taken them on with their beloved galloper.
Man Of Peace has won six Saturday races at Randwick for Dale, taking his career earnings past $600,000.
Now the Kosciuszko awaits and Heywood is confident they will know Man Of Peace is there.
"He's a legitimate chance, that's the big thing. He's not a 100-1 chance," Heywood said.
"It depends a lot on the track. He's got really good form on good tracks. He's won most of his races on good tracks, only til Matty got him, he's found the wet tracks nearly all of the time for him.
"The big thing about him is he can go through the heavy without blinking, and he's got them off the bit behind chasing. If you start chasing on heavy tracks, that's when you're in big trouble.
"It's very exciting."
Heywood said he and connections are delighted to be part of the $1.3 million feature for country sprinters.
"Bloody oath we are," he said.
"Matty thought he was up there with the best five in the race, which I agreed, he said there's not many horses that win six races at Randwick on a Saturday, let alone a country horse.
"He's probably not the best horse in the race but he's the best performed."
Man Of Peace won seven races for Heywood, and ran fourth in the 2017 Wagga Town Plate behind Santa Ana Lane.
He says he always knew the horse had it in him.
"I always had a big opinion of him. I probably had a bigger opinion of him at first and he's showing it now," he said.
"As a two-year-old, the first gallop I give him he just went whoof. I had him nominated for the Blue Diamond. He's the only horse I've ever had in a group race."
Louise Day, who has guided Man Of Peace to his last four wins, has the ride in the Kosciuszko. Dale is expected to trial the eight-year-old next week.
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THE Kosciuszko campaign of Front Page will go up a gear when he resumes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Front Page is set to carry the hopes of the William Farrer Hotel's Super Punters Club in the Kosciuszko after a deal was struck between the two parties last week.
Front Page is the $4.50 favourite for the Kosciuszko and will run first-up in the $125,000 Open Handicap (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Top apprentice Lewis German retains the ride and will carry 54 kilograms, after his claim, from barrier four.
Corowa trainer Geoff Duryea is happy with the four-year-old and will decide after the first-up effort the exact path towards the Kosciuszko on October 17.
Meantime, Kosciuszko runner Lord Von Costa ran second in a trial at Corowa on Tuesday.
Mitch Beer's stable newcomer Aim Smart won the 900m trial by five lengths in a time of 52.01 seconds.
Lord Von Costa settled back in the field and Blaike McDougall pulled the horse to the outside in the straight, where he found the line nicely under his own steam.
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ALBURY trainer Donna Scott will make the trip to Sydney for Saturday's Highway Handicap.
Scott has Galaxy Force contesting the $75,000 TAB Highway Class Three Handicap (1000m).
Regan Bayliss takes the ride from the inside gate.
Galaxy Force has always shown good ability and ran third in a Highway back in August.
He returned with a first-up win at Wagga last month.
Brett Cavanough's Kosciuszko runner, It's Me, is the horse to beat.
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TALENTED apprentice jockey Georgina McDonnell is set to join the Mitch Beer stable.
McDonnell was set to join Trevor Sutherland's stable on a three-month loan before he received a three-year disqualification last week.
McDonnell will now head to Beer at Albury for three months, where her first meeting riding will be at Narrandera on Saturday week.
McDonnell can be booked for rides through her manager Graeme Flyght on 0421 818 667.
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TOP Wagga jockey Nick Heywood will make his return from injury at Canberra on Friday.
Heywood has spent the past six weeks on the sidelines with a fractured hand he sustained coming off Supplyzing at Canberra.
Heywood has one ride at Canberra on Friday, before heading to Wagga on Saturday where he has a couple of nice chances.
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A COUPLE of Wagga owners enjoyed immediate success at Dubbo on Sunday.
Wagga's Ryan Robertson and Jordan Dennis are part-owners of Zaunkonig, who took out the $100,000 Dubbo Gold Cup (1600m) on Sunday.
The pair only came involved with the horse since Will Freedman took over the training of eight-year-old last month from his father Richard and uncle Michael.
Zaunkonig was having his first start for his new connections at Dubbo on Sunday and captured the Cup at 30-1.
It was Dennis' first ever runner as an owner and the pair were thrilled with the win.
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RACING NSW this week announced a new End Of Life welfare program for horses.
The program is designed to ensure that every NSW thoroughbred has access to a free humane euthanasia service, in circumstances where a vet has certified that is in the horse's best interest, or is necessary on welfare or safety grounds.
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WHAT'S ON
GALLOPS
Saturday: Wagga (TAB)
TROTS
Friday: Leeton (TAB)
Tuesday: Albury (TAB)
DOGS
Thursday: Wagga (TAB)