Exotic Deel continues strong form with victory in $50,000 Country Magic at Gundagai

Exotic Deel ($2.30) made it two wins from as many starts this preparation with victory in the $50,000 TAB Country Magic Benchmark 58 Handicap (1400m).

Jockey Shaun Guymer bided his time on the mare and she proved too strong once she got clear running in the straight, running down Ons Vier ($13) by a long neck. Designer Dance ($12) was a further long neck back in third.

The four-year-old Dundeel mare took her record to three wins and four minor placings from nine starts with the Gundagai victory and Olive will now look to find a suitable Highway Handicap for her next.

"I'd probably look to get her in a Highway next start to be honest," Olive said.

"She's still only won three so she can still go in a Highway so that will be the next step.

"She's still maturing, she's still only a little thing and I think she may still be 18 months away from being at her best. She's just got ability."

Exotic Deel showed that ability in her first two preparations but appears to have come back better than ever with a first-up win at Canberra before the Gundagai success.

"It's bloody good to see her come back and put two together," he said.

"She didn't have things go her way today but she was too good and tough in the end. It was a great result."

Olive could not have been happier for the connections of Exotic Deel either, who include Wagga's Michael and Peter Fitzgerald and Jon Elliott.

"We've always had a good opinion of this horse so it's good to see her win, especially a $50,000 race. It's a good kick for the owners," Olive said.

"There's some good people in this horse, some good mates and some good clients so it's really good."

Exotic Deel has now enjoyed wins over 1000m up to 1400m and Olive believes she will get further.

"She could get more than a mile eventually. I think she'd run 1800," he said.

Olive also had Supreme Polarity run a gallant fourth in the Snake Gully Cup later in the day.

Meantime, Wagga trainer Peter Morgan enjoyed success with Certain Shaft on Snake Gully Cup day at Gundagai.

Certain Shaft ($8.00) made an impressive return from a spell when taking out the $35,000 Elouera Hire Class One Showcase Handicap (1400m).

Certain Shaft held off Sun Wu ($31) in an all-Wagga finish to the race, with Glamour Cruise ($9.50) a further half length back in third place.

Morgan went close to a winning double when Bulala ($7.50) was just edged out by Caccini ($51) in the Snake Gully Flying (1000m).

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