ALBURY stayer Spunlago has captured back-to-back Southern District Racing Association (SDRA) Horse of the Year titles.
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This year's Albury Gold Cup winner narrowly edged out rising star Front Page for the 2019-20 title.
Spunlago enjoyed another brilliant season with the highlight being his victory in the listed $200,000 Albury Gold Cup (2000m) in March.
He also claimed the 2019 Ted Ryder Cup (1600m) at Wagga for the second consecutive year, ran second in the Wodonga Cup and amassed $164,000 in prizemoney.
Albury trainer Ron Stubbs was thrilled to see Spunlago honoured with the title again.
"I'm rapt. I think I've been a bit lucky this year, there's a couple of good horses that were ineligible but we'll take it," Stubbs said.
"I couldn't be prouder of our fella. What he's done since we've had him has just been unbelievable. The level he's been able to do it and the consistency he's been able to do it with has just been amazing."
Spunlago, now nine, will go around in Friday's $100,000 Wodonga Gold Cup (1590m) and Stubbs has not ruled out returning to defend his crown at Albury next March.
Front Page may have missed out on the top gong but was crowned SDRA 3YO of the Year.
He downed Trevor Sutherland's pair, Demanding Mo, the Albury Guineas winner, and Blazing Zone.
Front Page rose to fame with a dominant victory in the listed $112,000 Creswick Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in June.
The Geoff Duryea-trained galloper had his first six race starts in the season, winning four and breaking a couple of class records along the way.
Duryea revealed Front Page is only about a month away from returning after he was injured last month.
Meantime, Charming Pat was named SDRA 2YO of the Year.
He won a 2YO Maiden at Wagga after contesting a number of lucrative features throughout the season.
Trevor Sutherland, Blaike McDougall and Tyler Schiller were also awarded their respective premierships on the night.
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THE Geoff Duryea stable were thrilled to welcome the latest progeny of Stacey Lee this week.
The top-producing mare welcomed a filly, by Rubick.
The filly is a half sister to Duryea's stable stars News Girl and Front Page. She also has a filly by Stryker and a yearling by Dundeel on the ground.
The Duryea stable certainly have a lot to look forward to, including the remarkable return of Challenge Accepted at Wodonga on Friday.
The eight-year-old had been retired for three years when Duryea decided, by chance, to bring him back into work.
He will have his first race start since April 2017 when he runs in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m).
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ANOTHER One will take the next step in his exciting career at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Gary Colvin-trained three-year-old will contest the $75,000 TAB Highway Class Two Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill.
It will be his first run since connections turned down a big offer from Hong Kong.
The Super One gelding has won two of his three race starts, with his only defeat coming on debut on Wagga Town Plate day when a luckless second behind Lion's Roar, who subsequently went on to run second in the group one Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).
Another One has drawn barrier 13 and will be aided by the services of jockey Jason Collett.
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TWO Southern District gallopers produced promising runs at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Mitch Beer's imported stayer Perfect Illusion almost cracked it for his first win in Australia when running second in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (2400m).
Perfect Illusion ($5.00) led and fought doggedly over to be beaten by Chris Waller's $1.75 favourite, Miyake.
Just one race later, Jerilderie three-year-old Mr Moppett was edged out in a photo finish.
Mr Moppett, ridden by Tim Clark, charged along the inside late to run a close third in the 3YO Benchmark 68 Handicap (1000m).
Trainer Phil Sweeney has got Mr Moppett going great guns, having run third at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day last start.
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KOORINGAL Stud will sell its yearlings exclusively in an unreserved auction at the Inglis Digital Online Sale from December 11 to 16.
The stud will hold an inspection day on Friday week, December 4, where all the yearlings will be paraded.
On offer are 21 yearlings that have been well-reared and come from well-performed families.
Due to COVID protocols, RSVPs are required for the parade. Please email office@kooringalstud.com.au by Tuesday, December 1 if you wish to attend.
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EXPERIENCED Wagga jockey Michael Travers could have his first starter as a trainer as soon as Saturday.
Travers has King Of Sting as one of 34 nominations for Saturday's Benchmark 58 C,G&E Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m) at Wagga.
Travers was only recently granted his dual-licence, the first in the region to do so.
Murrumbidgee Turf Club received 146 nominations for the seven-race TAB card, that will be held on the Riverside track.
Racing NSW is monitoring the weather forecast for Saturday, with indications earlier in the week that the temperature could reach 40 degrees or over.
If the forecast does not improve, the meeting will be moved forward into the earlier part of the day, with the final race to be held just after 3pm.
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LEADING Southern District jockey Blaike McDougall is closing in on another milestone.
McDougall so far this season has won prizemoney to the value of $990,710 so will crack the $1 million mark in the next couple of days.
McDougall has seven rides at Canberra on Friday and then will ride on the Riverside track at Wagga for the first time on Saturday.
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A NUMBER of Southern District horses will compete on Cup day at Wodonga on Friday.
In the Cup alone, Spunlago, Sky Call, Bezos, Footmark and Our Dreamsarefree will compete.
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WHAT'S ON
GALLOPS
Saturday: Wagga (TAB)
TROTS
Friday: Young (TAB)
Tuesday: Wagga (TAB)
DOGS
Friday: Wagga (TAB)
Sunday: Temora (TAB)
