WAGGA apprentice jockey Josh Richards will get his first look at Flemington when he rides down the famous straight on Saturday.
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Richards has never been to Flemington but will get an up close look when he takes the ride on Salty Kisses on Saturday.
Richards will have his first ride at the track when he partners the George Osborne-trained galloper in the $125,000 Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m).
"It will be my first time down there, I've never been there before," Richards said.
"It's exciting. I'm looking forward to it, it's going to be good."
The trip to Flemington is part of a focus on Victorian racing Richards will look to take now that the borders have re-opened.
Richards has a three kilogram claim in Victoria, where has has outridden his claim on NSW's country circuit.
"I've got one at Geelong on Friday so I'll stay down there and go to Flemington," he said.
"I probably will be targeting the northern Victoria meetings. My manager got onto a few opportunities with George Osborne, hopefully a few doors might open up.
"It's good now that the borders have opened. I'll see how it goes from there."
Richards has two rides at Wodonga on Thursday and will then be on board last-start winner My Divas at Geelong on Friday.
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LEADING Southern District jockey Blaike McDougall continues to go from strength to strength.
McDougall has been on fire of late and has enjoyed 11 winners since Friday.
McDougall enjoyed a winning treble on Mudgee Cup day, before returning home to Albury on Saturday where he bagged another three winners.
On Sunday, it was another winning treble at Nowra's Cup meeting, before moving on to Wagga on Monday, where he snared a double.
Overall from the four race meetings of the past week, McDougall had 26 rides for 11 winners and a further six minor placings.
The hot streak has moved McDougall to second spot, just one win behind Tommy Berry, in the NSW jockey's premiership.
He leads the NSW country jockey's premiership by a whopping 22 wins.
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JERILDERIE trainer Phil Sweeney has secured the services of Damien Oliver for Lady Brook's latest attempt at city success.
Oliver will ride Lady Brook in the $125,000 Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Lady Brook has not been out of a placing in her six race starts.
The four-year-old mare finished third at Moonee Valley last start. She also finished second at Sandown last campaign in her third race start.
Sweeney had nominated Lady Brook and Mr Moppett for Saturday's Highway Handicap at Randwick but opted for Flemington with the mare instead.
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MURRUMBIDGEE Turf Club (MTC) hope the installation of a couple of new winning posts will help with the deceiving angle on the Riverside track.
MTC are in the process of sourcing and installing two new winning posts, one for the course proper and another for the Riverside track.
The deceiving camera angle with the Riverside track again caused great angst among punters on Monday when Pouring Rain downed Coin Drop in the Maiden Handicap (1050m).
It appeared on television that Coin Drop had held on comfortably on the inside, a view shared by racecaller Anthony Manton.
But not for the first time, the angle proved deceiving as it was actually Pouring that got up by a short head.
MTC chief executive Steve Keene revealed the next time the club races on the Riverside track, a new winning post will be in operation.
"The winning post will be there for Kurrajong day, and we aim to have the new winning post (for the course proper) up for Championships day," Keene said.
"Part of the new winning post (for the course proper) is that it can fold down. So the winning post for Riverside will be moved to directly behind it. That way we can use the same camera we do normally, and that should alleviate the issue we had on Monday."
Meantime, jockey Nick Souquet was fined $400 for misconduct following the race.
Souquet was the rider of second placegetter Coin Drop and was adamant he had won, even after viewing the photo finish image.
Souquet pleaded guilty to misconduct in the vicinity of the jockeys room and viewing the official photo finish image. Stewards took into account it was Souquet's first misconduct related offence in a lengthy licensing history.
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THE COVID-19 pandemic did not stop MTC from another strong financial performance in 2019-20.
The MTC announced a surplus of $313,323 and a cash profit of just under $500,000 at their annual general meeting recently.
MTC president Geoff Harrison was thrilled to record such a strong result in his first season in charge.
"My first year as president has come with many challenges, however, the club has come through the other side much stronger and robust," Harrison said in his president's report.
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ALBURY trainer Mitch Beer is hoping Perfect Illusion could measure up as a Tasmanian Cups contender over summer.
Perfect Illusion ran fourth at Sandown on Wednesday after running second at Warwick Farm the start before.
The six-year-old ran midfield in both the Albury and Wagga Gold Cups this year and is still looking for his first Australian win.
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QUEANBEYAN trainer Frank Cleary has been fined by stewards for a positive swab at Wagga.
My Boy Lubby returned a positive to dexamethasone from a pre-race urine sample taken prior to the gelding running ninth in the Class One & Maiden Plate (2000m) at Wagga on September 19.
Stewards considered a number of factors, including that it was Cleary's second offence under the rule throughout a lengthy licence history, before fining him $3500.
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WHAT'S ON
GALLOPS
Saturday: Albury (TAB)
TROTS
Friday: Leeton (TAB)
Tuesday: Young (TAB)
DOGS
Friday: Wagga (TAB)
Saturday: Temora (TAB)
