HUNTLY Castle ensured the all-powerful Hayes-Dabernig stable will have a presence at the Wagga Gold Cup carnival after victory in the main lead-up on Sunday.
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A calm Blaike McDougall-ride guided Huntly Castle ($1.90) to victory in the $45,000 Kooringal Stud Murrumbidgee Cup (1800m) at Wagga.
The victory in the cup prelude ensures Huntly Castle a place in the field for next month's $200,000 Wagga Gold Cup (2000m).
Stable representative Bruno Rouge-Serret confirmed Huntly Castle will return for a crack at the time-honoured feature.
"I think he's earned a crack at coming back for the Wagga Cup," Rouge-Serret said.
"He's a horse that we've had high hopes on and he's just taken time to mature and become a seasoned horse and now he's putting it all together.
"If he can come back and repeat that in any class of race, I think he's a real chance. He goes good this way, he loves this track, so we're coming back."
Rouge-Serret also praised McDougall for a patient ride.
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"I had my heart in my mouth a couple of times but Blaike knows him very well and I think Blaike having faith in the horse and knowing how he can finish the race off, just bid his time and got the job done," he said.
Champagne Vega ($7.50) was a half length back in second, with All But Gone ($15) a nose away in third.
Meantime, Island Bay Boy ($4.60) and One Aye ($7.00) shared the spoils with a dead heat in the Guineas Prelude (1400m).
Stand Your Ground ($7.50) charged home to win the Queen of the South Prelude (1300m).
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