McDougall's relationship with the Hayes-Dabernig stable continues to prosper with the powerful Euroa camp booking the Albury-based jockey for the ride on $51 chance So Si Bon.

So Si Bon is not renowned as the most genuine horse in racing but McDougall is happy to be aboard the two-time group one placegetter.

"I know the horse quite well. I've trialled him five or six times and I've ridden him a fair bit of work," McDougall explained.

"He's quirky. He's an enigma within himself. When he was a colt he used to bite onto them horses in the last 50. He's a quirky horse, always has been.

"He's definitely a chance. I was reading a few articles last week, a lot horses aren't going to the Stradbroke. A lot of Godolphin runners aren't going anymore. I don't know if you could call it one of the weakest Stradbrokes but it seems to be dropping away."

The Stradbroke will be McDougall's third group one ride and his second within a six-week period after riding in the South Australian Derby for the Hayes-Dabernig stable last month.

The opportunity continues the upward trajectory of McDougall's riding career, despite making the tough decision to move from Sydney to Albury in 2018.

"A lot of people question where I live and why I live where I do," he said.

"I'm not here because I need to be here for my riding, I'm here for the family aspect. I've always felt as though if I could get the family part right, then the rest would follow, including work.

"I think that's probably been the key, moving to the country. I'm not even from Albury, it's all for the family, my partner is from here and her family."

McDougall is enjoying his best season yet. He's ridden 163 winners to sit second on the nationwide jockey's premiership, eight behind Chris Parnham.

For McDougall, it's all about letting his riding do the talking.

"I'm not the best speaker, I'm not outspoken, I've always just thought, especially your profession, you let it do the talking for you," he said.

"Any sportsperson, football player, anyone, their performances is what talks for them the loudest.

"When we made the decision, four years ago or whenever it was, to move, I always thought I wasn't giving up on the dream of riding competitively in town, it was just a step we had to take at that stage of our lives.

"I've had to work really hard to be able to go and do what I do but I'm enjoying my work at the moment."

McDougall has a full book of nine rides at Wagga on Friday, then has another six at Rosehill on Saturday.

...

COROWA trainer Geoff Duryea will have stable stars News Girl and Front Page back in work by the end of the month.

Both horses have been off the scene for almost 12 months.

News Girl suffered a tendon injury last September when being prepared for a potential tilt at The Kosciuszko.

Her full brother, Front Page, was scratched from The Kosciuszko just a couple of days out after injuring himself on the float on the way to Randwick. He has not raced since.

Racing NSW reported this week that Front Page is in pre-training, while News Girl will be back at his stables next week.

The $1.3 million Kosciuszko is on both horse's radar again.

...

WAGGA apprentice jockey Josh Richards continues to kick plenty of goals in Victoria.

Richards backed up his two metropolitan victories last week with two winning doubles either side of the weekend.

Richards combined with the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace team for a double at Cranbourne on Friday night.

Included in the Cranbourne wins were victory in the Trevor Harrison Apprentices Cup, where he saluted on $9 chance Galactic Express. He then won the $60,000 Mornington Mile Final aboard $8.00 chance Category Fire.

On Monday, combined with Phillip Stokes for a winning double at Pakenham.

He landed another city winner at Sandown on Wednesday, aboard Esta La Roca ($4.40) for Lloyd Kennewell.

...

WAGGA trainer Tim Donnelly was active at the recent Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale.

Donnelly purchased staying mare She's A Treasure for $180,000 for Wagga-based clients.

She's A Treasure was a stakes winner in New Zealand as a three-year-old, over 1800m, before racing in Australia under Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, then Matt Dale at Canberra.

She proved to be a perennial placegetter in Australia and never added to her one and only win in stakes company.

By Mastercraftsman out of Penny Whistle, She's A Treasure was purchased by Donnelly in foal to Pierata.

Donnelly said the plan was to send She's A Treasure to Savabeel, where the foal would be closely related to the family of group one winner Mounga.

...

THE form from the Wagga Gold Cup continues to stand up.

Spirit Ridge, who dead heated for second in the Gold Cup, came out and won his next start at Eagle Farm last Saturday.

Spirit Ridge claimed the group three Premiers Cup (2400m), beating fellow Cup runner Paths Of Glory, who ran third.

Yonkers, who shared second with Spirit Ridge, also came out and won at Caulfield on Saturday.

He took out the $135,000 Open Handicap (2000m).

Gold Cup winner Inverloch will go around for the first time since his triumph on Saturday when he contests the listed Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill.

Tommy Berry takes over with Inverloch having 60 kilograms and barrier 14.

Inverloch is headed towards the $175,000 Ipswich Cup (2150m) on June 19.

...

FORMER premiership-winning jockey Andy Bloomfield has made a comeback...on the football field.

The 44-year-old played for Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes in the Riverina League recently when the team's reserve grade side was short of numbers.

Bloomfield hadn't played football for 27 years since lining up for Turvey Park back in his days as a jockey where he rode some 700 winners.

Retired for four years from race riding, Bloomfield said it mightn't be a one off if the team is again short of numbers.

Bloomfield's son, Mitchell, plays for Goannas and he would like to have a game alongside him before he retires the boots again.

Bloomfield said he enjoyed running out again to play football, but added there would definitely be no comeback to the saddle.

"I'm enjoying retirement too much and I don't know how I put up with these cold mornings for so long," he said.

...

MURRUMBIDGEE Turf Club handed over a cheque to Blazeaid last week, stemming from the highly-successful Country Championships race day.

MTC handed over $7225.75, the proceeds from the charity luncheon on Country Championships day in Feburary.

"The Murrumbidgee Turf Club is proud to be able to raise this money for such a worthy cause that will be used in the local community," MTC chief executive Steve Keene said.

"This also serves as a timely reminder that there is still work that needs to be done for these local communities to fully recover from the devastating fires."

...

GALLOPS

Friday: Wagga (TAB)

TROTS

Friday: Young (TAB)

Tuesday: Wagga (TAB)

DOGS

Friday: Wagga (TAB)