NEWLY-crowned Southern District Racing Association (SDRA) premier trainer Mitch Beer has plans to go bigger and better next season.
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Beer won his first SDRA trainer's premiership this season, claiming 30 winners to finish six clear of fellow Albury trainer Donna Scott on 24. Gary Colvin finished third on 16.
Beer took over the crown from disqualified trainer Trevor Sutherland and claimed it in just his third season since moving from Mornington to Albury.
The 32-year-old said it was a great reward for a tough season.
"It's terrific. Especially, I don't like to harp on the whole COVID and poor me border situation but it has been a good reward when you think to where we were 12 months ago," Beer said.
"Twelve months ago this weekend I was taking a truckload to Forbes and there was a Wodonga meeting on six kilometres away and we were just really getting into the stick of horses being banned and what not.
"It's a lovely situation to be in 12 months later, even though it feels like three years later, it's the great thing about this game. You can go from an average situation to a good place very quickly."
Beer hopes to build on his 30 SDRA winners for the season and go even better in 2021-22.
"While it's great to have taken out the premiership, I certainly think that we can do a lot better next year in regards to the amount of winners we train," he said.
"We've trained more seconds than winners so we know that we're close to getting things 100 per cent right. We're not there yet.
"I think there is a lot of good positive things we've taken out of this season, we've changed a few things and implementing different systems to try and turn those five and 10 per cent narrow margin seconds into winners because you move 10 of those seconds over to winners and it's huge, it puts you right up the top and close to top of the state."
Outside of the SDRA, Beer enjoyed success with Redouble's second placing in the Kosciuszko, along with Swagger's win in the Highway Handicap.
"One of the more exciting things is some of the younger horses we've found this season like Sunrise Ruby and horses that have gone to a new level like Swagger and Power Me Up," he said.
"They could have easily just knocked around that 58 grade but they've stepped up to the mark and they look like being pretty nice horses."
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ALBURY's Blaike McDougall won by a record margin in winning his third SDRA jockey's premiership.
McDougall, who is enjoying a record-breaking season, finished with 101 winners in the SDRA, the most since records were kept.
Nick Heywood finished in second on 33, with Mathew Cahill next on 24.
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WAGGA trainer Gary Colvin has devised a new plan for Another One.
Colvin's path towards the Kosciuszko was thrown into chaos earlier this month when the Corowa non-raceday trials were abandoned due to the wet weather.
Colvin had initially hoped to run Another One first-up at Randwick this Saturday.
Colvin now hopes to get a trial or gallop between races at Wagga for Another One next weekend before heading to Sydney first-up.
Colvin has earmarked a $130,000 Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m) on Randwick on August 21 for Another One.
"He's going unbelievable. I'm really happy with him," Colvin said.
"He's really fresh and he's rearing to go. I'm going to have to run him soon somewhere because he's jumping out of his skin."
Colvin said Wagga's Union Hotel, headed by publican Pat McRedmond, has organised a big syndicate to buy as many Kosciuszko tickets as possible in a bid to get Another One into the $1.3 million feature.
Another One is a $15 chance with TAB.
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TALENTED Albury filly Sunrise Ruby will be boosted by the services of Glen Boss when she steps out in the city for the first time on Saturday.
The logistics around COVID-19 forced Mitch Beer to scratch Sunrise Ruby from Caulfield last Saturday and she will now line-up in the $100,000 TAB Highway Class Three Handicap (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
She is drawn barrier 12.
Sunrise Ruby has won three of her four starts and Beer believes she is right up to winning the Highway.
"I honestly think she is as good as I've ever had," Beer said.
Meantime, next year's Country Championships is the target for Narrandera Cup winner Power Me Up, who headed to the spelling paddock this week.
"If we use last year as somewhat of a benchmark then horses like Swagger and Power Me Up, who will be set for next year's Country Championships, will be well and truly up the top of the list," Beer said.
Beer said Power Me Up, already a class five horse, will have a couple of trials and potentially a city start or two heading into the Country Championships.
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MURRUMBIDGEE Turf Club chief executive Steve Keene will finish up on August 13.
Keene resigned earlier this month to take on the chief executive role at Scone Race Club.
The Wagga meeting on Sunday week will be Keene's last in charge before he makes the move to Scone.
Applications close for the MTC position this Monday, August 2.
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A NUMBER of Southern District stables will target the annual Forbes Cup meeting on Sunday.
The Forbes meeting has been a happy hunting ground for Southern District stables in recent times, and this year has been moved from the Monday to Sunday, and will carry Showcase status.
Albury trainer Laura McCullum has Necessary, who was a closing second in the Narrandera Cup, nominated for the $50,000 Forbes Cup (1600m).
Phil Sweeney (Bezazzled, Decker, Fleur De Rose, Money In Mud, Then), Maddy Collins (Gotta Want It), Mitch Beer (Sunrise Ruby, Packer's Bond, Innisbrook, Media Statement, Raphael), Kevin Hanley (Magic Merv), Ron Steiner (War Blues), Russell Steiner (Land Of The Brave), Laura McCullum (Necessary, Maglaana) and Chris Heywood (Trade Statement) have all nominated for the meeting.
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GUNDAGAI'S meeting on Monday will be in some doubt, pending the weather over the next few days.
The course was hit with 40mm of rain over the weekend and Southern District chief steward Jason Shultz plans to inspect the track this week.
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WHAT'S ON
GALLOPS
Monday: Gundagai (TAB)
TROTS
Friday: Wagga (TAB)
Tuesday: Young (TAB)
DOGS
Friday: Wagga (TAB)