ACCOMPLISHED Corowa sprinter News Girl has been retired.
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Corowa trainer Geoff Duryea made the decision on Wednesday morning when her tendon injury from last year flared up again.
The talented mare retires a winner of five races and $339,000 in prizemoney.
She shot to fame in her second racing preparation with a couple of second placings at Caulfield, most notably in the group three Kevin Hayes Stakes.
News Girl rose to another level at four, recording back-to-back city Saturday wins at Caulfield before running a close second in the group two Bellmaine Stakes last year.
She returned to Caulfield for her third city win in May 2020 and only managed one more start before a tendon injury ultimately ended her career.
The Duryea stable released a statement on Wednesday confirming the retirement of the mare affectionately referred to as 'Maggie'.
"Today we announce that News Girl has retired," it read.
"She knew she was special and kept us amused. She was a fast and fierce competitor and we are proud of her achievements. Our Maggie is a 3 x Saturday city winner, twice second at group three, fourth at group two, held the class records at both Albury and Caulfield, and collected almost $350,000 in prizemoney.
"More than all of that, Maggie gave us many happy memories and emotions enjoyed amongst owners, friends, and family that will be cherished."
By Magnus out of the well-performed mare Stacey Lee, News Girl now shapes as a wonderful broodmare prospect for the Duryea stable and connections.
Meantime, full brother Front Page is the second emergency for the listed Chautauqua.Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Lewis German is again booked to ride from barrier 14.
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WAGGA trainer Chris Heywood will launch a two-pronged attack at Randwick on Saturday.
Promising sprinter Blitzar has accepted in the $100,000 TAB Highway Class Three Handicap (1200m). He has drawn barrier five with apprentice Jean Van Overmiere in the saddle. His claim helps the five-year-old get in with 55.5kg.
Blitzar ran a first-up second behind Mnementh at Wagga last Thursday.
Heywood will also take sprinting mare Underwood to Randwick to contest the $130,000 Benchmark 78 Mares Handicap (1100m).
Underwood broke the $100,000 in earnings with her fourth-placed effort at Wagga last Thursday behind Ruthless Agent in the Ian Reid Sprint.
She is drawn gate two with Van Overmiere to ride.
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LEADING Southern District Blaike McDougall plans to return to the region once his trip to Melbourne is complete.
McDougall has made the big call to move to Melbourne, in a bid to establish himself in the metropolitan riding ranks.
It comes after a record-breaking season in 2020-21, where he became the first jockey to ride more than 100 winners in the SDRA over a season. He also claimed the NSW statewide premiership, and finished second in the national title.
"My team and I, we spoke about it quite aggressively, pretty much the second half of the season and two months before the season was finished, we'd sort of confirmed this would be my last season in NSW and we'd spend next season having a crack in Melbourne," McDougall said.
"I don't know Melbourne. I've left the kids and family at home. I'm going to come down here and float around, I want to get in amongst it in the metropolitan area. I want to ride for big stables and the end goal is to ride in town, but whether that happens or not, we'll see.
"I've left the family at home because realistically I might be coming home in a month. Hopefully within two, three months max I can get the girls down and start living our life down here."
McDougall said he has loved making the Southern District home over the past three years.
"I've never really felt like I've had a home and I sort of feel as though the SDRA, Albury, is home," he said.
"I feel like it's somewhere I can always go back to, I feel like the circuit we have there as jockeys, I think we've got a great circuit, we've got the SDRA, the SERA and then you get down to Moruya and Sapphire.
"I feel like I built up a base, I've put down a foundation there and I feel I could probably miss out on a season or two and come back."
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WELL-performed Wagga-owned galloper Man Of Peace will tackle group two company at Randwick on Saturday.
Man Of Peace has had two runs back from a spell and will contest the $200,000 Tramway Stakes (1400m) third up.
Canberra trainer Matt Dale has again got Man Of Peace headed towards the $1.3 million Kosciuszko, a race he finished third in last year.
Man Of Peace was formerly trained by Dave Heywood, with connections retaining a share in the horse when he was sold to Dale.
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THE William Farrer Hotel's Super Punters Club (SPC) is again having a massive crack at securing a slot in the $1.3 million Kosciuszko.
The Farrer's SPC have proven major players in the Kosciuszko since the race's inception three years ago.
This year, the SPC syndicate secured $52,500 in Kosciuszko tickets. The draw will take place next week on September 9.
The 650-strong punters club is due for a change of luck.
Last year they successfully negotiated to secure Front Page for their slot, only for the Corowa galloper to injure himself in the float on the way to Sydney. They secured a late replacement, Prairie Fire, who only beat one horse home.
The SPC finished third in 2018 with Awesome Pluck. But he too was a late replacement when Care To Think was scratched on the Wednesday before the race.
The SPC is still operated by David Barnhill, despite the recent sale of the hotel.
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WHAT'S ON
GALLOPS
Friday: Albury (TAB)
Sunday: Gundagai (TAB)
TROTS
Friday: Wagga (TAB)
Tuesday: Leeton (TAB)
DOGS
Friday: Temora (TAB)
