Mornington Peninsula boutique thoroughbred nursery Two Bays Farm purchased the mare via an Inglis Digital online auction on Wednesday night.

It capped off a whirlwind couple of weeks for trainer Geoff Duryea and connections after they decided to sell the three-time city-winning mare.

News Girl, for so long the pride of the Southern District, retired a stakes-placed mare and earner of nearly $350,000.

The sale continues a big week for the family after full brother, Front Page, was confirmed for a slot in the $1.3 million Kosciuszko.

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LEADING Southern District jockey Blaike McDougall's move south has already paid a dividend.

McDougall has been booked to ride Ballistic Lover in the group one $1 million Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on Friday week, September 24.

Ballistic Lover is trained by Joe Pride and raced by Tricolours Racing. The four-year-old mare is a winner of six of her 13 starts, having won a listed race at Moonee Valley over 1000m last month.

McDougall got his Victorian stint off the mark with a win at Swan Hill last Friday.

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ONLY three slots remain available in this year's $1.3 million Kosciuszko.

The Gary Colvin-trained Another One is the second shorted horse in TAB's Kosciuzko market not to have gained a spot yet and will trial at Murrumbidgee Turf Club on Saturday.

It would be fair to say that Colvin is frustrated with the negotiation process involved in securing a berth for the Kosciuszko but is not giving up on the race.

Colvin expects Another One to draw plenty of attention after his trial.

"He'll trial well," Colvin said.

"He's ready to go. Nick (Heywood) says he feels unbelievable now."

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WAGGA trainer Chris Heywood is unlikely to start Blitzar at Randwick on Saturday after drawing a wide gate.

Blitzar was down to run in the $100,000 TAB Highway Class Three Handicap (1000m) with Jean Van Overmiere to ride but came up with barrier 16 of 18.

Blitzar put in a good effort at his last trip to town, finishing fifth, beaten less than a length and a half, behind Jerry.

The wide gate has Heywood likely to stay at home, but he is unlikely to be an acceptor in the Run To Kosciuszko Open Handicap (1200m) either.

Heywood is likely to target the Highway Handicap on Kosciuszko day at Randwick and give him a trial leading up to the event.

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TWO Southern District trainers are off to Queanbeyan on Friday in a bid to win the feature race.

Albury trainers Mitch Beer and Donna Scott have runners in the $35,000 TAB Federal Benchmark 75 Handicap (1200m).

Beer has the top weight, Jawwaal, who will carry 61.5 kilograms with Simon Miller in the saddle. Jawwaal was scratched from a feature at Swan Hill last Friday in favour of the Queanbeyan trip.

Scott has Takissacod in, carrying 61 kilograms, with Nick Heywood to ride. The mare will have her first start for Scott since being transferred from the Norm Loy stable.

Takissacod won the Corowa Cup for Loy last campaign, and ran second in the Albury Mile and third in the SDRA Country Championships Qualifier at Wagga.

The Queanbeyan meeting has been transferred from Canberra.

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SATURDAY's race meeting at Murrumbidgee Turf Club will be closed to the general public.

The MTC, like all country clubs, is still awaiting further advice from the industry and will be operating with only essential personnel until further notice.

The club has a big line-up of race meetings over the next couple of months so are hopeful that crowds are allowed to return to the track soon.

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RACING Victoria has made COVID-19 vaccinations compulsory for staff and participants, including jockeys and trainers.

Victoria's new "no jab, no entry" policy announced on Wednesday will cover racing operations areas at Victorian racecourses on raceday and public training centres.

All Victorian and interstate licensed and registered participants, as well as Racing Victoria staff, will be subject to the mandate unless they have a lawful exemption.

Participants must have had their first dose by October 16 and be fully vaccinated by November 27.

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A STEWARDS inquiry is being conducted after the death of Sahara Emaar at Corowa on Tuesday.

The eight-year-old collapsed and died half way down the straight of the Class Two Handicap (1000m). Winona Costin fell from the horse during the unfortunate incident but escaped injury.

The on-course veterinary officer reported the likely cause of death as a failure of the cardiovascular system but the inquiry was adjourned to allow stewards to obtain veterinary and stable treatment records.

The Snitzel gelding was having his first start for Peter Korn after being at four other stables previously.

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TWO new races meeting have been added to the Southern District calendar over the next month.

Murrumbidgee Turf Club will host a new picnic race meeting on Sunday, October 10 in the inner Riverside track.

The meeting has been added due to the cancellation of the picnic meetings at Lockhart and Young.

All six races will be worth $5000 each, with two open trophy events over 1050m and 1660m. There will be two Class B races, over 1050m and 1660m, a Class Three Trophy (1200m) and a Maiden Plate (1100m).

This comes after an extra non-TAB meeting was awarded to Corowa Race Club for Saturday, September 25.

There will be six races worth $10,000 each. Two Benchmark 58 Handicaps, over 1000m and 1400m, a Benchmark 50 Handicap (1600m), a Benchmark 45 Handicap (1200m), a Maiden Plate (1000m) and a Maiden Handicap (1300m).

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GALLOPS

Saturday: Wagga (TAB)

TROTS

Friday: Wagga (TAB)

Tuesday: Albury (TAB)

DOGS

Friday: Wagga (TAB)

Saturday: Temora (TAB)