Blundell is hoping to get the well-performed Thistledo into next month's $1.3 million Kosciuszko and revealed the horse's owner is in negotiations with a slot holder.

Thistledo, now a nine-year-old, trialled at Goulburn last week in preparation for his first-up run, most likely to be in Sydney in a couple of weeks.

Thistledo ran third in the SDRA Country Championships Qualifier and has since gone on to run a second and fourth at city level, along with an open win at Cowra earlier this year.

"I'm trying to get him into the Kosciuszko," Blundell said.

"One of the owners said someone rang up is interested in doing a deal so we'll poke along and see what happens there.

"He trialled good at Goulburn. He's come in tremendous. I'm tossing up now whether I take him to town for a race. A lot of the other country horses going for it have only been racing in class threes."

Blundell will bring three horses to Wagga on Saturday, all of which are relatively new to his stable.

Blundell is most keen on Shafty in the Xmas Party Day 27^th November Maiden Plate (1400m).

The four-year-old had only had the one start for John Rolfe before being sent to him. He impressed first-up for Blundell with a close second at Narrandera last month.

"He's a rather nice horse," Blundell said.

"I gave him a trial and a break when I got him. Then he didn't go too bad at Narrandera.

"He's still got a bit to learn but I think he'll make a nice horse."

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Blundell does not want any rain for Shafty and expects him to get over a mile.

Another newcomer for Blundell is Power Of Mandela in the Aggies Day 16^th October Class One Handicap (1000m).

The gelding did his early racing for Mitch Freedman in Victoria but was sent to Blundell after more than a year in the paddock, recovering from some minor ligament issues.

"He had some small issues with some ligaments. He wasn't lame or broken down or anything. He put him in the paddock and he's been in the paddock for 12 months or more," Blundell explained.

"He sent him up just to give him a go and at this stage he's good. I'm just working him a little bit different. You wouldn't know he's had troubles but I'm aware of it. Everything was only minor with him.

"I was happy with his trial at Goulburn. I think he might go alright."

The third of Blundell's trio is Taliano, who has had three starts for him since coming across from his daughter, Michelle Russell.

Taliano has run placings at his past couple of starts and is expected to be again thereabouts in the Iron Jack Class One & Maiden Plate (2000m) - a heat of the Wagga Stayer Series.

"He's been going alright this time in," Blundell said.

"He went alright at Bathurst, it was only the track on the day, it came down with rain and they jacked up halfway through the race and we got caught up a bit.

"He's consistent in what he's doing so he would have a bit of a chance. Getting away from the higher grades, the benchmark system is hard. I expect him to run well, he's working good and so forth."

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