Pontmain was found to have suffered another tendon injury, this time in a different leg, after his most recent win at Wagga last month.

The eight-year-old French bred import was restricted to just nine starts, where he won three and placed on another two occasions.

Pontmain won on debut at Wagga in January 2019 and ran second in a Class Three Highway Handicap at Randwick at his second start before succumbing to injury.

He returned after two years off the scene at this year's Cup carnival and was just hitting his straps, winning his past two at Wagga, before injury struck again.

Raced by Gundagai's Tony and Bill Barton, Pontmain was described by Donnelly as the best horse he had trained since moving to Wagga.

Donnelly said it was disappointing to lose such a talent.

"Like those young footballers than retire early, you think 'geez, how good would this bloke have been'," Donnelly said.

"It's disappointing more than frustrating. It's a shame because we never saw the best of him."

Donnelly did concede it was extremely satisfying to be able to get the horse back for two more career wins in recent months.

"Absolutely. That's the one thing about it, I'm glad that we got the two wins for the owners, they were so patient," he said.

Meantime, Donnelly, who has trained four winners from his last 10 starters, is eyeing off the Highway Handicap on November 27 with unbeaten three-year-old Participator after his big first-up win at Wagga last week.

...

WELL-performed Wagga galloper Man Of Peace has also been retired.

Canberra trainer Matthew Dale and connections made the decision after Man Of Peace's last run at Randwick on Everest day.

The nine-year-old retires with a record of 61 starts for 14 wins and 19 minor placings, having amassed $762,600 in career earnings.

He started off his career with Dave Heywood at Wagga, before being purchased by Dale. The original connections of Cath Heywood, Bern Milne, Mick Mullins and Ray and Therese Burt stayed in the horse and enjoyed a amazing ride.

Man Of Peace won six times at Randwick, all for female apprentices, and ran third in the 2020 Kosciuszko. He ran in three Wagga Town Plates, for a third and fourth, he ran third in a Snake Gully Cup and also finished third in an Albury City Handicap.

Dale described him as a 'true war horse'.

"Man Of Peace has been an absolute marvel for the stable and his connections," Dale said.

He will retire at the Burt's property.

...

SIX of the Southern District's most promising racehorses will be in action at Randwick on Saturday.

Wagga trainer Gary Colvin will head to the city with three runners.

Another One will contest the $130,000 Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m) after being scratched from Randwick on Tuesday.

He was a close up second at a midweek Randwick meeting last month.

Sizzling Cat will contest the $100,000 TAB Highway Class Three Handicap (1500m). Both horses will be ridden by Tyler Schiller.

Wagga will then be represented by three last-start winners Kitzbuhel (Tim Donnelly), Zakeriz (Chris Hardy) and Mahsinger (Gary Colvin) in the $130,000 Country Classic (2000m).

Mitch Beer also has Brander's Rule in the $130,000 Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m).

...

TWO of Southern District's better horses have been banned for three months.

The Gary Colvin-trained Forever Newyork bled from both nostrils after running fourth in last Friday's MTC Mad Scramble (1000m) at Wagga.

The Chris Heywood-trained Blitzar is also out for three months.

He bled when running last in the TAB Highway Handicap (1100m) on Everest day at Randwick.

...

INCOMING Murrumbidgee Turf Club chief executive Jason Ferrario had good reason to celebrate at Wagga races last Friday.

Ferraro is a part-owner of Will To Excel, who captured the $27,000 Mountaineer Cup (3200m) at Wagga last Friday.

The six-year-old trained by James Ponsonby has won his past two starts by a combined margin of 10 lengths and is now headed towards the Jericho at Warrnambool.

Ferrario bought into the horse through his friendship with racecaller Anthony Manton, who also shares in the ownership.

...

IT HAS been a week to remember for Southern District jockey Jordan Mallyon.

Mallyon has been riding in fine form this season and enjoyed one of his most successful days at the track at Tumut on Saturday, where he rode four of the five winners on the card.

Two of those winners were for Tumut trainer Kerry Weir, who also enjoyed a day out with three winners on his home track.

Just 24 hours later, Mallyon claimed the $200,000 Goulburn Cup (1400m) on Al Mah Haha ($5.50) for trainer Tash Burleigh.

...

ON THE topic of in-form jockeys, what more can be said about Blaike McDougall's move to Melbourne?

McDougall is flying at the moment, highlighted by his winning double at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.

He also won the last race on both Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate days, a group two and a group three.

This comes just two months after making the move from Albury.

...

TUMUT Turf Club has picked up two extra race meetings this month.

Racing NSW has granted two extra non-TAB meetings for Tumut, starting with this Sunday, November 7.

The second meeting will be held on November 20.

The two extra meetings have been slotted in to help replace several lost meetings in recent months due to COVID-19.

...

GALLOPS

Friday: Albury (TAB)

Sunday: Tumut (non-TAB)

TROTS

Saturday: Griffith (TAB)

Tuesday: Albury (TAB)

DOGS

Friday: Temora (TAB)