Wagga apprentice jockey Molly Bourke has landed the biggest ride of her short but promising career in Friday's $100,000 Snake Gully Cup (1400m).
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Bourke has been sidelined since August with a thumb injury and will return to race-riding at Gundagai on Friday.
Not only will Bourke return but she has secured the plum ride on Peyton Place in the feature.
Peyton Place was allocated the top weight on Tuesday of 61 kilograms.
Bourke's three-kilogram claim means the six-year-old will carry 58kg and Sapphire Coast trainer Greg Stephens could not be happier.
"He's been set for the race," Stephens said.
"Molly will ride him, it's her first day back and that helps him get in with 58.
"She's had one ride on the horse for one win."
Peyton Place set the speed in the Goulburn Cup last month and fought on to finish seven, beaten less than three lengths, behind Al Mah Haha in track record time.
A winner of nine races and over $250,000 in prizemoney, Peyton Place is also a proven wet track performer.
Gundagai was rated a heavy eight earlier this week and the forecast is for more rain later in the week.
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"He comes into his own (on heavy going)," Stephens said.
"He goes just as good on wet tracks and he doesn't have as much pressure on him.
"He's had a couple of hard runs on dry tracks and he's come through those well now it will be good to get to a race where they don't want to break the land speed record early."
It will be Stephens' first trip to Gundagai on Friday. He expects Peyton Place to have no issue with the tight-turning track.
"He handles tight tracks," he said.
"He does his slow work here on the farm and I've got a grass track that is 1100 metres. It has some tight corners on it, which has helped make him more agile I think."
While Peyton Place will carry the number one saddlecloth, Gundagai Cup winner Maid Of Ore and the Kurt Goldman-trained Intuition have both been given 59kg.
They are the only three horses with more than 58kg and only three horses have carried 58kg or more to win the race in the last 25 years.
Albury trainer Donna Scott will have two horses in the feature, should she accept, with both Takissacod and Oamanikka making the top 12 in the order of entry.
David Blundell's Thistledo is guaranteed a start, giving the locals a hometown hope to cheer for.
Snake Gully Cup weights
Peyton Place 61 kilograms, Maid Of Ore 59, Intuition 59, Highly Desired 57.5, Nictock 57, Takissacod 57, Upper House 56.5, Ready To Humble 55, Banger 55, Thistledo 55, Camp Rifle 55, Oamanikka 55, She's All In 55, Washington Towers 55, Northernero 55, Star Of Harada 55, Mookareena 55, This Skilled Cat 55, One Aye 55, Encircle 55, Girls Are Ready 55, Weekend Affair 55, Balonne 55, Bezazzled 55, Capri Of Tuffy 55, Weather Channel 55, Tabloid Star 55, Oscar's My Mate Pa 55
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