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By Graeme White

It has been almost 12 months since Associate’s last win – 11 starts since and four placings in that time – but watch out for him at Wagga on Thursday where is ideally placed in a heat of the Wagga stayers series.

Associate last win was in the $150,000 Southern Wild Card for the Country Championships in March of last year at Goulburn.

The five-year-old finished midfield in the Country Championships Final and has also been placed in two Highways and the Nowra Cup.

Associate (Zac Wadick) heads to the barriers at Royal Randwick. Image by Bradley Photographers

Goulburn trainer Danielle Seib said the time was right for Associate to break through again, but she would rather see the horse win again and then plan ahead.

Associate has only won three times, but a further five placings in higher prizemoney races has pushed his earnings past $220,000.

“He always gives his best and has been a good horse for the owners, but another win would be nice,” she said.

“It’s a nice race for him over 2000 metres. He beat one home in the Wangaratta Cup at his first run at the distance last time, but that was a much stronger race.”

Associate will carry 61kg with some of his rivals having 6kg less.

“It’s a lot of weight, but he has carried close to that in a couple of Highway starts,” she said.

Leading jockey Nick Heywood has the ride on Associate as he continues his surge towards hopefully capturing the NSW country premiership which he currently leads.

Ashau Valley is an unlikely starter with trainer Craig Weeding preferring to start the galloper in Victoria the same day.

“He was supposed to start at Benalla (Tuesday) and if that meeting is moved to Thursday at another venue he will go there,” he said.

Loose Love was a first-up winner at Parkes before failing in two subsequent starts. The gelding won his only start at 2000me and trainer Todd Smart is expecting better.

“It’s the right distance for him at this stage and I expect to run a better race,” he said.

Helluva Soiree has won two of her past three starts before finishing fourth in the Canberra Cup preview (2000m). Her recent victories were over 2100 and 2200m and is a more than suitable race she can easily win again.

There will be a lot of interest in the Congratulations Wagga RSL Club 2yo (1000m) with 11 of the 13 acceptances on debut.

Wagga trainer Tim Donnelly has four of those which is possibly a first for him with so many juveniles on debut in the same race.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Wagga here