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By Ray Hickson

Mitch Stapleford didn’t allow himself to think about the occasion of riding in the biggest race of his career and until after he guided Russley Crown into the $1m Newhaven Park Country Championships Final.

Scott Singleton and Mitch Stapleford after their Country Championships win.

The huge show of faith by trainer Scott Singleton, that he played down after winning the $150,000 race at Tamworth, wasn’t lost on Stapleford, who only started his career in August, as he took in the win.

It was the 21-year-old’s 22nd win and easily the biggest and he said it was important for Russley Crown’s chances in the race that he kept a level head.

“It’s unreal, I can’t describe the feeling,’’ he said.

“I’m just very thankful for the opportunity, it’s such a big occasion. Scott and the owners could have had any jockey they wanted on but they stuck with me so it’s terrific.

“It’s a hard game, there’s a lot of things that go wrong. To be a part of the result today, it feels bloody nice.”

While it’s been a 12 month plan to qualify Russley Crown for the Country Championships, after he narrowly missed out running second in the 2023 Wild Card, it almost went awry as the gates opened.

Stapleford said it was a huge effort from the five-year-old after he wasn’t as well served at the start as he would have liked but he grew in confidence as the Newhaven Park Hunter & North West Country Championships (1400m) unfolded.

Once he found the lead he kept the field rolling and scored by almost two lengths over the Lyle Chandler-trained Rapbidash, who also qualifies for the Final, with Sting Jet in third.

“He was really slow away and I thought we were in a bit of strife,’’ he said.

“The first 150m didn’t go to plan and I kept pushing forward and found the front. He was doing it easily and it felt like he was only cantering.

“Even though we did work I started to increase the tempo from about the 800m, by the time we were at the 400m he was at top gear so he’s done a good job.”

Singleton revealed that Stapleford had asked the trainer to have a ride on the horse on Saturday just to give him the reassurance that Russley Crown was on target.

“Mitch said to me ‘Boss can you ride him’ just so you give him the tick off,’’ Singleton said.

“I got on him on Saturday and gave him a canter around and just got the feel for the frame of mind he was in. He’s a horse that’s pretty hard on himself.

“That was a big win. He’s a tough horse, he’s a ‘run forrest run’ type of horse. We had him fit, we gave him three solid trials.”

RUSSLEY CROWN wins the @NewhavenPark Hunter & North West Country Championships!

A huge moment for @MitchStapleford as he guides the @singletonracing gelding into the $1m Final with victory at @_TJC, Rapbidash also qualifies for Randwick in second place. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/zVvamT93lI

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) March 10, 2024

The Scone trainer said he may go into the Final on April 6 without another run.

It’s unlikely that Stapleford will be on board when the gelding gets to Randwick and that’s something he was more than happy to leave to a more experienced rider, having got this job done, at this stage of his career.

“We haven’t talked about it, I don’t think I’ll go. That’s another level but I’m just thankful for the opportunity,’’ he said.

Russley Crown is a $17 chance in the Newhaven Park Country Championships Final, with Rapbidash at $21 after the pair secured their places.

All the results and replays for Sunday’s Country Championships meeting at Tamworth