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By Graeme White

To say the connections Zabellsareringing and Royal Pharoah have had to be patient after an enduring a spate of seconds would be stating the obvious.

Zabellsareringing has finished second at five of his past six starts and is the $4.40 TAB favourite for the Tanqueray Cocktail Lounge Tickets On Sale Benchmark 58 (2000m) at Wagga on Tuesday.

Royal Pharoah has been runner-up at four of his past five starts and is the favourite at $2.40 for the Congrats Jess & Mitch 2024 Faces Of The Carnival Maiden (1000m).

Zabellsareringing just missed when the closest of seconds behind Kockibitoo over 2000m at Albury on February 1.

The six-year-old was again second best behind Chaotic Beauty at Goulburn at his next start and that galloper has won again since at Cowra yesterday.

Gundagai trainer David Blundell [pictured left] said the galloper was well placed again to try and breakthrough for that elusive second career victory.

“He is consistent and keeps earning and I think the run again over 2000 metres is right for him,” he said.

Experienced jockey Nick Souquet has picked up the late ride on Zabellsareringing who was a scratching from Cowra.

Kockibitoo’s trainer Wayne Carroll hopes the mare can again have the edge when the acid test is applied in the final stages.

The mare meets Zabellsareringing 0.5kg better for the last time they raced against each other. She has also raced once since for a solid third over 2000m at Albury.

“I have been really pleased with what she has done. She has had a long enough campaign and if she goes well again she may go on to the Albury Cup carnival,” Carroll said.

Leading jockey Danny Beasley is again aboard Kockibitoo ($9.50).

Carroll’s stable apprentice Ella McGuirk will ride one of the other main chances in Dream Inherit ($7.50). Her 4kg claim will bring Dream Inherit in with 61.5kg.

The mare was a last start second behind Demanding Mo at Wagga and that galloper has since gone on to win again at Canberra.

Meanwhile, Royal Pharoah lines up for his 15th start chasing his first win in the opening race. Royal Pharoah tried hard after making the pace behind the heavily backed Do You Think So at Benalla at his latest start.

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