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By John Schell

An in depth look at the chances of every runner in Saturday’s $150,000 Evergreen Turf SDRA Country Championships (1400m) at Wagga.

1. CANNY HELL (Kym Davison, Albury): Four-time winner from just the 12 starts. Failed to beat a runner home at Caulfield and Rosehill in tougher grade either side of a spell. Ran fourth at Wagga last time out in the same race Burrandana ran third in. Warrants respect.

2. COUNTY KILKENNY (Tim Donnelly, Wagga): Talented galloper which has scored in city grade on the Kensington track at Randwick when fought on well over a longer trip. Has been unplaced either side of a spell but wasn’t beaten far in either of them. Can show up against these without surprising.

County Kilkenny (Pic: Bradley Photos).

3. DYNAMIC ONE (Michael Travers, Wagga): Is building up a handy record with four wins and four seconds from 17 starts. Was a winner at Albury two starts ago and then took on tougher company in the Queanbeyan Cup last time out when midfield. Won’t find this easy but could get into the placings without shocking.

4. SORRY SUNSHINE (Doug Gorrel, Wagga): Form was a little patchy before breaking through with a win at Albury in October when hit the line well to score by a big margin. Since had a trial before resuming with a down the track effort at this track. Shows talent but needs to improve on last start effort.

5. BURRANDANA (Peter Morgan, Wagga): Has a solid record with a string of Highway placings to his name. Was a winner at Gundagai last November on the back of the solid Highway efforts, and he since finished third at Wagga when last produced. Has the ability to give this a shake.

6. ARTHUR THE GREAT (Donna Scott, Albury): Has a good record with three wins and as many placings from just the 10 starts. Was midfield in a Highway at Kembla Grange before being spelled and has had two trials leading into this first-up run. Should be in the thick of things.

7. VILLASAURUS (Donna Scott, Albury): Resumes from a spell here and has shown plenty of ability in his nine-start career. Was a Highway winner at Rosehill back in November and then ran third in a Highway at Rosehill behind subsequent SERA Country Championships winner Sunchyme. Fresh for this and has the right form to return as a winner.

8. FUTURE FUND (Maddison Collins, Wagga): Looked good winning a couple on end at Albury last October and November then was spelled before having a trial at Corowa and then finishing fourth behind Cable Express in a handy race at Goulburn. Has had another trial leading into this and could sneak into the minor money.

9. JUST GOOGLE ME (Scott Spackman, Wagga): Took on Highway grade at Randwick when last produced and finished down the track. Form before that was solid though with a win at Albury last July and then a fresh win here on the back of a second on the Riverside when fresh from a spell. Lightly raced but shows the talent to make an impact.

10. JUST LIKE LIAM (Garry Worsnup, Albury): Resumes from a spell here and form before the break was well below what would be required to make any sort of impact in this. Needs it easier at this stage of his career.

11. ROLLO (Pat Widdup, Albury): Has won two of his four starts with both wins being at Albury. Was close-up at this track when seventh when last produced and while this looks to be a tough task, he could show up without causing a shock.

12. WINGS OF CARMEN (Donna Scott, Albury): Has only had the five starts and has won two of them, the latest at Albury last November before finishing sixth at Moonee Valley. Has had two trials leading into this and while this is a tough task he shouldn’t be underestimated.

Villasaurus (Pic: Steve Hart)

13. DOLLY (Scott Spackman, Wagga): Consistent mare with two wins and nine placings to her name from just the 12 starts. Hasn’t been beaten far away in her latest two seconds at this track. Only needs the breaks to go her way to be a chance of scoring a knockout win.

14. PROPHET’S DAUGHTER (Ron Stubbs, Albury): Was in good form this time last year winning two in a row at Albury before finishing midfield in a Highway at Rosehill. Resumed from that with another two midfield Highway efforts. Resumes again here and a forward showing would not surprise.

15. KAIDA BLAZE (Peter Clancy, Leeton): Was placed on her home track back in September then ran second at Cootamundra before scoring a win at this track when scored narrowly. Ran fourth at Albury in November before finishing fourth here when last produced and not beaten far. Could be a knockout chance.

16. IMPOSING TALLULAH (Donna Scott, Albury): Won on the Riverside track at Wagga back in October but failed to fire at Wodonga and Corowa in her two runs since then. Has been placed in two trials leading into this resuming run but needs to improve on what she showed before the break.

17E. SOUTHERN DANCER (Gary Colvin, Wagga): Was racing well before being spelled when placed in two of her three starts at Albury and Wagga. Since resumed and ran well again when third at this track. Will find this a tougher task but is on the up and shouldn’t be underestimated.

SPEED MAP: Expect Arthur The Great, Canny Hell and Villasaurus to push forward from their wide gates. Dolly is also drawn the outside and can take up a prominent position. Burrandana should get a nice trail from the good barrier, while Dynamic One is drawn to get a good run. County Kilkenny will likely get back but should get every chance from the inside gate.

SELECTIONS:
7 VILLASAURUS
2 County Kilkenny
5 Burrandana
13 Dolly

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Country Championships meeting at Wagga