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By Mark Brassel

In-form mare Ticklebelly will be one of the top fancies for next Sunday’s $150,000 Evergreen Turf Country Championships at Nowra.

The Goulburn-trained mare has been a revelation winning races at Royal Randwick and Sapphire Coast in her last two appearances and now boasts the impressive record of five wins and five placings from just 13 starts.

“She has really struck form at the right time and we’re going to the Nowra qualifier with a very fit mare at the top of her game,” said trainer Scott Collings.

Ticklebelly (Pierre Boudvillain) outshines her rivals at Sapphire Coast. Image by Bradley Photographers

“She can be temperamental at times but at the moment she’s a happy horse.”

Following a Randwick Highway win (1000m) Ticklebelly then proved too strong for Fine Vintage (who had previously won at Moruya) during the Bega Cup Carnival at Sapphire Coast over 1200m.

“She was strong on the line, so I have no issues with her over the 1400 metres at Nowra,” Collings said.

“She is owned by Mick Doyle who has been a great client ever since I started training, and she carries those famous colours of the Doyle family (Show County, etc).

“Pierre [Boudvillain] rode her last start, and he will retain the ride. Pierre comes and ride some trackwork for me when he can and rode her in a jump out before the Sapphire Coast win.”

Sunday’s Country Championships at Nowra for the South East region is hosted by Shoalhaven City Turf Club: “We’re excited to be hosting the 2025 Country Championships for our area,” said SCTC’s CEO, Paul Weekes.

“Having previously held a heat of the Championships in 2022, we appreciate first-hand the impact that this race meeting has on not only the local racing fraternity but also on the wider community.

“The Club will not only be looking to match what we achieved in 2022 but will look to surpass both in terms of engagement in the lead up to the event and attendance on the raceday itself.

“With the increases in prizemoney and now boasting $390,000 for the day, this will be the biggest race meeting ever held in Nowra.

“The meeting will be heavily promoted both locally and throughout the regions and there will be some exciting on-course activities and promotions for all patrons to enjoy.

“This includes a DJ belting out tunes, inflatable horse races and entertainment for the kids.

“The Club will also be conducting an on-course racebook competition with $5,000 in prizemoney which must be won!

“The Country Championships concept is widely acknowledged as the pinnacle of country racing in NSW and our Club is delighted to have been entrusted by Racing NSW to be the South East Racing Association’s host venue in 2025.”

On Saturday it will be Lismore Turf Club’s turn to stage the $150,000 Country Championships for the Northern Rivers region.

The Club will have a Fashions on the Field and a $5 shuttle bus doing a continuous loop between the racetrack and Lismore Workers Club.

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Wagga, Scone
Tuesday: Queanbeyan
Friday: Quirindi
Saturday: Lismore*, Condobolin picnics (non-TAB)
Sunday: Nowra*, Mudgee
*Evergreen Turf Country Championships