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By Ray Hickson

A Country Championships berth doesn’t quite hinge on how Wal’s Angels performs at Rosehill on Saturday but trainer Nick Olive realises the importance of a win to keep him in the picture.

The South East is traditionally one of the stronger regions and it’s often said you need a benchmark of around 70 to make the final field and the TAB Highway (1400m) is a chance for Wal’s Angels, who has a 63 rating, to put himself in that ballpark.

The lightly raced four-year-old pleased Olive with his first-up run, a close fourth behind Sir Remlap over 1200m three weeks ago, and he says there are plenty of positives.

“He went super first-up and he was probably a bit unlucky too, should have finished a little bit closer, but I thought he went great,’’ he said.

“And it was a bloody strong Highway too.

“He’s drawn well, doesn’t mind the give out of the track. I thought this Highway would follow on from the other one and be quite strong but it’s dropped away a bit so I feel he’s a good chance.”

Olive is expecting the rise in distance to allow Wal’s Angels, $4.80 with TAB on Friday, to be more prominent than he was over 1200m first-up.

He’s had two runs on heavy tracks for a Wagga win and a third behind Belvedere Boys in a Highway at Randwick back in April.

Wal’s Angels runs fourth at Randwick on December 28

“He will be closer, he’ll possie up on the first four or five I reckon,’’ he said.

“I think he will go well, he’s as good as anything in the race and he gets a few things to suit.”

February 23 is the date for the South East Country Championships so Olive has time to give Wal’s Angels another run, and if he doesn’t win on Saturday a chance to boost his rating, before the $150,000 race.

The Queanbeyan trainer rates his 2023 SERA winner Kimberley Secrets, who resumes at Canterbury on Friday night, as his leading chance though she’s coming off a 14 month absence.

Stablemate Oneforian pleased Olive with his second-up effort in the same Highway, finishing seventh and a length behind Wal’s Angels.

The four-year-old was tried beyond 2100m last time in so the 1400m will be right up his alley, though Olive says there’s less evidence of his prowess on wet tracks.

“He went super the other day. He did have no luck, he got shuffled eight back and got blocked for a run and when he got clear he made up good ground,’’ he said.

“He’s drawn a bit sticky compared to the other horse but he’s in great order and I’d expect him to run well too.

“I feel when he’s been on wet tracks he hasn’t been at his best so I feel the jury is out on that.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting