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By Tony Megahey

Winning circumstances might have changed, but the confidence remains high for Golden Gorge, primed by a Dubbo trial and well-weighted for a TAB Highway repeat at Royal Randwick on Saturday before spelling for bigger occasions.

Nash Rawiller, who rode the giant Mossman gelding a pearler to land a sizeable plunge at Hawkesbury three weeks ago, has been replaced for all logic by Rory Hutchings with 61kg into a TAB $75,000 Class 3, 1400m.

Golden Gorge (Nash Rawiller; No.1) scores narrowly in a busy finish at Hawkesbury. Image by Bradley Photographers

“We knew Nash was locked in for the Group races in Brisbane, so we booked Rory early knowing we’d get around that weight - Rory knows him, rode him when he ran an enormous third at Muswellbrook with 63.5kg,” explained trainer and former leading jockey Kody Nestor.

“He had an unofficial ‘1000m’ trial after the last at Dubbo Saturday.

"We’ve kept him on fresh legs since Hawkesbury.

"He’s where we want him, and he’ll spell after this regardless.

"We set him for the Country Championships a while back with the progress he was making.

“His old issues have been manageable it was just a matter of getting the big fella race fit after all the time he’d had off. Up to a Class 3, he’s still nicely treated.”

Golden Gorge’s 61kg at headquarters is a half kilo weight drop from his Hawkesbury Class 2 win when he was smashed from $7 on TAB early in the week into $4.50 at barrier rise.

One negative is he’s drawn wider in 13 on Saturday, but likely to come in through scratchings.

“Nash gave him a gun ride from the good draw, but Rory knows how he needs to be ridden. He’s a big unit and used to carrying weights.”

Golden Gorge meets several opponents from Hawkesbury on better terms for beating them.

“There’s more depth in this, but with his length of stride, he’ll be better suited on the bigger track.

“He’s best ridden with cover, there’s always more tempo and pressure at Randwick. We kept him up to the mark with the trial.

“With those previous issues, he does most of his work on the treadmill or in the pool.”

Golden Gorge, after winning impressively at Sandown last April, had enforced lengthy spells through knee spurring and arthritis. Hence, being moved on by Victorian trainer Robert Hickmott and Hong Kong owner, Price Bloodstock.

More precisely aside from issues, the lightly raced four-year-old was sent to Nestor to be placed in regional grade for the massive $9 million NSW prizemoney increases that apply from July.

And from the profile racing internationals, it was some compliment for Nestor, amidst a tremendous third training season with 38 wins and a 17% strike rate.

At present headquarters is a soft 7 with the rail in the True position.

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