The Rodney Northam-trained Voodoo Lad, ridden by legendary jockey Robert Thompson, confirmed his favouritism for the $300,000 final with a commanding win in Thursday's race, qualifying ahead of Paul Messara's game gelding Tarangower.

Heading into Thursday's event a number of betting agencies had Voodoo Lad as favourite to take out the final and he caused his supporters no headaches, sitting outside the early leader Opera Blu before pulling away in the straight to win by one-and-a-half lengths.

Surprisingly for the horse considered the popular elect to win the whole series, the three-year-old was sent out at the juicy odds of $3.00.

Tarangower ($5.00, Josh Parr) ran home strongly for second while the Greg Bennett-trained In A Wink ($15.00, Brenton Avdulla) stormed home from the back of the field to nail Crooked Blaze ($5.50, Sam Clipperton) for third.

Both Voodoo Lad and Tarangower join have now qualified for the April 4 final, joining Binalong Road and One Last Poet (Bathurst heat), and Sheza Gypsy and Explosive Scene (Port Macquarie heat) as guaranteed finalists.

The next heat in the statewide series will be held at Wagga Wagga on Sunday with the final heat at Dubbo on Sunday, March 22.

A wildcard heat for runners that don't qualify out of the seven original qualifying events will be run at Muswellbrook on Sunday, March 29.

Meanwhile, Wagga trainer Chris Heywood has declared his hometown's heat to be the most hotly contested race to date.

The fourth $100,000 heat will feature four Heywood runners - Mitchell Road, Leucura, High Opinion and Dantain's Spirit, with the latter to be ridden by Cowra hoop Mathew Cahill.

"I'm happy with all four of my horses and I've set them all for this race," Heywood said. "I honestly can't split the four of mine. They're all different horses but they're all pretty good."

But it's not just his horses that he can't separate as runners attempt to finish in the first two and qualify for the $300,000 Country Series Final on day one of The Championships at Royal Randwick.

"There's no standout in the field. I thought Loved Up was until it drew a bit wide in barrier 14, but now I can't split the field and this will be a close race," Heywood said.

"There will be speed on up front and with the long straight to the first turn, every horse should sort themselves out. Each runner should get a chance in this race."

While High Opinion is Heywood's only runner to win over 1400 metres, he believes promising filly Dantains Spirit can continue her good from following a 4 -length win at Corowa on Sunday, albeit over 900 metres. But she has won over 1200m in the past and is three from three at her home track.

"She's very nice and likes Wagga. It's been a bit of an unorthodox preparation for her because I haven't had the chance to stretch her out to 1400 metres yet but I'm very confident she'll run the distance as will my other horses," Heywood added.

Heywood says the chance to race for $100,000 on Sunday - and $300,000 if one of his horses qualifies - will ensure next year's Country Championships Series becomes even more competitive.

"It would be terrific to have a runner in the final and this series will only get bigger in the country each year," he said.