DUBBO has won the trifecta before its horses line up for the $400,000 Country Championships final at Royal Randwick racecourse on Saturday, according to veteran Rotarian and former bookmaker Barry Brebner.
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He is a self-confessed fan of the state government-backed Racing NSW initiative that has taken the state by storm.
Currently the longest-serving member of the Rotary Club of Dubbo, Mr Brebner joined club president Jeannette Miller this week when she announced its major project for 2015-16 would benefit if either of the two Dubbo horses in the final were first home.
A TAB Editors' Challenge run in conjunction with the Country Championships could inject $5000 into the club's "ED project" fund, now sitting at $6100.
The club is determined to raise $20,000 to buy a modern and portable Sonosite ultrasound machine for Dubbo Hospital's emergency department (ED) , to help doctors diagnose and treat patients without delay.
Daily Liberal editor Brian O'Flaherty nominated the project as part of Fairfax Media's support of the challenge.
Mrs Miller will travel to Royal Randwick for the final knowing winner of the Western Districts Country Championships qualifier at Dubbo Something Borrowed and runner-up Not A Shadow have stiff competition.
Her "right-hand man" in the club is already counting a trifecta of wins.
"I've never seen, in recent years, anything that's captured the imagination of people like the Country Championships," Mr Brebner said.
"It's a big boost for racing generally, but especially country racing."
Mr Brebner said publicity in Dubbo related to the Country Championships and TAB Editors' Challenge was gold.
"As well as doing something for racing, it's doing something for Rotary and something for the hospital," he said.
Mr Brebner and his fellow Rotarians adopted the ED Project after a emergency doctor addressed the club, the oldest in Dubbo and gearing up to celebrate its 80th birthday.
Win or miss the $5000 cash, they will continue the fundraising through catering at the 2016 Dubbo Show and a trivia night at St Brigid's Hall on May 21.
The ED Project kitty got a recent bump after Dubbo Turf Club paid the Rotarians to man its gates.
In its second year, the Country Championships has consisted of a series of qualifying races, each at a club representing one racing region in NSW.
The winners and runners-up are headed to the final along with Mrs Miller who suspects that "if we win you'll be able to hear us in Dubbo".