A week is a long time in racing. It's a phrase almost as old as the sport itself.
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So with the Western Racing Association (WRA) Country Championships Qualifier (1400m) two weeks away Kody Nestor knows nothing can be taken for granted at this time.
However, he couldn't be in much of a better place in the lead-up to the $150,000 race.
The Dubbo trainer could nominate up to seven hopes for the heat and a number of those potential runners will be in action at Mudgee Race Club on Sunday.
The $150,000 Central Districts Racing Association (CDRA) heat is the main event there, but the Racing NSW Benchmark 65 Showcase Handicap (1200m) will act as something of a preview for the upcoming WRA heat.
Nestor will have Sneak Preview, Fast Talking, and Risk And Reward in the race while Clint Lundholm's Sipharderson, the Rodney Robb-trained Festival Of Light and Allan Gibson's California Fox will also line up.
"We're looking to have somewhere between five and seven in the heat so for our stable the job is to get them in the best condition and we're very, very happy," Nestor said.
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Sneak Preview, currently a $15 chance for the $500,000 Country Championships Final at Royal Randwick, and Fast Talking will both be first-up at Mudgee on Sunday while Risk And Reward has had two starts this preparation and ran third to CDRA favourite Healing Hands last time out.
"He'll be better suited to the 1200 and he's in better in the weights and is the one to beat," Nestor said of Risk And Reward.
"Sneak Preview has got the 63 (kilos) and needs a run to top himself off. He'll be getting back and I'll be looking for him to hit the line well over the last 400.
"Fast Talking has drawn the two (barrier) and he might get back but there's a fair bit of improvement in him.
"But I want him on the fresh side for Coonamble."
The original plan was to have Sneak Preview contest the WRA heat first-up but his stellar work has him in need of a lead-up run.
Mathew Cahill will ride Sneak Preview at Mudgee while Greg Ryan will pilot Fast Talking and Anthony Cavallo will be in the saddle of Risk And Reward.
Jailbreak, Miss Academy, Bellszov Bourke and Highway winner Toulon Brook are also among Nestor's qualifier hopes.
Miss Academy and Bellszov Bourke will need strong showings in other races at Mudgee to be firmly in contention while Toulon Brook will race at Cowra on Monday and Jailbreak will race at Nestor's home track next Thursday.
"I think this year will be the strongest race," he said of the WRA heat.
Racing starts 12.55pm at Mudgee Race Club on Sunday.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
