This year seemed to be the one Clint Lundholm would finally have a genuine Country Championships contender in the running at Randwick.
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But his chances have taken a whack just two weeks out from the Western Racing Association qualifier at Coonamble after the owner of Conspirator decided to sell the promising gelding to overseas interests.
One of the top trainers in Dubbo, Lundholm has often had little luck when it comes to the lucrative series, with injury and illness having derailed plans in recent years.
Conspirator headlined the contingent after a strong start to his racing career but now Lundholm has been left to wonder what could have been.
"Now I've had the rug pulled out from underneath me with a leading contender so it's just another action-packed campaign," he said.
"It's very disappointing to lose him but the offer was too good to knock back."
Lundholm knew there was interest in the horse, with an offer from Hong Kong having been knocked back recently by owner Clinton Sarina.
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The trainer was hopeful the three-year-old would be part of his team through the Country Championships and had planned to contest a Highway race at Randwick on Saturday as part of the build-up.
But the call from Sarina came through to Lundholm on Thursday night to say an offer, of an unconfirmed amount, had been accepted.
Conspirator was therefore scratched from Saturday's Highway race and is now ineligible for the Country Championships.
He finished his time with Lundholm with a record of two wins and two placings from five starts.
His two wins came at Dubbo while he went within inches of a win last start when missing out in a photo in a Highway race at Randwick.
"There was two weeks to go until the big one [at Coonamble] and he was in it up to his ears but we've still got three other charges," Lundholm said.
"He was very promising and obviously that's been noticed elsewhere.
"It's very disappointing to lose him because he was on the up and had plenty of improvement left. We don't what could have been.
"I think he's a Saturday [in Sydney] horse and they'll have a lot of fun with him."
Lundholm said there was no indication whether Conspirator would race in Hong Kong or remain in Australia at this stage.
With no trip to Sydney for the Highway race, the Dubbo trainer is now focused on Sunday's meeting at Mudgee.
Sipharderson and Dusky Damsel will both be in action there and looking for strong runs in the lead-up to the $150,000 heat at Coonamble.
The tough Sipharderson will contest a hugely competitive Racing NSW Benchmark 66 Showcase Handicap (1200m) while Dusky Damsel is expected to show an improved showing in the Alfabs Benchmark 58 Showcase Handicap (1400m).
He'll also have So Good To Me and Blackadder racing at Mudgee while Sir Winkle will contest a trial.
"We've still got great chances," Lundholm said of the Country Championships.
Racing starts at 12.55pm at Mudgee on Sunday.