Michael Travers Racing

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Michael Travers Racing (MTR) has grown from strength to strength in recent seasons, and the team&rsquo;s win with Santolini at Wagga&rsquo;s Murrumbidgee Turf Club on Thursday has shed more light on the stable&rsquo;s continued success.
Ridden brilliantly by John Kissick, the 3YO Manhattan Rain filly powered to a decisive win in the 1300m Maiden Plate.
The result coincidentally brought up the MTR team&rsquo;s 22nd victory of the 2024/25 season, which continues their best year.
Granted initially a trainer/ jockey&rsquo;s licence in 2020, Travers became NSW&rsquo;s first-ever dual licence winning trainer, landing his first victory in April of 2021, guiding Estaverdi to victory at Gundagai.
Travers balanced a training and riding career for the best part of two and a half years, riding until April 2023, finishing with a stellar record of 985 victories.
Since then, two years have flown by, and with 61 wins to his name, Travers&rsquo; focus has been on training and delivering results for his owners.
In October, MTR expanded, taking on Trevor Sutherland's former stables on Travers Street.
With a proven winning environment and closer proximity to the MTC Racecourse, MTR has access to a six-horse walker, big yards, and 18 more stables, allowing Travers to train up to 40 horses at the MTC.
The MTR team enjoyed a breakout season in 2023/24, preparing 19 winners during Mick&rsquo;s first full season as a dedicated horse trainer.
Success has continued in 2024/25, with MTR already boasting 22 victories, while the stables&rsquo; earnings have crept towards $700,000 this season.
Having won Country Cups with Kahawaty (Holbrook) and Mathrin (Cowra and Corowa), along with a Wagga carnival victory with Cinephile, it&rsquo;s been a stellar period for the MTR stable, who hope to continue their success into the final two months of the season and well into 2025/26. Words/Image: Jeff Hanson

MTR continues career-best season

Michael Travers

If he&rsquo;s not careful, Michael Travers could soon own the &lsquo;Country Cup King of the Southern Districts&rsquo; moniker.
While only 56 wins into his fledgling training career, the former champion country jockey has developed a winning affinity with Country Cups.&nbsp;
Diamond Carat&nbsp;(Quayde Krogh) was his first feature-race winner for the stable. She took out the 2024 Adelong Cup before&nbsp;Dancing In The Sky&nbsp;(Sebastian Galea) triumphed in the 2024 Ardlethan Picnic Cup.&nbsp;
Since January, the Wagga stable has added three more pieces of silverware to the cabinet.
Stable stalwart&nbsp;Mathrin&nbsp;won back-to-back features. Mathew Cahill rode the 7YO to victory in the Cowra Cup on January 19 before Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll jumped aboard the Deep Field mare and won the Corowa Cup on March 8.&nbsp;
Kahawaty&nbsp;(Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll) continued MTR&rsquo;s hot run on February 15, winning the time-honoured Holbrook Cup.&nbsp;
Dynamic One&nbsp;(Jean Van Overmeire) finished an eye-catching third in the Murrumbidgee Cup at Wagga on Sunday, and Travers won&rsquo;t stop there, with his eyes set on Saturday&rsquo;s Joe Cahill Transport Tocumwal Gold Cup.
Kahawaty, ridden by John Kissick, will take on the $20,000 feature over the 1300m journey.&nbsp;
&ldquo;She should run a good race,&rdquo; Travers said.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Mojo (Music) and a few others will go forward, and they always run along in these types of races, so hopefully, we&rsquo;re running fourth or fifth, giving her every opportunity.&nbsp;
&ldquo;John will look to position her a couple of lengths off them, get her to relax, and hopefully be in a good enough position to allow her to win if she is good enough.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Despite finishing ninth, beaten 3.8 lengths in the $40,000 Wagga Town Plate Prelude (1200m) on Sunday, the 6YO&rsquo;s run was good.&nbsp;
Kahawaty&nbsp;was caught behind a wall of gallopers for O&rsquo;Driscoll and looked full of running without much luck.&nbsp;
Stepping back in grade, the Pride Of Dubai mare appears well-placed at Tocumwal.
&ldquo;She&rsquo;s been a good pick-up for the stable, and Amy has been an integral part of it,&rdquo; Travers said.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Amy rides the horse really well, and when we&rsquo;ve been able to drop back in grade, she&rsquo;s run well, and hopefully, that&rsquo;s the case at Tocumwal.&rdquo;
Travers has fond memories of Tocumwal.
&nbsp;&ldquo;I rode my first-ever winner there and had my first fall there, so it&rsquo;s been good and bad,&rdquo; Travers laughed.&nbsp;
&ldquo;It was at my sixth race ride, and I won on&nbsp;Markillies&nbsp;for my boss Rob Wellington after I had gone out there and was a certainty beaten before that, so I kind of made up for it at Tocumwal.
&ldquo;Still, I&rsquo;ve had a lot of luck at Tocumwal over the years and had my Dad come out and watch me win there; it&rsquo;s a good track.&rdquo;
While Travers hopes to win the Easter Saturday feature at Tocumwal, his attention is set on Thursday&rsquo;s $200,000 Albury Gold Cup, where&nbsp;Mathrin&nbsp;and&nbsp;Dynamic One&nbsp;(Cory Parish) are entered.&nbsp;
A 2000m feature and Big Dance qualifier, Travers will need a scratching or two to see his runners go around. He suggested Dynamic One was his stable&rsquo;s leading chance after his good third placing in Sunday&rsquo;s Murrumbidgee Cup over the 1800m journey.
&ldquo;They&rsquo;re long shots for a reason and well and truly out of their depth,&rdquo; Travers said.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Mathrin probably won&rsquo;t go around in the (Albury) Cup and will start in the other race (1400m Benchmark 74 Handicap), but Dynamic One deserves the chance.&nbsp;
&ldquo;He just about wins on Sunday if he didn&rsquo;t miss the (transferred) Albury Cup or Gundagai Cup, but missing those races meant he was six weeks between runs, so I thought it was a good effort at Wagga; he just peaked on his run.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a tough race at Albury, but on that run at Wagga, he deserves a chance, and after Albury, we may drop him back to a rating race or take him to town for a midweek, but we believe in his ability, and when he bobs up, it will be worth it.&rdquo;
Travers will have up to three runners at Albury, with Gold Tracker (John Kissick) also going around in the 1175m Benchmark 58 Handicap. Words: Jeff Hanson Image: Holbrook Race Club

Travers eyes more Country Cup success with Kahawaty

Michael Travers Racing (MTR) will look to continue its winning run by taking up to five chances to Corowa on Saturday.
Fresh off Saturday&rsquo;s Wagga Wagga double, where Star Empire (Shaun Guymer) won the $50,000 Super Maiden (1400m) and Pussyfoot (Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll) prevailed in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m), MTR is confident of a strong showing at Corowa.
Leading off their chances is the ever-consistent maiden Roullottie (John Kissick, 59kg), which will jump from gate 10 in the 1300m Maiden Handicap.
The 4YO has been racing in good form, and with a career record of ten starts for six minor placings, the Casino Prince mare is due to greet the judge first.
The second event on the program is the 1000m Maiden Plate, and recent addition, Track And Field (Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll, 57kg), makes his stable debut for MTR.
The 4YO Shamus Award gelding had been racing in Victoria for John Moloney, and we&rsquo;ll know more about him after he races at Corowa.
Four-time winner Gold Tracker (Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll, 56.5kg) returns from a spell in the Benchmark 66 Sprint (1000m) and will jump from gate two.
The 5YO has a solid first-up record (3: 0-1-1), but the Xtravagant gelding will be better suited over a little more ground this preparation.
Taking on the $39,000 Corowa Cup (1600m) is stable stalwart, Mathrin (Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll, 53kg).
The 7YO is a seven-time winner and has been racing well, but she draws gate seven in what appears to be a challenging feature race.
Rounding out the stable&rsquo;s chances at Corowa is Saint Loft (55kg) in the 1600m Class 2 Handicap.
The 6YO Written Tycoon gelding is super-consistent, having finished in the money in four of his past six starts, including a tidy third placing in the 1600m Benchmark 58 Handicap at Albury late last month.
Saint Loft (Shaun Guymer, 55.5kg) is also entered at Goulburn on Tuesday, where he is currently down to run in the 2145m Benchmark 58 Handicap.
Also entered at Goulburn is Cinephile (Shaun Guymer, 58.5kg) in the 1400m Maiden Plate, Showrata (Shaun Guymer, 57.5kg) in the 1000m Benchmark 58 Handicap and Dynamic One (John Kissick, 61.5kg) in the 1300m Benchmark 66 Handicap. Words: Jeff Hanson Image: Supplied

MTR out to continue winning run at Corowa and Goulburn

Michael Travers Racing has never been busier, especially in the lead-up to Saturday&rsquo;s SDRA Country Championships meeting at Wagga Wagga&rsquo;s Murrumbidgee Turf Club.
MTR will have a mammoth team of ten runners on the day and a handful of live chances at the feature Southern Districts meeting.
Headlining our chances is Dynamic One in the $150,000 Country Championships qualifier (1400m), with John Kissick (57.5kg) taking the ride from gate 5.
The four-year-old, four-time winner has crept under the radar. Still, he has ability, which he showcased during his most recent preparation, winning a 1400m Benchmark 58 Handicap at Gundagai in September before prevailing in a 1500m Benchmark 66 Handicap at Albury on November 8.
Before going to the paddock for a freshen-up, he took on the Queanbeyan Cup, finishing only three lengths off the winner.
The Super One gelding has been a good horse for the stable, and he&rsquo;ll head into the event first-up and ready to fire.
The second feature race of the program is the Tom Patton Cup (1800m), where recent Cowra Cup winner Mathrin will be chasing an eighth career win.
A track specialist (27:5-4-4), Mathrin has enjoyed racing over more ground in recent starts, and the seven-year-old will step out over the nine furlongs for the first time in her career at Wagga.
We&rsquo;ve drawn perfectly with gate one, and Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll (56.5kg) will give the old girl every chance and a 2kg claim in the $40,000 staying test.
The $30,000 Benchmark 82 sprint is another good race on the program. We&rsquo;ll start recent Holbrook Cup winner Kahawaty, who has drawn gate eight.
A cheap pick-up for the stable, the six-year-old continues to make money for connections, taking her stable earnings to shy of $40,000 last start.
Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll (53.5kg) is on her back for the 2kg claim, and on her home track, we&rsquo;ll see if Kahawaty can go back-to-back for connections.
The MTR team will kick off the meeting with Roullottie, the recent Bega placegetter and current $2.70 favourite in the $40,000 Country Boosted Maiden Handicap (1200m).
The four-year-old has placed at three of her past four starts, and with John Kissick (58.5kg) in the saddle, and from the good draw (gate 1), Roullottie will take some catching.
The following event is the $50,000 Super Maiden Plate (1400m), and we have current $3 favourite Jenni Divine (gate 3) and $10 chance Star Empire (gate 2).
Jenni Divine has been racing well, finishing in the money at her past four starts, including a last-start second at the Sapphire Coast, where she was beaten a half-length.
A win would be the icing on the cake for the connections of Jenni Divine this preparation, and Jack Martin (56.5kg) has been tasked with getting the job done.
Star Empire, which has made good ground in recent events over 1200m at Wagga Wagga, is not to be dismissed.
The extra furlong will suit the three-year-old, and Shaun Guymer takes the ride.
I Am Vengeance is the next of our chances after drawing awkwardly with gate 14 in the 1600m Class 1/Maiden.
Serg Lisnyy (55kg) is in the saddle, with this three-year-old looking for more ground.
Another winning chance arrives in race four, the $35,000 Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap (1400m).
MTR starts last-start Bega placegetter Taluk, who John Kissick (59kg) rides from gate eight.
The three-year-old filly has been racing well, finishing in the money in recent races at Albury and the Sapphire Coast.
Rounding out our chances at Wagga Wagga will be Showrata and Pussyfoot in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m).
Shaun Guymer (57.5kg) jumps aboard Showrata, an $18 chance from gate 4 despite catching the eye at the Sapphire Coast when storming to victory in the 1000m Maiden Plate.
Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll (55kg) hops aboard stablemate and current $5 favourite Pussyfoot, which has drawn gate 3.
The three-year-old also caught the eye when winning her maiden at Albury over 1400m on November 8 before being tested in Listed company at Caulfield in late November.
Following a freshen-up, Pussyfoot returns to racing at Wagga Wagga.
It&rsquo;s set to be a massive day for MTR, but Mick is the first to admit it&rsquo;s a team effort and that it's only possible with the help of his hard-working crew.
We hope to see many of our owners and supporters out and about on Saturday.
&nbsp;
Words: Jeff Hanson
Image: Bradley Photos

MTR eyes massive Country Championship meeting

Michael Travers is enjoying a purple patch and recently brought up a milestone victory before winning another Country Cup.
The former jockey, who rode just shy of 1000 winners during his storied career, trained his first winner in 2021, becoming the first NSW-based dual-licenced trainer/jockey to win a race when Estaverdi triumphed in the 1800m Maiden/Class One Handicap at Gundagai.
On Thursday, Travers landed the 50th victory of his short training career when Showrata showcased a good turn of foot and powered to an impressive win in the 1000m Maiden Plate at Bega&rsquo;s Sapphire Coast Turf Club.
Ridden by Pierre Boudvillain, the result capped a terrific day for Travers, who sent five runners to the races and finished with a win, three minor placings, and a gallant fourth in the Merimbula Cup with&nbsp;Mathrin.
A determined galloper, Mathrin, ridden by good friend Mathew Cahill, only recently brought up the seventh win of her career, taking out the time-honoured Cowra Cup on January 19.
It was a red-letter result for a hard-working trainer who once lived in Cowra when riding in the Central Districts.
Nowadays, Travers has over 40 boxes in Wagga, where he trains at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club.
With a big team in work, Travers&nbsp;added a Holbrook Cup to the cabinet on Saturday, capping off a terrific run of results and bringing up career win number 51.
Teaming up with apprentice Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll, who is quickly developing a winning affinity with the MTR team, Kahawaty demonstrated a devastating turn of foot and built a winning break before holding on gamely in the Southern District&rsquo;s feature.
A $6,500 purchase, Kahawaty, who ran second in the Tumut Cup earlier this month before winning at Holbrook, has since won shy of $40,000 in prize money for connections, including some first-time MTR owners.
With many young horses coming through and new ownership opportunities, it&rsquo;s hard not to be excited at MTR, with the future looking very bright.
&nbsp;
Words: Jeff Hanson
Image: MTR

Country Cup success and 50 wins up for Michael Travers

Following a strong second in the recent Tumut Cup, MTR has set Kahawaty for Saturday&rsquo;s $15,000 Holbrook Cup (1400m).
Racing at Tumut on Saturday, the 6YO Pride Of Dubai mare raced on the speed for John Kissick in the 1400m feature race and led the field with 50m to go, only to go down by a half-length to the Rob Potter-trained Almost Persuaded.
Pleased with the run, Mick has opted to back Kahawaty up seven days later at Holbrook, where Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll jumps aboard for the two-kilogram claim, meaning the in-form mare will carry 56.5kg when jumping from gate six.
It is shaping to be a tougher event than the Tumut Cup, with recent Tumbarumba Cup winner Mojo Music headlining a strong feature, including Unique Prince, Star Blazer, and Daly Heads.
Still, Kahawaty is racing well and will be every chance from the draw.
MTR will take two runners to Holbrook on Saturday with Sampson to make his stable debut in the 1400m Maiden Handicap.
The 3YO previously raced with Chris Waller, starting at Kembla Grange and Newcastle, most recently going down by six lengths in a $60,000 1880m Super Maiden on January 25.
Somewhat of an unknown quantity for Mick, the Snitzel gelding will jump from gate 9 at Holbrook with Billy Owen in the saddle.
After racing at Holbrook, MTR will return to its home track at Wagga on Monday.
A team of six have been entered for the Country Championships preview meeting, with Flertino, I Am Vengeance, School Fees, Star Empire, Cinephile, and Gold Tracker entered.
It&rsquo;s an exciting time at MTR, with plenty of runners heading to the races and new ownership opportunities available.
We recently purchased 2YO My Inspiration and 3YO Hisako Lady, and it&rsquo;s cheap to get involved in both. A 2.5% share costs just $438, and there is nothing else to pay until April.
To find out more, click the link below:
https://www.michaeltraversracing.com.au/news/61076/twice-the-fun-as-mtr-offers-two-horse-syndicate
&nbsp;
Words: Jeff Hanson

Kahawaty looks to go one better in Holbrook Cup

Join Michael Travers Racing and race not one but two young horses and recent Inglis Digital purchases.
Mick is excited to see the unraced 2YO My Inspiration hit the track. By Admire Mars and out of the Listed winning mare Bring A Ring, she is qualified for the rich Inglis yearling bonus scheme and BOBS bonus eligible.
Our 3YO maiden Hisako Lady should make a nice type in this region, and being VOBIS Platinum registered means she is eligible for rich bonuses just across the border.
For as little as $438, you can own a share in both of these horses, with nothing else to pay (honeymoon period) until April.
With a total outlay of $17,520 for both horses, training, and transport, we&rsquo;re offering shares at the following prices:
10% - $1,752
5%&nbsp; - $876
2.5% - $438
Training fees for both horses commence on April 1 and will equate to the following (based on a 30-day month) and include both horses:
10% - $600 per month
5% - $300 per month
2.5% - $150 per month
It&rsquo;s an exciting time for Mick and the MTR team, who have experienced a lot of luck with tried horses in recent years.
Racing the likes of Mathrin, Kahawaty, Blessed Award, Gold Tracker, Saint Loft, Jenni Divine, Dynamic One, and others, Mick has found diamonds in the rough and won races with cheap purchases.
We believe we&rsquo;ve found two more good buys in My Inspiration and Hisako Lady. To get involved, contact Mick at 0439 329 266 or email Michael.travers@prismracing.com.au today.

Twice the fun as MTR offers two-horse syndicate

Michael Travers Racing will trek into the South East on Thursday with a team of five runners going around at Bega&rsquo;s Sapphire Coast Turf Club.
With every MTR runner a last-start winner or placegetter, the stable is confident of a strong showing.
Leading off our chances will be Jenni Divine in the $30,000 Country Boosted 1400m Maiden Plate.
The three-year-old has been racing well, and last time out finished a very good third in the 1212m Maiden Plate at Benalla, where she was beaten a length.
Back to country-only racing at the Sapphire Coast, Jack Martin (56.5kg) is in the saddle, and the Divine Prophet filly will get every chance from gate five.
Recent acquisition Showrata will have his first start in the following event, the $27,000 1000m Maiden Plate.
The three-year-old Pierata gelding is first-up for the stable after racing in Queensland, most recently finishing third in the 1400m Maiden Plate at Gatton. &nbsp;
Connections draw favourably with gate four, and the in-form Pierre Boudvillain (58.5kg) takes the ride.
Arguably, our best chance on the program is Roullottie in the $30,000 Country Boosted 1200m Maiden Plate.
The four-year-old Casino Prince mare has been racing well and ran into one better last time out when going down in the 1175m Maiden Handicap at Albury on January 20.
Fit and firing, Billy Owen (57.5kg) is in the saddle, and from gate one, Roullottie will get every chance to find a nice position early.
Taluk has also been racing well since joining the MTR team late last year, placing twice in four starts.
Racing at Albury on January 20, the three-year-old Shalaa filly took on the 1175m Class One Handicap and was beaten less than a length when finishing third.
Taluk (61kg) has Pierre Boudvillain in the saddle at the Sapphire Coast and has drawn gate four in the $27,000 1200m Benchmark 58 Handicap for fillies and mares. &nbsp;&nbsp;
Rounding out our chances on a big day of racing at Bega, Mathrin contests the $30,000 Merimbula Cup, a 1600m Benchmark 82 Handicap.
Last time out, the seven-year-old won the Cowra Cup, and she heads to Bega almost a month between runs.
Certainly capable in this grade, Jack Martin (55kg) takes the ride, and connections have drawn gate eight in the feature race on the program.
It&rsquo;s an exciting time for the MTR team, who recently purchased two young horses, My Inspiration and Hisako Lady, through Inglis Digital.
To get involved, get in touch today by calling Mick on 0439 329 266 or emailing Michael.travers@prismracing.com.au. Words: Jeff Hanson Image: Racing Photography

MTR youngsters knocking on the door at Bega

Good friends Michael Travers and Mathew Cahill combined to win the time-honoured Cowra Cup on Sunday, with tenacious galloper Mathrin causing somewhat of an upset in the $36,000 feature.
Going past the winning post for the first time, Mathrin trailed the field, sitting five lengths off the second-to-last horse.
Cahill sat quietly and patiently on the $9.50 outsider, and after turning for home, the pair found the rails and hit the line strongly, defeating race favourite Victory Roll (Shaun Guymer, $2.70) by a half-head while in third and a half-length off the winner was Astunner (Damon Budler, $3.70).
Travers was quick to praise his good mate following the victory.
&ldquo;It took a legend like Matty Cahill to get her home with a legendary ride; it&rsquo;s fantastic,&rdquo; Travers said.
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s been the mayor of Cowra for as long as I can remember, so when I decided to come here, I rang him and said, &lsquo;Can you please ride one for me?&rsquo; and she (Mathrin) was the one we put him on, so it&rsquo;s a fantastic result.&rdquo;
Connections weren&rsquo;t overly confident of a win with Mathrin, while stablemate Kahawaty (Nick Heywood, $4.60) started the third favourite and raced on the speed before fading to fifth, beaten three lengths.
&ldquo;Everything went as well as it could possibly go for us; I never expected her to be able to win. We hoped and prayed, but as I said, M.A. Cahill, you can&rsquo;t do any better,&rdquo; Travers said.
It was a memorable win for the pair, who are good friends on and off the track.
Cahill is a Cowra product, while Travers spent eight years based at the Central Districts racecourse.
Despite competing on the track for most of their careers, they often travelled to the races together and built a long-lasting friendship.
For Travers, the result ends his pursuit of what had been an elusive Cowra Cup.
Riding for Scott Morrisey in 2006, Travers thought he had won his first Cowra feature on Intemperate, only for the result to be overturned in the steward&rsquo;s room.
Intemperate would be relegated to second place, with the Mark Warren-trained Ras Tafari landing the win.
In 2010, Travers went close again, finishing second on the Ken Parsons-trained Mosseltov, which went down to the Leigh Davis-trained Just Jammin.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s nice to finally get one, especially after losing one on protest as a jockey,&rdquo; Travers said.
Cahill was pleased to score a big win for the Wagga trainer, who only turned his attention to training in 2020, and he was full of praise for Mathrin, who did everything right for the veteran jockey.
&ldquo;I was riding under instructions, and he (Travers) just said, &lsquo;ride her really cold and don&rsquo;t move on her until we get to about the 500m&rsquo;, and that&rsquo;s what we did,&rdquo; Cahill said.
&ldquo;The runs opened up, which was really good, and it was a good, genuine tempo, so that probably suited her, too.
&ldquo;There was no weight on her back, and she is a genuine little mare; she was trying her heart out for me.&rdquo;
Now proven over more distance, Cahill doesn&rsquo;t see why Mathrin can&rsquo;t win another nice race in the near future.
&ldquo;No doubt on that run she would,&rdquo; Cahill said.
&ldquo;She switches off; she doesn&rsquo;t pull at all; she drops the bridle; she is really kind in the run for you and a really professional racehorse.&rdquo; Words: Jeff Hanson Image: Racing Photography

Travers and Cahill unite to win Cowra Cup

Michael Travers has set his sights on Sunday&rsquo;s Cowra Cup (1700m), entering stable stalwart Mathrin and recent Albury winner Kahawaty in the $36,000 feature event.
Travers, who trains a big team out of Wagga Wagga, was a popular country-based jockey, winning 985 races before hanging up his boots in 2023.
Based in Cowra for eight years, Travers knows the track well and won many Country Cups in the area, although the Cowra Cup eluded him.
With views of adding a long-awaited Cowra Cup to his mantlepiece, Travers has landed the assistance of leading country jockey Nick Heywood and Cowra Cup king Mathew Cahill.
Cahill rides six-time winner Mathrin, who won the honours of 2023/24 Murrumbidgee Turf Club horse of the year.
Two starts back, Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll was in the saddle, and the seven-year-old caught the eye when running a strong second in the 1600m Benchmark 70 Handicap at Canberra when beaten by a half-head by the in-form Icebreaker (Louise Day, $1.95).
A wet track would suit the Deep Field mare, but regardless of the track presented on the day, which is shaping to be a good four, Mathrin ($12) should be in the mix in this event based on recent runs and after drawing gate 4.
Heywood jumps aboard the talented stablemate Kahawaty, who is set to jump from the outside alley (gate 7).
The $4.80 third favourite for the event was an impressive winner for Amy O&rsquo;Driscoll when contesting the 1000m Benchmark 66 Handicap at Albury in November. Two starts back, O&rsquo;Driscoll was again in the saddle when the six-year-old took on the 1200m Benchmark 82 Handicap at Wagga, and she raced well, finishing second to six-time winner Smart Poppy (Jake Duffy, $10).
When trained by Anthony Cummings, the Pride Of Dubai mare was a three-time winner at the provincials and has only ever won up to 1200m, so the 1700m journey at Cowra will be a question mark for connections.
Sunday&rsquo;s Cowra Cup is a small but competitive field, with the Pat Murphy-trained Victory Roll (Shaun Guymer, $2.80) the current favourite ahead of the Gratz Vella-trained Astunner (Damon Budler, $4.40).
It&rsquo;s set to be a busy few days for Michael Travers and the team, who may race at Tumut on Saturday, Cowra and Benalla on Sunday, and Albury on Monday.
Wild Feather (Brendan Ward) won at Tumut on Boxing Day, and the three-year-old will be going for back-to-back wins there when taking on the 1400m Class 1 Handicap.
At Benalla, exciting maiden galloper Jenni Divine (Josh Richards) is entered the 1106m Maiden Plate and drew gate 3.
Still, the stable is considering whether the three-year-old will run at Benalla or Wagga Wagga next week.
At Albury, a big team of eight runners will go around. Words: Jeff Hanson Image: Daily Advertiser

News

MTR continues career-best season

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