The Scott Spackman trained O’ So Hazy pictured here winning the Wagga Country Championships qualifier came home in 4th place today in the Wagga Town Plate. Pictured in the aqua colours on its outside is Class Clown trained by Chris Heywood which took out the BIDGEE PUMPS & IRRIGATION 4YO+ BENCHMARK 65 SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1600 METRES)

The Times loves to cover the thoroughbred racing in the region and takes a particular focus on our local connections, in trainers Chris Heywood and Scott Spackman and jockey Nick Heywood.

Day one of the two day Wagga Town Plate and Wagga Gold Cup Carnival provided some interesting results for owners, trainers and jockeys alike.

The MOANE FITZGERALD CIVIL MAIDEN SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1000 METRES) was won by I’m a Jewel, trained by Barbara and Paul Joseph and ridden by Simon Miller.

Chris Heywood’s Who Told Ya claimed 6th place with Blaike McDougall aboard, whilst Scott Spackman’s Bay Lane ridden by Rebekah Prest, came in 8th. Nick Heywood was the jam in the sandwich riding Lansala into 7th place for Canberra trainer Matthew Dale.

MOANE FITZGERALD CIVIL CLASS 1 & MAIDEN SHOWCASE PLATE (1600 METRES) saw Nick Heywood guide the Danny Williams trained Mackellar in to 8th place.

NSW RACEHORSE OWNERS ASSOC MAIDEN SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1400 METRES) saw Fox Beat trained by Chris Heywood claim 8th place ridden by Kathy O’Hara with Nick Heywood guiding Mendoza home in 12th place for Matthew Dale.

INGLIS BONUS 2YO SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1200 METRES) Saw the  2 year olds go around with Chris Heywood’s Prose ’N’ Cons claim a 3rd placing with Blaike McDougall aboard and a tidy $2,920 pick up. Nick Heywood rode the Gary Colvin trained Raintime into 10th position.

BIDGEE PUMPS & IRRIGATION 4YO+ BENCHMARK 65 SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1600 METRES) Was taken out by the Chris Heywood trained Class Clown who lead from the get go. He came in from $10 to $3.50 as betting tightened just before the race. The 6 year old gelding is at the top of his game and was expertly ridden by Tye Angland who held off Sonaree from the David & B Hayes & T Dabernig stable. Nick Heywood  finished in 5th aboard the Kerry Weir trained Go Get Em.

The locals weren’t involved in Race 6 which was taken out by Balansa from The Dryden and Collings stable, with the 4 year old bringing his career earnings to a touch over $50,000 with a win in the 2000 metre race.

The feature race of the day, the XXXX Gold Wagga Town Plate over 1200 metres had a quality field. Scott Spackman’s stable stars O’ So Hazy and Takookacod finishing 4th and 6th in the 16 horse field. First place went to the 7 year old grey gelding, Coolring, who tallied up $627,415 from his 47th start after claiming the $84,000 first prize for Queanbeyan trainer Joe Cleary.

Wins continued to be elusive for the Harden connections, however, Chris Heywood backed up his win with Class Clown with a 2nd placing to Kruanui, beaten just 1.26 lengths. Spackman’s Chastity Strikes took out fifth, whilst Nick Heywood rode EL Sid for Danny Williams with the 4 year old gelding unable to get close enough for a place.

Today (Friday) will see Heywood saddle up 2 chances in the first race in Romingal and Red Medusa before unleashing Wolfofpeterstreet and Corazon De Oro in Race 2. Spackman will have Roaming to win as an emergency and the 4 year old mare is likely to get a run. Delivered looks set to start from the emergency list after 4 scratchings in Race 4. Race 5 will see Didn’t Even Kiss Me  take them on over 1400 metres off the back of two 3rd placings from her last two starts.

Metro trainer and grandson of the great Bart Cummings, James Cummings, will saddle up Tally in the Gold Cup. With a benchmark of 106 the 5 year old gelding will be hard to beat from the Godolphin stable. With $959,000 in prize money so far he will carry 61 kilos as the top weight.

The final race for the day will see Heywood line up one of his most consistent horses in Fermanagh Lad who has recorded finishes of 3,2,2,4 in his last 4 starts.

Nick Heywood will jump aboard 6 mounts in the first 6 races to cap off a total of 11 rides for the 2 day carnival.

Rain is forecast for today’s racing and it will help some runners with the Todd Smart trained Attainment, a wet track specialist. He will line up in 1300 metre Benchmark 62.

The mercury will reach a top of just 18 degrees, take your jacket to the MTC.