South Coast trainer Theresa Bateup will return for another Wagga Guineas raid next week, hoping Magico Hombre can go a couple better than stablemate River Charge last year.
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River Charge was outclassed by John Sargent's Foxborough, who lapped up the Heavy conditions to win by five lengths, but Bateup's gelding stuck to the task to hold on for third.
And Magico Hombre will be fearless if he strikes wet ground, after taking out a 1407m Benchmark 66 at Sapphire Coast on a Heavy 9 a month ago.
The three-year-old gelding was 1.4 lengths third behind Sargent's Easy Campese in the BM70 Albury Guineas (1400m) on a Good 3, offering Bateup confidence to step out to a mile at Wagga.
"I certainly wouldn't mind if the rain comes," Bateup said.
"You never know what will end up in the field, with the Sydney trainers coming down for the carnival, but he has the right sort of form and the mile will definitely suit.
"He was bred at Kooringal Stud (in Wagga), Paul (Nottage) is in the ownership and coming from Cootamundra myself, I've always wanted to have a winner during the Cup carnival there.
"We might meet Easy Campese again, but hopefully we'll be a bit better at the weights and a nice draw to give us every chance."
Meanwhile, Robert Price said rising star Count de Rupee would be nominated for the $200,000 Wagga Town Plate on Thursday.
The three-year-old gelding has three wins from eight starts and was a flying second to runaway leader Marway at the Randwick Kensington track in a 1250m BM78 on Sunday.
Waller to make country charge
CHAMPION Sydney trainer Chris Waller will again be represented in next week's $200,000 Wagga Gold Cup (2000m) as he chases a fourth win in the race.
Waller could have as many as eight among the nominations for the Wagga Gold Cup but the stable has warned their numbers could drop dramatically for the final field. Last-start Caulfield winner Yonkers, group three winner Polly Grey and Albury Gold Cup second placegetter The Lord Mayor are expected to be among Waller's nominations.
But Waller's assistant trainer and racing manager Charlie Duckworth warned clashes with the Gosford and Gold Coast cups, both held the following day, will impact how many the stable brings to Wagga.
"Yes we will have representation in the Cup again this year but with the Gosford Cup the following day and also the Gold Coast Cup we will have to have a look at the weights when they come up before committing which horse to each race," Duckworth said.
