SUNDAY 9 AUGUST 2026
By GRAEME WHITE
Brial Rose is within sight of reaching $100,000 in prizemoney as she chases her third win this preparation in the Sports Bar Plus Wagga Whiz Benchmark 74 (1000m) on Sunday.
Albury apprentice jockey Ella Bent will have the ride on the mare who is the $2.70 favourite on the NSW TAB.
Brial Rose posted her fourth career win last start at Wagga when she dominated a Benchmark 58 over 1000 metres on a heavy track.
The six-year-old will race on a slightly better soft surface on Sunday and will carry only 53.5 kilograms after Bent’s claim.
Stubbs said it was an ideal race for Brial Rose who will drop in weight on a track surface she relishes.
“She loves the wet. The race isn’t as strong as I thought it would be and it’s only a small field,” he said.
Brial Rose has drawn the outside barrier in eight with one of her main dangers Brenlyn’s Legacy drawn directly inside her.
Bred by her part-owner Glen Hurry of Boorowa, Brial Rose has earnings of almost $92,000 in a limited racing career.
“She has come back well this campaign. In her first racing preparation, she won a couple then had an ordinary run the previous time in,” Stubbs added.
Stable star Bianco Vilano has returned to training for one month as he heads towards The Big Dance in November and he is also a finalist for the NSW country racehorse of the year.
He captured both the Wagga and Albury Cups becoming only the fourth horse in history to achieve the feat.
Bent also finished the season with 20 winners in her first full season of riding to finish second in the SDRA apprentices’ title.
“Ella went as well as you could hope for at this stage and hopefully she can do the same this season,” he said.
Brenlyn’s Legacy ($4) is expected to bounce back after failing first-up at Narrandera.
The gelding won four races in succession last campaign and is unbeaten in two starts over 1000 metres at Wagga.
Big Day Out easily accounted for Brenlyn’s Legacy at Narrandera and has since finished ninth at Flemington.
The nine-year-old has an imposing record of 13 wins and 29 placings from 93 starts.
Meanwhile, County Kilkenny has found his niche on wet tracks by leading and will be right in contention again for the Inland Power Riverina Cup Heat of the Wagga Stayers series (2500m).
County Kilkenny ($2.90 fav) will carry 62 kilograms after the claim for Dale Cole who has been aboard at his past two victories.
Wagga mentor Tim Donnelly is optimistic the winner of $231,600 can step it up again over the additional 500 metres.
“He has had blinkers on for his past four starts and the wet tracks have helped him and also racing in front,” Donnelly said.
“He has won every preparation except for one when he only had a few starts.”
The trainer suggested racing in the country for County Kilkenny would be restricted because of his high rating and it was likely he would be transferred to a metropolitan trainer.