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By Graeme White

Baledon’s preparation towards the Newhaven Park Country Championships for the second time clicks up a gear at Albury on Thursday.

The gelding won the same lead-up race last year at Albury before finishing fourth to stablemate Bianco Vilano in the SDRA Country Championships.

Baledon (Tyler Schiller) heads to the gates at Rosehill Gardens. Image by Bradley Photographers

Baledon ($4 on TAB) has 59.5kg – four kilograms more than his nearest rivals – but his form and having been there and done it before has warranted the ranking.

Trainer Ron Stubbs has kept Baledon within the race restrictions limiting his racing over the past 12 months to ensure the Country Championships is the main focus.

“He has been in work for a while now and when the Championships here had an early slot I backed off him so he is right to go,” he said.

“He has had two trials – the first about a months ago – and his latest at Wagga and I walked away happy with both of those.”

Baledon, who will be ridden by jockey Jason Lyon, only has five rivals to contend with in the Border Bandag SDRA Championships Preview Class 4 (1175m).

The scratching of Give Giggles and Add Milk has made his task somewhat easier, but there are others like Dupride Star ($3.30) and Super Sunny Seeya ($2.40 favourite) – that connections hope can show they are up to Championships level.

Dupride Star’s trainer Gary Colvin said the mare would be “topped off” by having her second start this campaign ahead of the Country Championships at Albury on Sunday, February 18.

“I was happy with her first run and she did need it and this start will have her spot on. We have a very good jockey in Danny Beasley aboard and hopefully she can run well and show she can be a chance in the Championships,” Colvin said.

Albury trainer Rob Wellington is adopting the same approach with Super Sunny Seeya who is building an impressive record in eight starts.

“He needs racing to show his best because he doesn’t do a lot in trackwork,” Wellington said. “If he can run well I hope to have him in the Championships.”

Meanwhile, promising galloper Canny Hell ($1.85 fav) is also heading to the Championships, but will start in a different race tomorrow. Canny Hell will instead contest the Stuart Gordon Landscaping Class 2 (1000m).

“He is eligible for it so I thought start him there instead of the other race and then go to the Championships,” he said.

Canny Hell was a dominant first-up winner and provides Albury with another strong contender for the Championships.

There are seven races on Thursday with the track rated a Good 4.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Albury here