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By Ray Hickson

It’s been a long term plan by trainer Glen Milligan for That’s Molly’s attempt to get into the $1m Newhaven Park Country Championships Final to be the “last hurrah” for his combination with his former apprentice Zac Wadick.

Zac Wadick (Pic: Bradley Photos).

But if Wadick has anything to say about it, and if he can get the job done at Tuncurry on Saturday, they might well have an encore performance come April 6 at Randwick.

The 21-year-old, who has transferred into the Brad Widdup stable, has ridden That’s Molly in every start since she came into Milligan's Taree yard, therefore is the only jockey to have won on her, and arguably knows her better than the trainer.

“Glen and I spoke about it a lot before I left,’’ Wadick said.

“We had a lot of success while I was up there, I loved my time up there. It was great, it was the best thing for me.

“We spoke about this race being the final chapter for me and Glen to get this horse into the Championships. I would say it’s our last hurrah.

“If we could tick this off we’ve achieved everything we could with each other.”

The question had to be asked – surely you’d want to ride her in front of a big crowd in a $1 million race on Day 1 of The Star Championships?

“I’ve got a provincial title to try and take out, and provincial rides, but I’ll certainly have the first pick to go and ride her,’’ he said.

“Glen’s very loyal like that. I think I’d take the ride in the Championships but we’ll see what happens.”

That’s Molly goes into the $150,000 Newhaven Park Mid North Coast Country Championships (1400m) first-up from a spell, having not raced since she won the Sawtell Cup at Coffs Harbour back in July, but Milligan has given her three trials to prepare.

Wadick said he’s sure the trainer will have his horse fit and ready to go and has the advantage of knowing how to bring the best out in her on the track.

“Glen told me he had planned to have her first-up, he was a bit worried if he started her somewhere she’d win,’’ he said.

“And she’s already won five races so she couldn’t win another one or it would take her eligibility away.

“It’s not ideal but she’s been in work for a few months. The work they do is quite solid and no doubt the horse is going to be fit on the day.

“I’ve had a fair bit of success on her, she runs for me but she’s a trier at the end of the day. She’s so push button to ride, she’s not a challenging horse to get around, she wears her heart on the sleeve.

“I know the horse like the back of my hand pretty much.”

There is one variable that Wadick can’t control about That’s Molly’s Country Championships bid at Tuncurry and that’s the quirks of the track, especially having drawn toward the outside.

He’s not so concerned about the track condition.

It’s the fact she’s a backmarker, or at least an off-pacer, and the track has a reputation of being one that can favour those close to the speed at times that’s of some concern.

That's Molly's last start win at Coffs Harbour in July

“She’s a light framed filly and can skip over the soft ground, we just need the track to play in our favour,’’ he said.

“At the last meeting it was playing leaderish, it was hard for horses to make ground and the wetter it gets it becomes more challenging for horses to pick themselves up and gallop on.

“We’re hoping it’s not playing like that because that will make her job harder as she’s not a front running horse.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Country Championships meeting at Tuncurry