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By Tony Megahey

Top regional trainer Mack Griffith, into another Newhaven Park Country Championships Final, might be heavily outnumbered by bigger stables but no better form at Friday’s Dubbo TAB meeting than with his lone runner Medinah ($5.50 on TAB).

The four-year-old bargain buy, as a seven-race Victorian maiden, is coming off powerful wins at Tamworth and Mudgee into the $27,000 Maas Mile Class, 2, 1600m with 60kg for Nick Heywood who was instrumental in the gelding’s spectacular revival.

Medinah (Aaron Bullock) posts a win at Tamworth. Image by Bradley Photographers

The former Riverina star, now based at Goulburn, makes the eight-hour plus near 700km return trip for just two rides as he’s restricted to the higher weights scale.

“Nick suggested we try blinkers when he ran second on him in a Dubbo maiden, that made all the difference, he’s just kept progressing,” offered Mudgee’s Griffith, a celebrated three-time winner of the Central Districts Country Championships.

He recently qualified for another big occasion at Royal Randwick next month when Musical Affair ran second in the Mudgee qualifier.

While Medinah meets a stronger field, he’s still well in with 60kg, an inside draw in a capacity field after carrying 60.5kg to win at Mudgee and 59kg at Tamworth.

“Up in grade in a solid race but with winning form and being a big strong gelding, he'll have no worries with the weight,” Mack added.

The way Medinah closed off strongly in both wins at 1400m indicates he’ll relish the 1600m.

And anticipation continues to rise with Championships qualifiers and Musical Affair’s effort when brave to lead until late at Mudgee.

“It’ll be tough but happy with her, she’ll have a tick over run.”

Meanwhile, the heavyweight regional stables of Lundholm, Cavanough and Robb are all represented by big numbers and form throughout the eight-race program with Dubbo at present a Good 4 in fine weather.

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