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By Ray Hickson

It wasn’t that long ago trainer Scott Collings doubted Ticklebelly could run much further than 1000m.

But after a stirring win in the $150,000 Evergreen Turf Southern Country Championships Wild Card (1400m) at Goulburn he’ll head to Randwick with his first runner in the $1 million Final.

Prior to her win in the Bega Sprint over 1200m in February, the four-year-old had never won past the 1000m and when she endured a tough run to finish a gallant fourth in the SERA Championships at Nowra he had to give her another shot.

Ticklebelly led early but had to take a sit as No Drama crossed her from wide out and then, once she hit the front again, defied the closing Craving Magic to take the final spot at Randwick.

Ticklebelly claimed the Country championships Southern Wild Card at Goulburn (Pic: Bradley Photos).

“She races up on speed, she gives herself every chance and there’s no doubt about her running 1400m that’s for sure,’’ Collings said.

“Half way through this prep it wasn’t even a consideration but it is now.

“Obviously it’s going to be a very, very, hard race but once again I think she’ll put herself up on speed and make her own luck and they’ll know she’s there.

“We need a good draw but you saw it at Nowra, she can do it the hard way if she has to but it’s probably going to limit our chances.”

Jockey Pierre Boudvillain was bullish about the mare’s chances after her game fourth at Nowra but said she’s a horse that has continued to improve.

“We weren’t sure two races ago if she was going as far as 1400m but she showed she has the wiseness and maturity to do so now,’’ he said.

Collings has just under two weeks to prepare Ticklebelly for the Country Championships Final and he said that should be long enough to have her ready to fire again.

She’s a $26 chance in TAB’s market on the Final with the field to become official on acceptance day which is April 2.

“The bigger space between runs the more she enjoys it so the turnaround is not going to worry her,’’ he said.

“If we race like we have been I think we’ll be right in the finish.”

The Wild Card win gives Goulburn two runners in the Final – Pat Murphy’s Sass ‘N’ Cheek finished just ahead of Ticklebelly at Nowra in third place and was promoted into the field when Danielle Seib’s Cable Express, another Goulburn galloper, withdrew through injury.

All the results and replays from Sunday's Goulburn meeting