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By Ray Hickson

Trainers Tash Burleigh and Mitchell Beer have thought about nothing but the Country Championships for quite some time when it comes to their respective charges Al Mah Haha and Logan River and the duo kick off their campaigns together at Canterbury on Wednesday.

For Burleigh there’s a sense of unfinished business, Al Mah Haha won the SERA Qualifier on his home track at Goulburn last year but didn’t contest the Final at Randwick after being scratched at the barriers.

In Beer’s case, Logan River was put on ice after he posted his fourth career win and passed a 1350m test when he won the Griffith Cup in September.

Both are considered each-way chances by their trainers in the Schweppes Handicap (1100m) at Canterbury but Burleigh and Beer are looking for pointers towards their district qualifiers next month.

Al Mah Haha led in a Burleigh quinella, with Bocelli, in the SERA Qualifier last year – beating eventual Final winner Noble Boy into fourth place – and the Goulburn trainer said her five-year-old returns in great shape.

“We elected to give him a good rest and he's come back bigger and stronger, a big happy horse and we're really looking forward to seeing how he goes this prep,’’ she said.

“He ran so well in the heat at Goulburn and you couldn't not go back and have another shot.

“What happened in the Final was really unfortunate. Hopefully this year we can tick that box and go on to bigger and better things.’’

Al Mah Haha wins the 2019 SERA Qualifier at Goulburn

The gelding hasn’t had an official trial but Burleigh said he has contested several jump outs at Goulburn so goes in fit enough to be competitive.

In-form jockey Koby Jennings has the ride on the $8.50 chance with TAB.

“I think 1100m first-up might be a little too sharp for him but you have to start somewhere and get race fitness under his belt before the qualifier,’’ she said.

Nowra hosts the SERA Qualifier for the first time in 2020 on February 16 so Burleigh will assess after Wednesday’s race whether Al Mah Haha needs another run or heads straight to the 1400m.

Albury trainer Mitchell Beer has an extra week up his sleeve with Logan River so he’ll definitely be attacking the Southern Districts heat on February 22 third-up on his home track.

Logan River, a $19 chance at Canterbury, has won four races for the Beer stable since he was picked up as a tried horse and spearheads the popular trainer’s Championships bid.

“He's a lot more settled this time in, we worked on him late last prep to test him over 1350m and he was pretty strong on the line,’’ he said.

“I think he has come back as a 1400m horse but he tends to run really well fresh. He's a good each-way chance first-up but his big target is third-up at Albury.

“He's been set for this series for a solid six months.’’

Beer has up to five horses earmarked for the Country Championships qualifier including Jawwaal, Damselfly’s Kept and Sky Call.

Logan River pleased Beer with his recent trial at Tatura and will likely complete his preparation for the qualifier in the Bega Sprint (1200m) at Sapphire Coast on February 2.

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday's Canterbury meeting