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By Chris Scholtz

Local trainer Donna Scott will use this week’s Albury Cup carnival to complete the NSW Country Championship preparation of her impressive final qualifier Bennelong Dancer.

Bennelong Dancer staked a big claim for the $500,000 Newhaven Park Country Championship Final over 1400m at Randwick on April 6 when she won the southern districts qualifying heat at Albury on February 23 by dominant 3.5 lengths as a short-priced favourite.

The heat win left Scott having to map out a program for Bennelong Dancer to fill in the six weeks gap from the qualifying heat to the final.

Her first intention was to start Bennelong Dancer in Thursday’s $50,000 Albury City Handicap (1175m), the feature sprint on the first day of the Albury Cup carnival.

However the Albury trainer has now decided to take advantage of a barrier trial that is scheduled for Thursday’s meeting.

"I've decided against racing her at Albury and she will trial after the last race on Thursday instead," Scott said.

Bennelong Dancer wins the Albury Qualifier on February 23

"I haven't done a lot with her since she won. She’s had two gallops on the grass and now we have got the trial.

"She won’t race again before the Final. We plan to give her a nice hit out in the trial.”

Bennelong Dancer finished fourth in last year’s Country Championship Final won by Victorem after finishing second in the SDRA qualifier at Wagga when she was still eligible for Class 2 races.

She has gone ahead over the last 12 months with the lightly-raced 5YO mare now boasting four wins from her 16 starts.

Bennelong Dancer is sharing the third line of betting for the Country Championship Final at $11.00 with Sunday’s Grafton heat winner La Scopa favourite at $4.50.

Wagga-trained mare Lady Mironton, the other SDRA qualifier for the Country Championship Final after finishing second to Bennelong Dancer in the Albury heat, may also contest Thursday’s barrier trial at Albury.

Lady Mironton was nominated for Thursday’s Albury City Handicap but Wagga trainer Wayne Carroll did not declare her an acceptor after indicating that he prefers the trial for his 4YO mare.

Lady Mironton has raced only 13 times for three wins and six placings.

Check out the fields, form and replays for Albury Cup Day on Friday