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By Graeme White

Trainer Tim Donnelly believes Dolphina can continue her upward spiral and enhance her recent record in the Country Hope Wagga Picnic Cup (2000m) on Saturday.

Dolphina’s racing fortunes have turned full circle this campaign with two straight wins over 1400 and 2000 metres after four unplaced runs.

Donnelly will have four starters at the popular meetings which is normally attended by thousands of people, but on Saturday will again be run under tight restrictions.

Wagga-based trainer Tim Donnelly

Dolphina, who will again be ridden by Jordan Mallyon, has been able to produce peak performances since stepping up in distance and with added maturity, according to her trainer.

“It has been an unbelievable improvement from her since she has got up in distance especially to 2000 metres,” he suggested.

“She has always been a real trier and even though she is on small she gives her all.

“She has only raced six times and is up in grade again, but the horses that are against her have been in that grade for a while.”

Dolphina is one of many gallopers raced by Sandy Tait and Jill Nivison who have had several horses with Donnelly over the years. The best they have had with him is Davos who won four straight in 2008 which included three victories at Wagga.

Dolphina is heading in the same direction especially as she has now found her best as a four-year-old with very limited racing. Donelly believes there is still better to come from Dolphina whose half brother – Sir Lopez – was a jumper in his later racing years and earned $350,000.

“She will improve a bit more yet especially after having that one run over 2000 metres,” he said. “She is jumping in grade and has 58 kilograms, but if a horse her size tries hard like she does it’s a big help.”

The topweight Sydney Blue won just his second race at his 26th start at his latest run at Griffith, while Mahsinger produced her best run in three starts this campaign when a last-start second in the Aggies Cup at Wagga.

Albury trainer Mitch Beer has a large number of his horses entered for Wagga and also the following day at Cootamundra. He feels Sydney Blue can win again after the breakthrough victory.

“I just think these horses that take ages to win they normally win two in a row,” he said.

Hello China is well placed to win on his best form and has won three times from eight starts at Wagga. Senior jockey Michael Heagney will ride Hello China and had a winning finish to the last week of September with six winners.

Donnelly is also looking forward to the return to racing of Backwater Trader after two years without a race start in the Fabstock Benchmark 50 (1000m). Backwater Trader finished second in a recent trial at Wagga and has only raced six times for a win and two seconds.

“He did trial well, but the last bit will test him after so long out,” Donnelly suggested.

The trainer will also have debutant Sham and Mongolian Brave racing at Wagga, then line-up the following day at Cootamundra (depending on the state of the track) with Kitzbuhel in the Cup. Kitzbuhel hasn’t raced since July after winning consecutive races over 2000 metres at Wagga.

The Cootamundra Cup has been won by some outstanding gallopers and a quality field has been assembled for Sunday. In-form galloper Seventh Seal from the Beer stable will race at Cootamundra after being scratched from the Moonee Valley meeting on Friday night.

Seventh Seal excels on wet tracks and he will get those exact conditions if the meeting proceeds in the Hunt & McTavish Benchmark 66 (1100m). Seventh Seal has drawn the inside barrier has been in strong form with two wins and three placings from his past five starts.

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