Ron Stubbs hoping it’s third time lucky ahead of Bianco Vilano’s Country Championships assault

The $1m Country Championships Final will bring together some of NSW best country gallopers and Albury trainer Ron Stubbs has high hopes for Bianco Vilano.

Bianco Vilano is back for his second crack at the Country Championships final. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Four Group 1s will headline day one of The Championships this Saturday at Royal Randwick but winning a $1m Country Championships Final (1400m) with Bianco Vilano would feel as good as any of them for Albury trainer Ron Stubbs.

“This is our Group 1,” Stubbs said.

“To be quite reasonable, country trainers don’t expect to train Group 1 horses so this is the next best thing, particularly with the prizemoney, it’s massive for us.”

• The Championships Day 1: Contenders for all four Group 1s

Stubbs is saddling up a runner in the lucrative country decider for the third consecutive year after earning a spot through the Southern Districts qualifier.

He had Tap ‘N’ Run finish runner-up to Another One in the 2022 heat before he finished eighth in the final.

Bianco Vilano has captured the past two editions of the SDRA qualifier and will line-up for his second crack at the lucrative decider this weekend.

“We are just lucky that we’ve had two opportunities already,” Stubbs said.

“We are not a big stable as such so to have runners in the race for three straight years is unbelievable.

“Luckily enough we have some great owners and some good horses so that we can do it.”

Back-to-back for BIANCO VILANO!@CWilliamsJockey brings @RonStubbs4's defending champ home in the @NewhavenPark Southern Districts Country Championships at @AlburyRacing & into the $1m Final. @DougGorrel's mare Asgarda is also off to Randwick while Baledon ran third. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/mFDm4wdzQY

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 18, 2024

Stubbs is hoping the benefits of experience will help Bianco Vilano in his latest Country Champs tilt.

The son of Foxwedge certainly gave every indication he has the ability to win the feature last year when the gelding was forced to race wide before surging home to finish fourth.

“I was really happy with his run last year,” Stubbs said.

“You hope they can improve but they certainly don’t get any easier so we will give it a good shot.

“I think he is more seasoned this year and has been competing at a higher level, and holding his own so you just hope he can take that next step.”

Unlike last year when he trialled Bianco Vilano in between his heat win and the final, this time Stubbs has given his stable weapon another run in between.

• Surprise packet ‘best-weighted horse’ in Doncaster Mile

Bianco Vilano, a $9 chance in this year’s final, produced an ideal tune-up for the main event when showing his strong turn of speed to finish a narrow second to Flying Sultan in an 1175m event at Albury last month.

“I couldn’t have been happier with the run,” Stubbs said.

“I would have liked to finish an inch closer but I walked away from the race more than happy with his performance.

“We know he is going to be better suited over the 1400m at Randwick.

“The only concern is the forecast with all the rain that is forecast on Friday and Saturday.

“He can get through the mud but I wouldn’t classify him as a mudlark. It’s certainly going to be wet by the sound of it.”

Bianco Vilano trainer Ron Stubbs. Picture: Bradley Photos

Stubbs remains a chance of having two runners in the Country Championships Final with Baledon among the emergencies for the final.

Baledon finished a close third in the Albury Qualifier and has been well prepared for the big occasion should he get his chance.

“We have trained him with a view that he is a runner,” Stubbs said.

“You can forget that he is there and this is his target. While there is every chance he won’t get a run but if he does, he will be ready.”

The Danny Williams-trained Bandi’s Boy is a worthy $2.30 favourite for the Country Championships and will head to the race on a seven-day back-up after saluting in last Saturday’s Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes.

Williams believes Bandi’s Boy will be ready for the big occasion despite feeling the effects of a hot day at Rosehill Gardens last weekend.

“He took a little bit extra cooling off and it dehydrated him a bit,” Williams said.

“We don’t have to do anything with him this week so he will be fine.”

The barrier daw for this week’s Country Championships Final will be revealed on Wednesday morning.

Originally published as Ron Stubbs hoping it’s third time lucky ahead of Bianco Vilano’s Country Championships assault