Tim Donnelly’s Cliff House was an eye-catching run in the Country Championship Qualifier but a step up to 1600m can see him shine

Following an eye-catching run in the SDRA Country Championship Qualifier, trainer Tim Donnelly feels Cliff House will relish a step up in trip and will go close in the Albury Mile.

The Tim Donnelly-trained Cliff House can bounce back from a luckless SDRA Qualifier run and win the Albury Mile. Picture: Bradley Photos

Wagga trainer Tim Donnelly believes the SDRA Country Championship Qualifier won by Bianco Vilano has been the strongest heat of the series so far with the form from that race ready to prove it.

Donnelly saddled up fifth placegetter Cliff House who was one of the best runs of that race albeit without a lot of luck.

After settling well back in the big field, the gelding was held up rounding the turn and only got clear in the last 300m before hitting the line strongly to finish two and a half lengths behind the winner.

“Bianco Vilano was one of the more impressive Country Championship Heat winners. Nothing else has won much better than what he did,” said Donnelly.

@CWilliamsJockey rides Bianco Vilano to victory to go back-to-back in the Newhaven Park SDRA Country Championships for the @RonStubbs4 stable! pic.twitter.com/Aowbf7OAFV

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 18, 2024

“Cliff House just got too far back in the Qualifier. He and the winner were the only two to make up good ground in a race that was on-pace dominated.

“He was about two and a half lengths off the winner at the 700m and ultimately, that’s where he finished. I think he sectionals for the last 800m, 600m and 400m were the second best of the race and he was held up for a good part of that.

“While he did win a race at the Wagga Carnival last year when he was held up, he is definitely better suited with the speed on and get going a long way out.

“He didn’t have a lot of luck the other week but all in all, the 1400m was too short him.”

The five-year-old has been kept fresh since that February 18 race and steps up to a more suitable 1600m when he steps out in the Baxters Concrete Albury Mile.

“He won second-up over a mile last preparation off a similar break (between runs). He likes his races spaced so this looks an ideal race for him,” he said.

“I expect he will be about midfield and hopefully there is a good tempo and he can get clear running. He will be hard to hold out.

“The Hayes boys horse (North Channel) has got some promise. It has got a bit of pedigree and is one that is probably on the way up.”

Lightly-raced four-year-old Duchy Of Cornwall is backing up from a handy run in a Benchmark 66 at Wagga last week when a length and a quarter third behind Testing the Cugat at his first go at 2000m.

Testing The Cugat makes it back-to-back wins from @mtcwagga! pic.twitter.com/TEfYTcey1o

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 14, 2024

He will appreciate the drop in grade to the Class 1 and Maiden Plate (2000m) and the soft track.

“It looks a nice race for him. We decided to back him up when we saw the weather forecast for rain,” Donnelly said.

“He is by Hallowed Crown out of an Encosta De Lago mare and I think he has been looking for a soft track.

“His second dam is by Zabeel and he is a real Zabeel type himself. He was always going to be a 2000m horse as a four-year-old.

“It was a pretty good run the other day but he will be better for it this week.”

Donnelly’s other runner for the day is imported gelding County Kilkenny who will also relish the soft conditions in the Class 1 Handicap (1400m).

The gelding turned in a very good effort when a half-length third to Positive Smile when resuming over 1400m at Wagga on March 5.

“He ran really well the other day considering he was first-up over 1400m and it was a dry track,” he said.

“The only time he has run on a soft track was at the Wagga Carnival last year and he won very impressively.

“I expect he would be pretty hard to beat.”

PARKER HOPING LONG TREK DELIVERS SUCCESS FOR LUCKLESS FILLIES

Trainer Kerry Parker is hoping the long trip from Kembla to Newcastle can prove fruitful for two lightly-raced three-year-old fillies chasing their first wins.

Parker has endured a tough run with Callistemon and Bush Girl with both fillies having gone awfully close to winning but ultimately falling just short on a number of occasions.

“Both horses are knocking on the door to win,” said Parker.

“Hopefully we can get the maiden tag off one of them but it would nice to get it off both.”

Callistemon placed in each of her four runs last preparation against some handy types including a third to Mogwai and Northern Eyes at Canterbury at her last run back on November 17.

Midori Giant with a big run from the first at Kembla Grange!@blakeryan86pic.twitter.com/FWj10U0WQS

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 29, 2024

The daughter of Territories trialled nicely at Nowra on March 7 and kicks off her campaign in the Hungerford Hill Wines Maiden Handicap (900m).

“She raced really well last preparation with three second placings at the provincials and a third at a Canterbury night meeting. She had a terrific preparation without winning,” he said.

“She has had the one little trial at Nowra and a 900m is perfect starting point for her.

“She will definitely be better as she gets up over a bit further but you are either paying fees for another trial or she can go around for some money. And she will get more benefit from a race.

“She gets three kilos off her back with the claim of Jess Del Frari and she has a nice enough draw in barrier 5.

“With a bit of luck in running, hopefully she can stick her head out on time.”

Stablemate Bush Girl has placed twice in her six starts but really started to show her ability as she stepped up in trip.

She was just pipped by Tell Me Ma over 1900m at Gosford three starts back and was less than a length from Midori Giant over 1600m at Kembla on February 29.

“She has been racing really but has been a bit unlucky at her last couple of starts. She could have won in any one of them,” Parker said.

“She threw it away herself at Gosford just through greenness, then she went to Newcastle where she was boxed up on the fence and never really got a crack at them.

“At Kembla last start, she drew wide and things went against her in the run. She was a month between runs and just felt the pinch late.

“Stepping out to the 1800m will suit her.”

Originally published as Tim Donnelly’s Cliff House was an eye-catching run in the Country Championship Qualifier but a step up to 1600m can see him shine