Kurt Goldman is confident the talented yet tricky Irish Songs is primed for another Town Plate win

The Wagga Town Plate is one of the most prestigious country races and trainer Kurt Goldman has the talented Irish Songs ready to claim a second win in the feature sprint.

Irish Songs is looking for a second win in the Wagga Town Plate after winning in 2020. Picture: AAP Image

It’s the Kosciuszko come early.

Thursday’s $200,000 Wagga Town Plate (1200m) is shaping as one of the best country sprint races seen anywhere in the country this year.

Horses like Handle The Truth (2019 Kosciuszko winner), Another One (2022 Country Championships winner) and Front Page (2020 Creswick Stakes winner) make it a ripping race.

Past winner of the Wagga Town Plate, Irish Songs, is primed to take them all down in the sprint feature.

Trainer Kurt Goldman rates the Wagga Town Plate as one of the top country races in New South Wales. Picture: AAP Image

Trainer Kurt Goldman said the race had to be in the top three country sprints, outside the Country Championships and Kosciuszko, each season.

“I think it is,” Goldman said.

“We’re probably a bit biased being from the region but I think you have to put the Town Plate and the Ramornie Handicap as the top two.

“The Town Plate is more prestigious for us because we train in the area.”

Irish Songs comes into Thursday’s race off a win in the National Sprint in Canberra and has had a six-week freshen up and tune up barrier trial to have him ready to go again.

“This is his target this preparation and I think the horse is going great,” Goldman said.

“This has been a goal, not and afterthought.

“He’s obviously got a lot of ability but he’s also got his fair share of tricks too.”

The booking of Tommy Berry is key and not just because he’s drawn barrier 22.

“The problem for the jockeys has been that he’s never the same twice. When Kerrin McEvoy rode him in the Kosciuszko and the start before the horse gave him two completely different rides,” Goldman said.

Tommy Berry will ride Irish Songs on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images

“Tommy has had a few sits on him and he’ll ride him again. He’s always got on with him pretty well so hopefully he can go there and win another Town Plate.

“He just seems to be slowly maturing. At home in his trackwork, he just seems to be a slightly different horse. He’s more acceptable of everything we ask of him.”

Berry will need to ride at his best to win but Irish Songs has the ability to produce a very good turn of foot from the back of the pack.

“He has a liking for the track and distance and those big field suit him with the genuine tempo in them,” Goldman said.

“He put the writing on the wall the two starts ago at Melbourne too.”

Meanwhile, classy sprinter Paulele cruised to a barrier trial third placing at Hawkesbury on Tuesday morning ahead of the Doomben 10,000 where he’s rated a $11 chance behind $2.50 favourite Mazu.

He’s also $17 in the Goodwood in Adelaide.

Godolphin are desperate to find a dry track for him to show he’s an Everest contender next preparation.

Originally published as Kurt Goldman is confident the talented yet tricky Irish Songs is primed for another Town Plate win