Dane De Lago and Yes Zariz have added their names to the horses coming to town for the $300,000 Country Championship.
The Peter Nestor-trained Dane De Lago came from last on the turn to beat Yes Zariz by a half length in Sunday’s 1400m heat at Dubbo.
Both are now qualified for the final at Randwick on April 4.
Dane De Lago’s win was a family affair with the trainer’s nephew Kody Nestor steering the four-year-old to his win in the $100,000 heat.
“The track at Randwick will suit him and the more speed the better,” Peter Nestor told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“He will most probably be one of the roughies in the race but he’s there.
“Its a great concept and we’re there with a chance.
“This horse has some first time owners as well so it’s great for the industry.”
There will be one last chance for country horses to qualify for the final with the addition of a $50,000 race at Muswellbrook next Sunday.
Known as the Wild Card, it is open to horses which were accepted for races in the series but may have been unlucky or scratched.
Fitting into that category is the Peter Stanley-trained King Derota who was a barrier scratching from the first heat at Bathurst on February 28.
The penultimate heat in the series for provincial horses will be run at Hawkesbury on Thursday with 24 nominations received for the 14 places in the field.
The final provincial heat will take place at Gosford on April 2, nine days before the $500,000 final at Randwick.
