Randwick riches all the rage as Championship season gets under way

The pathway to the Country Championships Final showdown at Randwick on April 1 has been firmly set, and a group of early hopefuls are out to put down a big marker at Monday’s feature Goulburn meeting.

Under grey skies and on a track that will likely settle around soft 6, the Country Championships Preview over 1400m and run at class 4 level is largely a two-centre battle in numbers only between local and Canberra stables.

But making the trip from Moruya, progressive and lightly raced mare Iconic Dame opened up a short-priced early favourite, and is the main player in a two-pronged attack from the South Coast.

Dropping back from two encouraging closing runs in Highway company, Iconic Dame has already proven to be right at home on rain-affected ground, and will take her record to a promising four wins from nine starts if she salutes,

The home-track rivals, though, won’t give up their turf without a fight, headed by five-year-old Unique Prince who resumes off a six-month spell.

With winkers removed and a quiet trial under his belt, Unique Prince can give a long list of owners, and newly-arrived leading trainer Matthew Dale a kick-start after he relocated across the border from Canberra late last year.

Canberra’s best hope may come in tough-as-teak returning five-year-old The Pres who also showed a real liking for wet ground last prep through late winter and early spring.

A son of group 1 winner All American and trained by the wily John Rolfe, The Pres won a BM65 at home in spring on a soft 7 surface before being narrowly beaten in a deeper race on a bog heavy 10.