Former Harden trainer Chris Heywood has kept in touching distance of Trevor Sutherland following Leucura’s dominant victory at Murrumbidgee Turf Club on Monday.
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Heywood remains one win behind Sutherland in the chase for the Southern District Racing Association (SDRA) premiership as the battle goes down to the wire with one month left in the season.
Sutherland skipped ahead when Mr Sommerville claimed the Allens Coaches Benchmark 64 Hcp (2500m) earlier on the program before Heywood hit back.
Finishing an unlucky second at Wagga earlier this month, Leucura was in no danger of defeat after Nick Heywood put him in a beautiful position just off the speed.
From there he was able to launch his run down the straight, coming away from his rivals late to win the GWS Giants - AFL NSW/ACT Benchmark 55 Hcp (1000m) by 3.3 lengths.
Heywood was impressed with the top weight’s performance about carrying 62 kilograms.
“He went terrific,” Heywood said.
“He was a bit unlucky last time round and carried a lot of weight but did a good job.”
The victory will help Heywood in his search for his first SDRA title as the rivalry between Wagga’s two leading trainers intensifies.
“It’s a win and we’ll take them when we can get them,” Heywood said.
“It’s good competition and it’s always a bit of fun to have a good competition.”
Heywood then sent out $3.70 fav Mitchell Road in the last of nine races but after looming ominiously late, finished just under a length off Churchill’s Speech ($6).
The battle for the Southern District premierships continues at Albury transferred meeting on Saturday.
Gundagai was set to hold the meeting but it has already been transferred due to state of the track.
The jockey’s race is just as close with Nick Souquet’s win on Churchill’s Speech saw him level Simon Miller with 31 wins for the season.
