After finishing second and first at his first two Queensland starts, Helideck delivered Cavanough’s biggest moment in racing when he took out the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup (1300m) by two lengths at Gold Coast.

On the same day, Cavanough’s speedy colt Xaardante fell desperately short of taking out the Group Three Gold Coast Guineas (1200m), finishing a narrow second behind El Cambio in record time.

Despite enjoying the most successful period of his training career, Cavanough yesterday reaffirmed Albury would remain his home.

“Long-term, Albury will be my base,” Cavanough said.

“I’ve got a pretty good facility here and am happy where I am.”

But Cavanough said he was still determined to occupy some boxes at Randwick, despite recently missing out again.

“I'm smashing my head against a brick wall there a bit,” Cavanough said.

“I’m in the queue.

“I’m almost certain I could get some boxes at Warwick Farm but I don't know what I'm doing at this stage.”

This Saturday, Helideck will run in the $125,000 Group Three Darley BTC Sprint (1350m) while Xaardante will contest a $50,000 two metropolitan win in the last 12 months race.

Ultimately, Helideck will contest the $1 million Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on June 7, where he has been given 51kg and is rated a $41 chance by TAB Sportsbet.

Xaardante is also being aimed towards Stradbroke day where he is likely to run in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1000m).

Cavanough took a risk and bypassed the riches of the Albury and Wagga Cup carnivals with his stable’s best and he is pleased the move paid off.

“The carnivals here at home can be strong and the horses you’re up against, like Coolroom Candidate and the likes, all usually go up to Queensland afterwards anyway,” Cavanough said.

“So I thought I’d sneak up to Queensland early and have a crack at it.

“I don’t think the horses have improved that much, the racing is pretty strong around here and they've just gone up there in race condition and it's been good for them.”

Joining Cavanough's stable up in Queensland this week will be talented mare Ask The Music, who returned to his team just 10 days ago.

RATINGS races may be here to stay but Racing NSW general manager commercial operations Greg Rudolph is determined to make the system as user-friendly as possible for country trainers.

Rudolph met with Southern District trainers in Gold Cup week at Murrumbidgee Turf Club, as part of Racing NSW’s rating seminars held across the state.

While several Southern District trainers are strongly against the ratings races, Rudolph said the general feeling of the seminar was positive.

“As a general summary, we recognise we have to provide an opportunity for country horses to compete in better class races and in better sectors like metropolitan and provincial racing,” Rudolph said.

Rudolph said Racing NSW was looking at providing more opportunities for country horses to compete in no and one metropolitan win races.

Rudolph said there was also support from the Wagga region for the need to provide more opportunities to younger horses to run in ratings races restricted to age and sex.

Rudolph said it was something Racing NSW would look into, given they can still maintain field sizes.

Racing NSW is still conducting the seminars across the state and the board will review the findings at their June meeting, where things will “go forward from there”.

WAGGA Gold Cup winner Tommifrancs will step out on Saturday for his first run since his win in the $120,000 Listed feature.

Trainer Gerald Ryan is sticking to his plan by running the six-year-old Saturday’s $80,000 Lord Mayors Cup (2400m) at Rosehill, as a lead-up run to next month's Group Two $300,000 Brisbane Cup (3200m).

Wagga’s other feature race winner, Midnight City, will also be in action at Rosehill on Saturday.

The winner of the $60,000 Wagga Town Plate, Midnight City is nominated for the $100,000 Listed Civic Stakes (1400m).

Trained by Colby Hill, Midnight City will come up against Town Plate failure Fiveoclockshadow and Danny Williams’ talented duo Wasted Emotions and Fox Lake.

MURRUMBIDGEE Turf Club (MTC) will host its first meeting since its successful Gold Cup carnival on Friday.

MTC will host an eight-race TAB meeting and 128 nominations received by Monday with entries extended until yesterday.

The highlight of the program will be the Tarcoola Turf Rating 77 Handicap (1000m) and the Leisure Pools Wagga Rating 67 Handicap (1600m).

LEETON Jockey Club will hold a non-TAB meeting on Saturday.

The club received 72 entries for its six-race card before nominations were extended until yesterday.

The highlight of the program is the Leeton Picnic Day Cup (1600m) with Albury City Handicap winner Stralara the featured runner.

WAGGA trainer Greg McDermott combined with jockey Peter Robl to score a winner at Goulburn on Monday.

The duo combined to win with Sharni’s Rein ($4.00) to take out the Prostate Cancer Foundation F&M Maiden Handicap (1300m) for local owner Max Frankel.

It was a top ride from Robl, who steered the three-year-old home from last on the rails at the top of the straight.

Leeton jockey Shelley Pollard also travelled to the Goulburn meeting and took out the rising star race for apprentices.

From her one ride for the day, Pollard took out the apprentice only race, steering $7.00 chance Graceful Act to victory.