Scone trainer Rod Northam is sweating on a call from the remaining Kosciuszko slot-holder after the win of Nova Centauri in the 1400-metre Class 3 TAB Haighway Handicap at Rosehill last Saturday. 
Ridden by Alysha Collett, Nova Centauri ($5.50) beat Show ’Em Howl by three-quarters of a length with Pony Soprano a short head away in third. 
The four-year-old Rubick mare now has three wins and three seconds from her seven starts.
“I think Nova Centauri could be a Country Championships horse next year, but if someone rings for the Kosciuszko I’d definitely run her,” Northam said. 
“She’s in good form and has never run a bad race. She would put her hand up and give it a shake. 
“I was delighted when she was there in a good position on settling down. We’ve had to ride her a bit quiet her last two starts, but from her good barrier today I was confident she’d be a bit closer. 
“I was happy when the leader (Pony Soprano) kicked, as we had the room to get off his back because I knew she’d be strong late. She’s a real trier.”
Daisy blooms
Seven-year-old Newcastle mare African Daisy was the other non-metro winner at Rosehill, taking the benchmark 72 Midway Handicap (1200m) for Jason Deamer and leading apprentice Braith Nock.
African Daisy ($21) led all the way to win by a length and a half from Apache Breeze, with favourite Modella a short head away in third place. 
Despite starting from barrier 12 in the 14-horse field, Nock was able to cross quickly and forge to the front. From that point on African Daisy never looked in danger of defeat. 
It’s believed that connections had intended to retire the mare but those plans seem likely to be postponed as a result of Saturday’s win. 
Shortly after African Daisy’s win, Jason Deamer made it a double for the afternoon when Phyxius ($3.10) took out the 1400-metre Class 1 at Kembla Grange under Keagan Latham, who was completing a double of his own. 
Raiders rule
The raiders took the spoils at Griffith last Saturday, with the 1350-metre Griffith Cup (1350m) falling to Benalla-trained $18 chance The Big Short, trained by Olivia Osborne and ridden by Josh Richards.
The French-bred son of Siyouni, who began his Australian career with Chris Waller, got the verdict in a thrilling three-way photo from $2.50 favourite Ruperts Red Rocket and Jerilderie seven-year-old Gobbo’s Mate. 
The Big Short was one of four Victorian winners on the six-race card.
Wangaratta trainer Andrew Dale and jockey Cory Parish combined for a double, while another Wang trainer in Craig Weeding picked up the first with More Cash. 
Dunn again
Murwillumbah trainer Matthew Dunn made another of his successful forays across the Tweed last Saturday when Zelgaria ($21), with Andrew Mallyon in the saddle, took out the 1200-metre Class 6 at Doomben by two lengths from odds-on favourite Ouroboros. 
Cejay Graham, whom I interviewed for this column when she was a fledgling apprentice based at Port Macquarie but who is now a senior jockey based in Queensland, rode the first three winners on the program. Congratulations, Cejay.
Around the traps
Punters were on the ball for last Friday’s $100,000 XXXX Tuncurry Gold Cup (1600m), with $2.70 favourite Lugh getting the money under Ashley Morgan. 
The lightly raced five-year-old, based at Ciaron Maher’s Moss Vale stables, now has five wins from eight starts.
Earlier, the $50,000 Super Maiden (1400m) went to Oh Deer, trained at Gosford by Adam Duggan and ridden by apprentice Mitch Stapleford. 
In the final race, the $50,000 Evermore Pearl (1200m), the well backed Savoca ($5.50-$3.10), trained at Newcastle by Paul Perry and ridden by Anna Roper, won by a length from Telegraph. 
Sunday’s $50,000 Bathurst Cup (1800m) saw $2.40 favourite Aix En Provence get up by a half-length under Andrew Adkins for Wyong trainer Nacim Dilmi. 
The $110,000 Panorama (1300m) went to Ringarosa ($4.80), trained at Goulburn by Matthew Dale and ridden by Ashley Morgan. 
At Coffs Harbour the same afternoon, apprentice Shannen Llewellyn fared best of the jockeys with a winning double.
Cups aplenty
It’s a big Friday this week, with day one of the Newcastle spring carnival featuring the Newcastle Gold Cup, Tibbie Stakes and Cameron Handicap.
The feature at Canberra is the $50,000 Black Mountain Quality (1000m). 
Saturday sees no fewer than four country cup meetings across the state, at Barraba in the New England region, Enngonia in the north west, Pooncarie in the south west and Bowraville on the mid-north coast, with the features over 1400, 1400, 1550 and 1370 metres respectively. 
Bowraville also features the Lightning Bend Handicap over 1000 metres.