Albury trainer Donna Scott is happy with the way Bennelong Dancer has returned this preparation.
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The SDRA Country Championships Qualifier defending champion won the trial at Corowa on Tuesday.
It was her first public hit-out after a brief, yet disappointing, campaign earlier this season.
The six-year-old mare is being set for a third crack at the Country Championships after running second in the 2018 heat, and then winning the Albury edition last year.
She ran third in the $500,000 final last year, after finishing fourth in 2018.
While she was up against predominantly maidens in the trial, Scott was happy with what she produced.
"I was happy. It's always hard in trials like that against a lot of unraced ones," Scott said.
"She did all that was asked of her. I'm a lot happier with her this prep than I was last time. Last prep was a learning curve but I'm really happy with her."
Bennelong Dancer was ridden to victory by Danielle Scott in the trial.
Scott now has several options to weigh up as she prepares Bennelong Dancer's path to the Albury qualifier.
She had a lead-up run picked out at Caulfield on February 1 but is also considering heading to the Championships Preview at Albury on February 4, or going in fresh on the back of another trial.
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Meantime, stablemate Lord Von Costa will run at Flemington on Saturday.
After resuming with a good second at Flemington last month, Lord Von Costa will contest the $125,000 Benchmark 84 Handicap (1200m) with Blaike McDougall in the saddle.
Meanwhile, McDougall had a strong meet at Corowa on Tuesday, claiming three winners.