Country Championships: Troy O'Neile to saddle up Cassy's Sister in Hunter & North West Qualifier

The former rodeo champion will saddle up Cassy's Sister in Sunday's Newhaven Park Country Championships Hunter & North West Qualifier.

The four-year old is the Tamworth trainer's first runner in the $150,000 race. He has nominated a few others in the past but they haven't made the final field.

"It's a big thrill for me. I haven't been training very long," O'Neile said.

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"This is really the first time that I've had a horse that's got the quality to go through and I'm very pleased with myself that I've been able to prepare her and manage her to this point."

He eluded to a few nerves early in the week, speaking of the relief when the weights came out and he saw that Cassy's Sister was balloted safely inside the top 14.

The championships has been the target pretty much since the Excelebration-Crystal Jewel mare came to him about a year-and-a-half ago.

"She's owned by a local guy Tony Aceti. He wanted to bring his horses closer to his house so he could come and see them more often and have a bit more interaction," O'Neile explained.

He said he knew when he got her "how good she was". There was a conception though that she was a 1000 metre specialist.

"But over the last year-and-a-half we've tried a few different things and worked her a little bit differently and started to ride her in races a little bit differently so we can get her out to the longer distances and she's pushed herself out now to the 1300/1400m and been successful," he said.

O'Neile has engaged Grant Buckley for the ride and was when he spoke to The Leader feeling confident about Cassy's Sisters' chances, especially after she drew barrier eight.

"I know from my barrier draw I can be nice and handy," he said. .

Training now for about four years, O'Neile has always been in and around the industry.

When he first left school he had visions of becoming a jockey. But he "got too heavy too quickly" so his plans had to change.

Still keen to stay involved he rode trackwork for 15 years and broke in horses, before obtaining his trainer's licence.

He has enjoyed some good success along the way most notably with Try 'n' Run a Muck, who he prepared to win the Walcha, Inverell and Glen Innes Cups.

O'Neile is one of four Tamworth trainers with runners in the field, joining Craig Martin and Cody and Luke Morgan.

A former champion bronc rider and roper, and later bullfighter, he recalled rodeoing with the brothers and taking them to rodeos when he was in his early 20s and they were in their mid and early teens.

"We spent a lot of time on the road rodeoing and doing those sorts of things and it's good, we've sort of ended up in the same game again and we get to take each other on and flex our muscles against each other again," O'Neile said.

The first two to finish will earn a berth in the $500,000 Final at Royal Randwick on April 3.

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