Freshly-crowned premier trainer Matt Dale said the extraordinary successes of locally-trained horses is evidence of the racing quality in the capital.
Canberra runners have become regular raiders at Sydney and Melbourne meetings, with Dale's Fell Swoop and Nick Olive's Single Gaze both featuring prominently in the NSW Racing Awards nominations.
"It just backs up where Canberra is at in regards to having profile horses," said Dale. "It hasn't been in this kind of state for many years and I think it's going to build on that because we have got really good training facilities here."
He said the facilities and the proximity to Sydney and Melbourne have it perfectly positioned to take advantage of the riches on offer, and the region will continue to produce champions.
"Our stable has won at all metropolitan tracks in Melbourne and Sydney here from Canberra, and we've won stakes races in four states out of Canberra so it just backs up that it can be done," he said.
"Owners from far and wide are now realising that you can get the results; they can be trained here like they are in the city, it's just they are in a country environment."
He said "it's building year on year" on the back of increased prizemoney and the creation of the Country Championship series.
Olive agreed the quality of racing in the capital has increased but said it is the high level of competition that is pushing the trainers to greater heights.
"The facilities are second to none and that's obviously a big factor, but I think there are just some good trainers here and it just keeps lifting the bar for everyone," he said.
"For a country track the depth of trainers is very good, there are probably four or five here who could handle themselves in Sydney if they moved there."
Fell Swoop is nominated for NSW Country Horse of the Year and Sprinter of the Year, while Single Gaze is also in the running for the country category as well as Queen of the Autumn.
"Between Matty and I, we're probably going to win two of the categories, so for a country training base to do that is sensational," Olive said.
"At the premier racing awards too, it is a really big thrill for the local area."
Olive finished off his season on a high on Friday with Saint Cheval winning its maiden in the stable's last entered race, while jockeys Brendan Ward and Brock Ryan both won two races each.
Dale's emerging filly Yasnat is laying her claim to being the next local star as she looks to extend her unbeaten run to four tomorrow at Caulfield.
"She's won three in a row, which is hard to do anywhere and it's hard to go four in a row, but she's against her own age and sex and up to the 1200, she's very fit and very well and should be competitive," he said.
