Rachel Murray retains Chrysolaus ride

Rachel Murray has retained the ride Chrysolaus in the $400,000 Country Championship with trainer Jane Clement resisting calls from some more high profile jockeys.

Chrysolaus won the Wild Card heat at Muswellbrook on Sunday to claim one of two final spots in Saturday's field.

Clement and Murray were a winning combination again on Monday at Armidale with Rosetta's Comet and Go Dragon.

"Rachel's a country girl. I'm a country girl," Clement told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

"Why change anything. Rachel has ridden him all the way through."

Although Chrysolaus firmed from $101 to $15 for the 1400m-final, the Greg Bennett-trained Clearly Innocent continues to hold sway at $1.90.

Chrysolaus is raced by family of the late John Clift, the man famous for breeding another grey horse, the champion Gunsynd.

The Danny Williams-trained Ashjata ran second to Chrysolaus to book her place in the final and is also at $15.