Strong numbers for Goulburn qualifier

Trainer Danny Williams has seven of the 28 entries for the first regional heat of the Country Championships at Goulburn.

The first two home in Saturday's $100,000 heat gain entry to the $400,000 final at Randwick on April 2.

The highest-rated of the Williams team is Shutter Bug, a dead-heat winner of a Highway Handicap at Randwick on December.

The weekly Highway Handicaps are restricted to country-trained horses and many of the Championships hopefuls have come through the races.

Halfpenny Gate, Grand Proposal and Hermosa Beach are other Highway winners entered for Goulburn.

Rod Northam is expected to nominate four horses for Sunday's Qualifier at Scone.