Race-by-race preview and tips for Wagga on Friday

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This was published 2 years ago

Race-by-race preview and tips for Wagga on Friday

By Neil Evans

Track expected good 4 and rail true for showcase Gold Cup day

Race 1 COUNTRY MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)

We start with a tough and open maiden and the rail in the same position as Thursday. Like Canberra two-year-old 14. Bombulla Boy at the value and peaking at his fourth run in first prep. Hit the line hard last time here, and a leading metro rider gets back on.
Dangers: Keep safe nicely-bred five-year-old 3. Catanzaro who finished off okay despite having little luck in her first run for a new Cowra stable off a massive three year break. Big watch on Canberra three-year-old 15. Mick’s Mate who debuts off two forward trials from the inside draw. Similar story for Nowra three-year-old 17. Thieving who needs scratchings to get a run, but shaping well off two progressive provincial trials. Tough mare 12. Sifu is hard fit and ready to win. Bounced to the front and was only run down late by a promising one at Kembla, although will need to get over from an awkward gate.
How to play it: Bombulla Boy each way and trifecta 3,14,15/3,12,14,15,17/3,12,14,15,17; Odds and Evens: Split

Paths Of Glory (left) wins the JRA Plate at Randwick on April 24. The grey is the selection for the Wagga Cup.

Paths Of Glory (left) wins the JRA Plate at Randwick on April 24. The grey is the selection for the Wagga Cup.Credit: Getty


Race 2 CLASS 3 HCP (1000m)

No loafing in this, and that will suit four-year-old 4. Delightful Dream shooting for two straight wins rising in grade fourth-up. Can park just off the speed, and looks very well treated at the weights.
Dangers: Watch the betting on 6 Starliv who returns for her first run in more than nine months, but won first-up here on the Riverside track last prep. Stablemate to top selection, 7. Merc has won two of his last four, and draws to get a nice run on-speed with top metro hoop taking over. Include both 1. Big Day Out drawn the inside with a claim; and at longer odds and down significantly in weight 5. Dissedge in exotics.

How to play it: Delightful Dream to win; Odds and Evens: Evens

Race 3 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1300m)

Big and wide open field of restricted sprinters, with any number of chances. Heading the charge is Canberra mare 15. Sly Song who broke a run of outs fourth-up in a good CL1 at home sweeping home from well back. Carries 3kg more in a deeper race, but drawn to get a nice trail off the speed.
Dangers: Progressive Victorian three-year-old 3. Defence Force is drawn off the track, but can still strike third-up over an ideal distance. Found the line well at Werribee despite covering ground, and will be suited by the much longer run home if he can tuck in for cover. The market will tell a story with resuming and lightly raced mare 11. Loving Cilla who hasn’t officially trialled but reportedly working well. Broke through at only her second start last prep before a handy run in Highway grade at Randwick. Improving 2. Villianaire is second-up off a 10-week break, and should be among the leading group from a nice draw despite the big weight. Include honest four-year-old 12. Nicotera who can push forward from a good draw, and drops sharply in weight. Local eight-year-old 4. Delivered is another who can finish hard off a strong tempo, but up in weight and will likely slide well back from the draw.
How to play it: Sly Song each way and first four 3,11,15/ 2,3,4,11,12,15/ 2,3,4,11,12,15/ 2,3,4,11,12,15; Odds and Evens: Odds

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Race 4 FILLIES & MARES BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1400m)

Improving and tough Seymour five-year-old 3. Charm Wing represents terrific value. Capped some solid runs with a strong win from off the speed at Ballarat, and in okay at the weights after rider’s claim. Has only missed a place twice from 11 starts.
Dangers: Talented and progressive Randwick three-year-old 5. Splendiferous is the obvious threat, although also accepted for Gosford stand-alone on Saturday. Has surged from just behind the speed to win two straight at the provincials this prep, and weight rise more than off-set by a drop back to country level. 4. Temion Chaud was flat at the provincials when easy in betting, but previous two wins around this region were impressive. Draws to get a cosy run on speed.
How to play it: Charm Wing each way and quinella 3 and 5; Odds and Evens: Odds

Race 5 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1200m)

Deep and open sprint with a stack of chances again. South Coast five-year-old 11. King’s Trust was stiff as a board resuming in a Highway at Randwick when held badly before storming home late. Naturally up in weight for this, but already a second-up winner, and will relish the long straight here.
Dangers: Plenty of them headed by tough 2. Hard Core who resumes 11 weeks after winning the weaker Tumut Cup. Draws to get a soft run off the speed with a 3kg claim, and has trialled smartly. Canberra-based 3. Zelago has been close-up in his last two at BM 70 Federal level, and blinkers go back on. You can never rule out tough mare 4. Onthetake despite a tough draw after hitting the line well at Kembla behind a smart one who then won again at Canterbury on Wednesday. Keep safe 6. Royal Monarch who hasn’t been further than two lengths away in four runs this prep; while ultra consistent six-year-old 18. Mad As Zariz third-up is a knock-out hope.
How to play it: King’s Trust to win; Odds and Evens: Split

Race 6 BENCHMARK 74 WAGGA GUINEAS (1600m)

Despite a sharp rise in weight, Warwick Farm gelding 1. Black Duke can score a long overdue and deserved win dropping sharply in grade. Backs up quickly from a strong finishing run in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas, and previous form in much deeper metro grade was more than good enough.
Dangers: Progressive 10. Maranoa is a clear threat down in weight from a soft draw. Bolted in his maiden before only run down in the last few strides at Kembla when backed into an odds-on favourite. Emerging filly 8. One Aye has a tonne of ability, and fitted with an impressive win here first-up in the Prelude. Has to negate a tough barrier, and needs the speed on, but watch for her charging late. Well-bred 11. Sidearm has been disappointing in his last two after a couple of fast-finishing efforts, and similarly will need to tuck in from a wide draw; while keep safe 5. island Bay Boy shooting for three straight; and at big odds last start maiden winner 9. Go Troppo who draws to get a cheap run.
How to play it: Black Duke each way and box exacta 1,8,10; Odds and Evens: Split

Race 7 WAGGA GOLD CUP (2000m)

Now for the feature at Listed level, and it’s a naturally tricky assignment. Progressive six-year-old 4. Paths Of Glory dug deep in a Group 3 to out-gun a very smart import, and from the good draw looms as the one to beat fourth-up.
Dangers: Lightly raced six-year-old 2. Spirit Ridge didn’t run out the two miles of the Group 1 Sydney Cup, and drops sharply in trip three weeks between runs. Has to carry 60kg, but enough ability and versatility to be right in the finish. Smart five-year-old 6. Yonkers is hard fit for this trip, and exploded away to beat a good field at Caulfield last start. Best weighted runner in the race, but has to get in from a wide draw. Impressive Canberra Cup winner 8. Mr Marathon Man rattled home from near last in a high grade metro race off a six week freshen-up, and no problems running out this journey; while Victorian 3. Inverloch is on the next line fourth-up.
How to play it: Paths Of Glory to win and box exacta 2,4,6; Odds and Evens: Evens a special

Race 8 CLASS 1 HCP (1200m)

Progressive local six-year-old 8. Monterey Zar is the one to beat. Should have won resuming here when struck trouble before powering home, and has since recorded a dominant trial win.
Dangers: Improving mare 13. Miss Elsie May has been close-up in her last two here, and has only missed a place once in eight starts at home. Keep safe 2. Barramundi Lad at big odds off a first-up maiden win, and already shown a real liking for this track.
How to play it: Monterey Zar to win; Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
Race 2: (4) DELIGHTFUL DREAM
Race 5: (11) KING’S TRUST
BEST VALUE:
Race 6: (1) BLACK DUKE

Tips supplied by Racing NSW.
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au.

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