Track likely Soft 7 and rail out 3m from 1400m to WP & True the remainder.
Race 1 COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES MAIDEN PLATE (1000m)
A maiden sprint for the males gets us rolling on a surface that will continue to improve and may even reach a Soft 6. Confident four-year-old 4. Norris can peak third-up. Drawn to get cover just off the speed, and backs up in seven days from placing behind a promising one who would beat this lot easily.
Wagga hosts an eight-race card on Monday.Credit: Getty Images
Dangers: Naturally, Exceed And Excel two-year-old 8. Dublin is a serious threat on debut as a gelding off a forward trial for the Matt Dale stable. Honest Victorian 2. Conspiracist is also in the mix resuming, while 3. Iz Shaft is the best of the rest.
How to play it: Norris to win and quinella 4 and 8
Race 2 FILLIES & MARES MAIDEN PLATE (1000m)
A little more depth in the girls’ edition, and it shapes very well for two-year-old provincial filly 7. Cani Cancan on debut for the Paul Murray yard. Has been fitted with two progressive trials, draws to get a sound run in transit, and is by powerhouse sprint sire Russian Revolution.
Dangers: Lightly raced Victoroian filly 8. Patchouli Dream, by Puissance de Lune, will likely jump clear favourite after a sound return on the synthetic, but under the odds from a tricky draw. Gap to the rest headed by 2. Kaphands back from a seven-week break, and local filly 4. Pay The Russian resuming with gear changes, who can fight out the minor money.
How to play it: Cani Cancan to win
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)
Like Albury three-year-old 7. Wilbury peaking third-up over a furlong further. Has disappointed in two runs back when well in the market, but comes off a better-than-it-looked heavy track run here only nine days ago, and draws to sit closer.
Dangers: Big watch on lightly raced Sebring filly 9. Dolce Bella returning for her first run since mid-February behind a recent quiet soft track trial. Stablemate of the top selection 1. Brave Image is also first-up from the inside draw, and won a recent heavy track trial. Home tracker 2. Cellar Champ is finding it hard to break through, but he’s finished off OK in two runs back this prep, prefers soft ground, and has a 40 percent place record from 12 starts, while 4. Factoring Profit fourth-up can add plenty of value into wider exotics.
How to play it: Wilbury to win
Race 4 BENCHMARK 74 HCP (2000m)
Out we go to a much longer journey for a Heat of the Wagga Stayers Series. Keen on Dubbo mare 5. Deel Street second-up off a four week let-up. Worked home solidly into a place in a stronger BM 68 at the provincials, and this is a timely 400m rise in trip. Carries the same weight after the claim, and has built a solid record on rain-affected ground.
Dangers: Progressive 9. The Herald comes off a dominant BM 58 win second-up, and drops a significant 6kg in weight for this sharp rise in grade. Victorian raider 2. Classy Joe finished best to win a weak BM 64 back over the border before disappointing at Narrandera when favourite. Capable of bouncing back drawn to get a soft run right behind a moderate speed. Don’t dismiss 4. Victory At Omaha dropping back from a plain effort in the much deeper Narrandera Cup.
How to play it: Deel Street to win
Race 5 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1800m)
Tricky race with the early favourite drawn wide. That leaves plenty of value aboard improving Victorian five-year-old 2. Land Of The Brave fifth-up. Has worked home OK in his last two runs either side of the border, and ideally creeps up another furlong in trip. Should find a trail a few lengths off the speed and be strong late at big odds.
Dangers: Progressive filly and clear early market fancy 13. Flying Flossy will be hard to hold out if she gets any cover from the wide gate, with blinkers being added. Has been hitting the line hard in handy maidens all prep, and is well treated back down on the limit weight. Keep safe improving filly 14. Oh Yoko dropping in weight fourth-up, while 5. Cracker Dance who draws the fence with blinkers coming off, and stablemate of the top selection 6. Flying Gem can both run into the minor money.
How to play it: Land Of The Brave each way
Race 6 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1000m)
Back to the short course, and this shapes ideally for lightly raced and progressive filly 11. Eight Of A Kind second-up and 17 days between runs. Missed the start and then sat wide resuming at Goulburn, but still rounded them up easily for a dominant maiden win, and all being equal she can go on to win way better sprints than this.
Dangers: Respect on a soft on-speed map for border hopper 1. Gulf Of Aden who resumes behind a forward NSW trial. Honest filly 9. Okami Miss has been consistently finding the line this prep in some deeper races. Big gap to the rest headed by 3. Backwater Trader who is trained on the track.
How to play it: Eight Of A Kind to win
Race 7 OPEN HCP (1400m)
A stack of chances in this one headed by underrated Dubbo mare 11. Watch Me Rumble who can pounce fourth-up. Was solid enough in the market when working to the line OK in a very handy country CL3 21 days ago, and is up in distance at the right time with a significant 5kg drop in weight.
Dangers: Must keep safe 3. Easy Rosie who has plenty of ability, and boasts a near 30 percent winning strike rate from 21 starts. Has enough tactical speed to get over from a wider draw, and can carry the weight over her pet distance. Watch the betting on consistent placegetter 4. Seventh Seal who steps up sharply in distance on an eight-day turnaround. Tough 1. Ready To Humble will appreciate an overdue drop back in grade after being heavily outclassed in a BM 72 on the Kensington track. Include in wider exotics 5. Upper House second-up, and specialist wet tracker 9. Witchita Warrior on a six week freshen-up.
How to play it: Watch Me Rumble to win
Race 8 BENCHMARK 50 HCP (1300m)
We finish with the open and lowly graded Battlers Cup. Like the value and set-up here for seven-year-old 4. Howlowcanyougo first-up since late April with a 2kg claim. Hasn’t publicly trialled, but all his best form is either fresh or one run in around this class of galloper. Will settle back off the speed, and should relish the long run home.
Dangers: Plenty of them starting with improving local mare 6. Diamond Carat dropping in class. Keep safe too 9. Mystic Flame also back in grade third-up, while 1. Your Not The Boss fifth-up on a quick turnaround from a wide draw, 5. Daly Heads up sharply in distance, and 19. Miss Givings if she gets a run, third-up behind a let-up with a gear change, all go through trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: Howlowcanyougo to win
BEST BETS: R2 7. CANI CANCAN, R6 11. EIGHT OF A KIND
BEST VALUE: R4 5. DEEL STREET
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
