Latest News

By Graeme White

Saving the best to last may prove to be factual for trainer Craig Widdison when it comes to summarising his four prospects today at Wagga’s first meeting of 2024.

The course proper will be back in use for the eight-race program where Widdison will saddle up top chances Bold Triumph ($2.70 favourite on TAB) and Duped By Spin ($3.30 fav) in the last two races.

He will also be represented by the improving and consistent Monday Miss ($11) which comes up against the favourite Duped By Spin in the Anthony Wisely Constructions Benchmark 58 (1200m).

Trainer Craig Widdison

Widdison is also keen to have a look at recent stable addition Sweet Charlie ($10) which has had two previous starts in Victoria, but will be having his first start for him from the widest starting barrier (gate 10) in the $50,000 Worksforyou Australia Super Maiden (1000m).

“It’s worth a lot of money for a maiden and there is a bit of form out of one of his starts with the winner taking out a Group 3 race at its next start,” Widdison explained.

Sweet Charlie ran fourth at his debut behind Brazen Style which has subsequently been successful in the $200,000 Thoroughbred Club Stakes as a $51 chance.

“He had one more start after his debut in a five-horse race and the horses started they finished and he came in third,” he said.

“He hasn’t been with me long so I’m keen to see how he goes.”

The Super Maidens are proving popular with prizemoney almost double of regular maiden races.

The favourite is Kaida Blaze ($3.80) who was an eye-catching last start third for trainer Peter Clancy who will also be represented by debutant Migjet ($6.50).

Clancy’s two former stable apprentices Nick Heywood (Migjet) and John Kissick (Kaida Blaze) will ride his runners.

Meanwhile, Duped By Spin returns to racing after a recent trial third followed some solid metropolitan displays last campaign. Duped By Spin was unplaced behind stable mate The Prodigal Son in Melbourne with that form suggesting the mare should be competitive first-up.

Widdison suggested Duped By Spin will take benefit from the start and with the addition of blinkers.

“She didn’t have the blinkers on in the trial and it was just for fitness. She is drawn to get a nice run and while she isn’t fully wound up yet she is forward enough to be highly competitive,” he said.

As for Monday Miss, the trainer said she has never raced better and should be able to maintain her consistent displays.

“She can’t draw a barrier her last few starts so on Friday she will work forward and hopefully lead. She is fairly deep into her preparation, but you wouldn’t know it the way she is going,” he said.

“They will have a fair job to get to her if she is out in front.”

The topweight Laurel Hill ($3.60) has drawn wide and has a big weight and is another of the main chances after a last start fifth in a Highway in Sydney.

Widdison will also have favourite Bold Triumph right in contention for the Australia Day Races at the MTC Class 1 (1300m). Bold Triumph has missed by narrow margins in two starts back when second and will again be ridden by Nick Souquet who will also ride Duped By Spin.

“He works and races better than a horse that has only won one race from 15 starts. He has drawn a bit wide but I think he is one of my best chances on how he has been gojng,” he said.

Arabian Soo ($7.50) won her debut at Wagga four weeks ago, while Dublin ($3.50) and Gobbo’s Mate ($19) were placed in the same race at Albury last start.

Dublin will be fitter for having had two starts back from a spell and is drawn well in gate two to be in the finish.

Amen Brother is having his first start since winning at Wagga 12 months ago and is another of the chances and presently rated as a $9 chance on TAB.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Wagga here