By Graeme White
Magnetic – with a second to none record of any horse to race in the Southern Districts in recent times – faces his biggest local test in the Wagga Town Plate Prelude (1200m) on Sunday.
The gelding has won six of his nine starts in the region with a further second, third and fifth.
Magnetic ($4.60 on TAB) has the statistics to win overall with 18 career starts producing seven wins and four placings, while at Wagga he has produced three wins and a second from four starts.
Prepared at Benalla by Leon and Troy Corstens, Magnetic won’t have to contend with Delacour which will race at Hawkesbury on Saturday.
Wagga-trained galloper Rocket Tiger ($7) is well placed on his best form and is coming off a last start sixth at Royal Randwick last Saturday.
Sparring ($3.60 favourite) will also be well fancied having won three of his past five starts and is drawn well in gate three to get an ideal run for jockey Danny Beasley.
Meanwhile, trainer Joe Ible wants to see Takissacod ($8.50) produce an overdue victory in the Murrumbidgee Cup (1800m) to justify what she shows in training.
Ible, who prepared his 100th career winners at Canberra on Friday, said Takissacod was well placed on her best form.
“I would love to see her do in the flesh what she shows in work,” he said.
“It has been a while since she last won (February 22), but it’s a suitable race for her even with the big weight (60.5kg)."
Jockey Louise Day, who rode a career best four winners at Canberra last week, will ride Takissacod.
View the final fields with full form & race replays for Wagga here