Latest News

By Neil Evans

Track: Good 4, Rail: True

We start with the lower-graded milers, and in a race of several chances, underrated and honest 5. Face The Day represents superior value fourth-up from a soft trailing draw. Upset a handy BM 58 field two starts back before again working home well in similar grade 19 days ago. Drawn to find a nice midfield position with cover, and will relish the longer run home on a bigger track.

Dangers: Speaking of being honest, 3. Keith drops back in class, and a furlong to his pet distance where he saluted over at this track three starts ago. Must respect 1. Military Manoeuver who hit the line late second-up here only 11 days ago in that same deeper 1800m race as the former; while 9. Foxy Gal, deep into the prep, can add value to trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Face The Day to win

Down to a three horse field sets up for tough six-year-old 3. Fangela who is ready to grab an overdue win fifth-up off a month-long freshen-up. Ran home well into the placings in three consecutive outings up to BM 84 & open class company before being ridden too close on a very poor track at Canberra. Better when he takes a trail behind, and the drop back to this trip with a new rider on board, are keys.

Dangers: Progressive Victorian 6. Zourata is the logical threat crossing the border under significant weight relief. Finished best to win two straight in weaker class before running home fairly at Echuca a fortnight ago.

How to play it: Fangela to win

The two mile slog in a Heat of the Wagga Stayers Series shapes ideally for improving metro-based 3. Mr Fabulous third-up in only his second prep. Looking for the longer journey now after working home late in two provincial runs this prep, and is the stand-out weighted runner dropping to 56.5kg in a very moderate field. Was considered worthy of tackling Group 2 class in autumn as a three-year-old, and from an inside draw here trailing the speedv all day, looms as the clear one to beat.

Dangers: Progressive 4. Northern Tahnee is gunning for a fourth straight win after leading all the way in BM 66 grade here three weeks back. Gap to the rest headed by 6. Francesco Ben, a Wangaratta-based stablemate of the former who has beaten all but the winner in his last three; while another Victorian 1. Look Sharpish, is hard fit and will appreciate a significant drop in class.

How to play it: Mr Fabulous to win

Back to the six furlongs here for a Heat of the Rising Star. The raid from over the border can continue with consistent mare 5. Release The Brakes well placed deep into the prep. After a string of placings, finished best to claim her maiden at Albury two starts back before again doing her best work late in a BM 58 at Kyneton under 60kg. Drawn to get good cover in a race of less depth, and afforded serious weight relief after the jockey's claim.

Dangers: Resuming mare 3. Laurel Hill is sure to have her supporters. Twice ran home well into the money before tackling CL2 Highway company at Randwick in late June when she ran home okay from a mile back. Looks fairly treated at the weights after the claim, and normally shows something early in the prep. Another one with a handy first-up record, 8. Bold Triumph returns with blinkers off.

How to play it: Release The Brakes to win

Very open middle distance contest headed by emerging Vicyorian three-year-old 11. Motorace by Group 1 winner Denman who can make a bold statement at big odds in just his second start. Was solid in the market when working home okay late here on debut after covering early ground, and given he'd won a trial before that over 1200m, the extra journey and dropping to the limit weight are plusses at the value.

Dangers: Big watch on provincial five-year-old 2. Semper Fortis resuming over the mile trip. Hasn't publicly trialled, but reportedly been in work for a long time, and can roll forward from this low barrier. Got plenty of time in this class for improving 7. Stand In Line who is drawn wide, but peaks third-up back from provincial company. Lightly raced home tracker 6. Photo Man; 8. Dark Legacy dropping in weight second-up; and provincial mare 12. Platinum Asset are all capable of running into the money at each way odds.

How to play it: Motorace each way

Fairly open betting is likely here too. Evergreen and tough mare 8. Sky Diamonds can finally recapture her best form off a six week freshen-up, and dropping back from two mixed efforts over the mile. Go on a strong closing BM 66 run at this track in late August behind the smart Spitfire who then won a BM 70 Federal and was narrowly braten in a metropolitan BM 72. Used to tackling races of more class and depth, and she gets her chance to put it all together from off speed fifth-up.

Dangers: No disputing 1. Rocket Tiger has the quality to figure fourth-up from a softer draw, with blinkers coming off. Won't know himself back in this class after being well beaten in a Group 2 at Flemington and then a strong BM 78 at Randwick. Be surprised if anything else won, but keep safe 11. Controversial Miss at good odds who steps up in trip fourth-up to tougher company, but drops 5kg in weight. Last start and third-up BM 74 winner here 5. Northernero; and improving 13. Star Buyer; both go in exotic plays.

How to play it: Sky Diamonds to win

Tough maiden and not much separates the leading few. Settled on progressive Albury four-year-old 1. Bobotov who can peak fourth-up, with blinkers being added. Hit the line well, resuming at home in heavy ground before being ridden much closer in a deeper race at Seymour and was even to the line. Will surely be ridden quieter this time back on the bigger home circuit, and can produce a superior closing 300m finish.

Dangers: Emerging local 4. I Am Xtravagant has produced two bold on-speed efforts to start his career. Conversely blinkers have been removed and replaced with winkers in an effort to get him settling a bit earlier over an important furlong further. Watch the betting on 5. Messagerro who debuted in that same race here as the former; while 10. Clearedhot can also improve sharply at her second start with gear changes. Home track mare 7. Kurokare heads the rest.

How to play it: Bobotov to win

Back over the flying sprint trip to finish, and it augurs well for strong-finishing mare 1. Jordy Girl resuming for her second full prep. Beat all bar the winner in three of fours runs through late autumn and early winter, the latest charging home from the back in a handy maiden at Bendigo. Was well fancied at this track when fresh last time, and if she can find cover from the tricky draw, nothing will be hitting the line better.

Dangers: Lightly raced filly and market rival 4. Pure Platinum gets the inside draw advantage after a solid closing run on debut at Gundagai. Watch the market around provincial filly 7. Holdontoyasuper who debuts behind a quiet trial; with a gap to the rest.

How to play it: Jordy Girl to win

BEST BETS:
R3 3. MR FABULOUS
R4 5. RELEASE THE BRAKES

BEST VALUE:
R8 1. JORDY GIRL

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Wagga meeting