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By Neil Evans

Track Heavy 9 and rail out 6m from 1400m to WP & 4m the remainder

The juveniles get us underway on a track downgraded sharply into heavy range. Victorian-based 1. Hellberg is well placed returning as a gelding behind a quiet trial and having raced in a Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude before the spell.

Dangers: Well bred colt 3. Prorata will find this much more to his liking after being well outclassed in a Super Maiden on debut at Warwick Farm. Improving filly 4. Rose Aye comes back from the much smarter Inglis Classic at Scone.

How to play it: Hellberg to win

Not much between the leading contenders here, but progressive 2. Dancer One rates on top deep into his first prep. Has found one better in three of his last four runs, including last start where he missed by a whisker as a hot favorite at Albury after a torrid run. Hard fit pushing out to the mile, and gets his chance to rebound.

Dangers: Plenty of those headed by consistent 5. United Front, having his first run for the new Wagga stable since transferring down from Qld where he twice placed in tougher metro fields. Has six placings from 15 career starts, and will likely slide back from a wide barrier and hit the line late. Keep safe Victorian raider 8. Everythingisautumn who is tracking to peak third-up; while home tracker 11. Teneca Reign who got home late second-up after settling a mile off the speed; and 6. Victory Roll first-up for 11 weeks for the new Goulburn yard; head the rest.

How to play it: Dancer One to win

Back in distance here for the older maidens, and home track mare 7. Kurokaren is well placed to break through fourth-up at her ninth career attempt. Did her best work late at Albury only 10 days ago in a race where a small field and dawdling tempo didn't help, but should get a better tempo here over more ground and be given her head from the 400m in what is now a weakened race. Has a better than 60 percent place record so far.

Dangers: Keep very safe improving 4. Ne'er second-up off a lengthy break with a key gear change. Albury filly 10. Sail By is over the odds fourth-up for a strong trainer/jockey combination; while 5. Westbrook third-up is the best of the rest.

How to play it: Kurokaren to win

Another one from over the border, Flemington-based filly 5. I Am Immaculate can break through resuming off a 36-week spell in what is a weak maiden. Knocked up when leading fresh last prep before a fair effort at Corowa from a wide draw in early spring. Experienced trainer has rung the gear changes, and she gets a much better run from a low gate.

Dangers: Lightly raced local mare 6. Miss Baturina is drawn well, and wouldn't need to improve much from a strong closing effort first-up off a long break at Albury three weeks ago to win. Doubt the winner comes outside those two, but watch for any money at big odds around home filly 8. After The One who resumes off a 19 week break without officially trialling; while 10. Let'savalook is third-up for the new Tumut stable.

How to play it: I Am Immaculate to win

No better value anywhere on the program than underrated Canberra mare 8. Prophet Time who can make it two wins from her last three. Finished hard from well back to claim at CL1 at Goulburn before again doing her best work from the back 12 days ago in a similar lineup to this. Crucially gets back on to this bigger track where she boasts a solid record, and can be tucked away back in the field with cover before producing a superior closing burst. Over the odds.

Dangers: Also drawn to get an ideal run on speed, 1. Finn's The Icon is gunning for a third straight win, although climbs in weight sharply to 62.5kg. Must respect lightly raced and early favorite 5. Hulm who was only collared late second-up at Albury after an all-the-way maiden winner at this track. Gap to the rest headed by 2. Pretty Vegas resuming with no public trials; and at bigger odds 7. Jukebox Flyer who has placed in two of her last three in tougher grade.

How to play it: Prophet Time each way

Wodonga mare 7. Duped By Spin is progressing nicely having taken her winning strike rate to 30 percent from 14 starts. Was well tried in the market here four weeks ago before sweeping home from midfield to beat a useful BM 66 field, and drops a hefty 5kg for this tougher level. Unbeaten from two starts in soft ground. The one to beat.

Dangers: Gap to the rest headed by 6. Astunner who has won three on the bounce at Queanbeyan, but taking on some smarter ones here; while 2. Ready To Humble is very fit, and a two-time winner in heavy going.

How to play it: Duped By Spin to win

A Heat of the Wagga Stayers Series looms as one of the more open battles on the card, but plenty to like about South Coast-based 1. Heromania who gets back out to a suitable trip. Easily beat a hot favourite at Goulburn two starts ago, before a drop back to the mile didn't suit, settling well back off a modest tempo. Has to carry the big weight again, but is made for big tracks and drawn to get out to the middle in the likely better ground.

Dangers: A stack of those headed by 8. Ruff who has placed in his last three, and the gear has been changed. Expect a big run from Canberra mare 4. Burgundy Girl who draws to get plenty of cover on a drop in grade. At similar odds, keep safe honest border hopper 3. Fifi Blue who has been working into the money all prep. Improver 6. Hardazhell deep into his prep; and 11. Outlaw Ned from the inside draw; can both add value into trifecta and first four returns.

How to play it: Heromania to win

A competitive and open sprint to close the card, and it shapes best for hard fit and still progressing local filly 4. Letme Entertainyou who can go back-to-back on a six-day turnaround. Was brave to the line in a deep BM 58 over the carnival when kept finding despite a wide trip before being taken to the front and bolting in a weaker race on the Riverside track. Just needs to get over from an awkward gate, and is the one to beat.

Dangers: Warwick Farm-based filly 10. Siovy Dane also steps up from a runaway win in weaker class on the synthetic at Canberra, and draws to get a sound run on speed. Tough mare 3. Jordy Girl is rarely far away, and finished best to win a CL2 at Albury two starts back. Keep safe 1. Stupendo who is ready to win after hitting the line in consecutive races in and around this class; while another Canberra visitor 2. Chop The Ice will appreciate getting back on turf after a poor effort on the synthetic when heavily backed into a hot favourite.

How to play it: Letme Entertainyou to win

BEST BETS:
R6 7. DUPED BY SPIN
R8 4. LETME ENTERTAINYOU

BEST VALUE:
R5 8. PROPHET TIME

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