Latest News

Kembla Grange-trained chestnut Red Dream doesn’t boast the best career record, but his staying potential could be good enough to see him win the Avis Riverina Cup (2500m) at Wagga on Sunday.

Red Dream’s trainer Kerry Parker doesn’t often travel to Wagga unless he thinks he can win and he believes his stable’s sole representative will relish the long distance. The five-year-old finished off well to grab third over 2100 metres at his latest start at Goulburn and prior to that won at Queanbeyan.

Leading jockey Nick Souquet was aboard that day and Parker has again utilised his services on the gelding: “His last run was pretty good and he has shown me he will run the distance right out,” Parker said. “It’s a fair way to travel, more than four hours, so I hope it’s worth it.” Souquet leads the Wagga jockeys’ premiership by two wins with two meetings remaining ahead of Brendan Ward, Nick Heywood, Matthew Cahill and Richard Bensley. Red Dream is one of his best chances in the feature race on the nine event program which will be run on a slow track after constant rain at Wagga during the week.

The fact Red Dream is a winner in the soft and heavy is another factor in his favour plus he has a 2.5 kilogram weight advantage over the top weight Class Clown who is aiming for three straight wins. The galloper has led and showed plenty of tenacity to win at Narrandera and Wagga, but on Sunday has to lump 61.5 kilograms over a longer distance.

Sir Ottavio is a model of consistency finishing top four at his past five starts and will carry 56.5 kilograms after the claim for apprentice jockey Patrick Scorse. Sir Ottavio finished third behind Class Clown last start with Zorba, another contender on Sunday, running second.

There is a big weight advantage for Sir Ottavio this time and he should gain a suitable run behind Class Clown who is again likely to try and lead all of the way.

Class Clown’s trainer Chris Heywood has several runners at the meeting including Arosa who looks set to finally break through in the Claas Harvest Centre Maiden (1000m).

Arosa has led in some of her starts and with the addition of blinkers and the advantage of the inside gate she is Heywood’s best chance of success.

View the fields and form (including race replays) for Wagga's Sunday meeting here.