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By Graeme White

Well-performed sprinter Super Hard has started at some of racing’s biggest feature days so he will find the surroundings a lot different at his new base at Broken Hill with trainer Michael Wayman who will make the long haul to race at Wagga on Saturday.

Wayman is the sixth trainer of Superhard which will contest the Run To Kosciusko Open (1000m) with 62kg on his back.

It’s more than a 1700km round trip for Wayman to start Superhard at Wagga with the winner of $341,000 having his first start since May.

The seven-year-old has raced four times for Wayman with his best effort in that time being a second at Port Lincoln.

In years gone by, Superhard won races at Flemington and Sandown and has a sizeable class edge on his best form.

One of his best performances came at Flemington on Oaks Day in 2018 when he finished second, while his last victory was at Flemington in March of the following year.

Wayman has made the long trip over the past two days and feels his galloper will be competitive.

“It’s hard finding suitable races so it means travelling a fair bit,” he said

“He obviously isn’t at his top like he was a few years ago, but I’m happy how he is going and I expect him to be competitive.”

Race fitness is on the side of last start winner Seventh Seal, while Affinity Beyond has won four of her 10 starts and is a noted first-up performer. She has been successful at two of her four first-up attempts of which one win was at Wagga.

Affinity Beyond hasn’t raced since January when she was beaten less than two lengths at Warwick Farm by subsequent Wagga Town Plate victor Marway.

Just A Flash also performs at a high level fresh with two wins and three seconds from five attempts. Affinity Beyond is one of a few winning hopes for Canberra jockey Kayla Nisbet who will also ride stablemates Hokahey and Lawyer’s Delight for trainer Kurt Goldman.

One of her main chances is Testator Silens which resumes racing in the Aggies Day 16th October Class 1 (1000m). The well-named galloper by Silent Witness won his only start at Moruya on a heavy track in April defeating two subsequent winners which filled the placings.

One of his main dangers – Nephradiva – is also likely to be scratched which will further enhance his trainer Luke Clarke believes Testator Silens can pick up from where he left off when he resumes racing in the Aggies Day 16th October Class 1 (1000m).

Clarke has a high opinion of the late-maturing four-year-old who he believes will excel at distances between 1200 and 1400m.

“He does everything so easily and has a real sense about him,” Clarke said. “He only does what he has to do and is always nice and relaxed, but when it’s time to go he knows what it’s about.

“I expect him to bounce out well from a good gate and either lead, sit second, and be very competitive.”

Testator Silens is raced by Danny McMillan of Jacob Park Thoroughbreds which also has a share in The Kosciusko contender Handle The Truth. Clarke is the third trainer of Testator Silens after he had stints with Joe Pride and Keith Dryden.

“He is a bit of a tricky horse and the country lifestyle at Braidwood suits him,” he said. “He won his first start on a heavy 8 track and has done the work to run a big race on Saturday."

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