Source : the age
By Neil Evans
Track Soft 5 and rail True
Race 1
2. Buckeye, a Randwick-based colt by Zousain, can claim a very competitive battle for the two-year-olds third-up in his first full prep. Hit the line to miss narrowly when fresh at Scone in heavy ground before failing to run home in a deeper provincial race. Much better suited here, drawn to get to the outside of runners, and any rain is a bonus. 5. Wonderful Mistake has to get across from a wide barrier, but is primed after twice finishing a half-length from the winner at Canberra, the latest 13 days ago as a well-backed favourite. 1. Deekaygeebee is a lightly raced Victorian and over the odds after scoring a smart win here 18 days ago.
How to play it: Buckeye to win
Wagga Wagga hosts an eight-race card on Thursday.Credit: Getty Images
Race 2
3. Riverbend Unicorn is an honest and improving local four-year-old who represents outstanding value, resuming off a four-month spell in a tricky race. Has placed five times from seven starts, draws to get a soft run inside, and fitted to run this trip out off a solid 1000m trial on the Riverside track. 5. Doc March is also trained here, and a natural improver after rushing home late to beat all bar the winner second-up, but still shapes under the odds jumping from a wide gate. 1. Dita Von is also trained on the track and hasn’t missed a place in four consecutive runs, chasing home a smart one at Albury a week ago, but is also drawn wide. 9. Hot Toddy is desperate for this longer trip third-up. 11. Deebaa at her third start, and 16. Cinephile deep into the prep; can both add plenty of value into wider exotics.
How to play it: Riverbend Unicorn to win
Race 3
It doesn’t get any easier here in a wide maiden sprint, with a few key first starters on show. One of them 4. Explosive Style, a five-year-old mare by Carravaggio, makes the trip over the border and is ready to strike on debut. Careered away to win a trial on the Riverside track here a fortnight ago, and is bred for speed on both sides. 1. Brucedale is a local three-year-old by Shaft on debut in winkers off a handy trial, but draws wide. 3. Der Blaue Reiter is a lightly raced improver, and over the odds second-up coming through that same Federal Maiden in Canberra as one of the better chances in the opening race.
How to play it: Explosive Style to win
Race 4
7. Due Calzini is a progressive three-year-old well-placed to claim a second career win coming back in class and depth third-up. Did his best work late from the back when resuming in a BM 58 after being backed from $3.70 into $3.00 before catching the eye again running home late in the deeper Guineas Prelude here run at BM 65 level. Again drawn to drift back, but that run tops him off nicely for the step up to a mile, and will carry 1kg less. 6. Dubai Warrior is a big threat, hitting peak fitness fourth-up with gear changes from the inside draw, and dropping significantly in grade from his last two. Keep safe 8. Jamacri, a Warwick Farm-based mare, who also has claims dropping back sharply in distance fourth-up, with blinkers being added.
How to play it: Due Calzini to win
Race 5
8. Group Chat is a progressive and lightly raced mare shooting for back-to-back wins at only her third start. Failed to hit the line on debut at Albury when soft in betting, but was impressive sweeping home to claim a handy maiden here 18 days ago. Gets a nice 2.5kg weight drop for this rise in class, and a leading country jockey makes the trip south to ride. 6. Wexford Miss is a rival Goulburn mare who finds the right race third-up. Worked home okay from the back when resuming in CL1 company before only fair in deeper company 23 days ago. Less depth here, and the more rain that falls in the lead-up the better placed she is. Progressive 2. Xceptional Fella is in the hunt from a middle draw.
How to play it: Group Chat to win
Race 6
4. Burgundy Girl, a dominant and tough winner here in this grade two starts back, represents the best value in an open race. Did her best work late in the deeper Murrumbidgee Cup last start, and is yearning to get back out to this longer trip. 6. Sacred Mistress is an ultra-progressive and rival Canberra mare who has won her last five in a row. That said, she took care of some very ordinary fields before proving too strong in a good quality BM 58 18 days ago. Takes another step up here, but from a tricky draw, must be under the odds. 2. Extravagant Choice continues to build a solid record, winning two of his last three, and while this is tougher he’s hard fit and a reliable weight carrier.
How to play it: Burgundy Girl to win
Race 7
9. Celui is a talented Rosehill-based four-year-old well suited here third-up despite being drawn very wide in a feature race with plenty of chances. Impressive charging home from the back to win a feature BM90 sprint first-up at Muswellbrook before being ridden much closer to the speed, and didn’t attack the line at Randwick two Saturdays ago. The wide barrier should ensure he goes back and is ridden very quietly, and saved up for one final surge over the final 400m, and that’s how he races best. Has a 25 per cent winning strike rate from 20 starts. 6. Compelling Truth is an imposing and high-class, on-speed sprinter who won a stack of races in dominant fashion last campaign.
How to play it: Celui to win
Race 8
9. Mega Flight is an underrated provincial-based four-year-old peaking fourth-up in the closer over a furlong further. Hit the line late in a handy BM66 11 days ago, and reportedly has trained on well since. 7. Dark Vador has been consistently in and around the money this prep across tougher races, and drawn to get a trail and be right in the finish. So too 8. Exceedingly Hot who won a weaker race here three starts back, and has been in the money in two starts since around this level. Drawn to either lead or sit right behind the speed. 3. Persian Dancer is over the odds peaking third-up at the mile. Similar story with home tracker 2. Nats Enough who has run home well in two runs this prep up to BM 82 level.
How to play it: Mega Flight to win
Best bets:
R3 4. EXPLOSIVE STYLE
R4 7. DUE CALZINI
Best value:
R2 3. RIVERBEND UNICORN
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
