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It’s a low-key start to the new racing season for Wagga on Sunday, but it’s also a warm up to the commencement of an exciting spring racing period starting next month.
For one of the few times, Wagga will conduct just the six races at the TAB meeting after the 3800 metre Riverina Cup was scrapped when there were insufficient acceptances.
It's also the final meeting at Wagga for Murrumbidgee Turf Club chief executive Steve Keene who has been in the position for two and a half years and will commence a similar role at Scone next week.
There may be only six races, but there is plenty of interest in the running of the Castle Lane Catering Wagga Whiz (1000m).
Talented mare Lady Brook resumes racing after having her last start in the $100,000 SDRA Championship Qualifier when fourth behind Another One in February.
The return of Another One in a trial after the final race is an added highlight as the gelding heads towards a tilt at The Kosciusko.
Wagga trainer Gary Colvin is looking forward to his first official appearance back and has selected a race in either Sydney or Wagga as his likely return.
Firstly, he will have a handful of starters at Wagga headed by recent winners Nic's Hero and Bonvalante.
Nic's Hero won consecutive races at Wagga – the first in maiden company and the second an impressive victory over one of his rivals on Sunday, Away She Goes.
The lightly raced four-year-old was bred by Colvin as was Bonvalante who will contest the Turners Civil Class 1 (1300m).
Colvin also trained Bonvalante's dam, Kapvalante, more than a decade ago and his cousin Michael Dwyer is in the ownership of both horses.
"Bonvalante won his maiden very well at Wagga and then just didn't handle the heavy track at Narrandera when he finished last," he said.
"The way he won his maiden easing up at Wagga I expect him to bounce back at his home track."
The trainer is expecting the same from Nic's Hero who faces a strong test in the JJ's Waste & Recycling Benchmark 58 (1200m).
Stable apprentice Hannah Williams will ride Nic's Hero from a wide barrier reducing the gelding's weight to 57.5 kilograms.
"His biggest problem is he has a wide gate and a lot of weight. I decided to put Hannah on the horse to take a bit of weight off," he said.
Jockey Nick Heywood had the ride on Nic's Hero in his most recent Wagga win and will this time partner one of the main dangers, Crimson Hoffa.
The galloper has drawn the extreme outside alley with Nic's Hero directly inside of him at the start.
Training sisters Emma and Lucy Longmore have accepted with two horses – Newton Is Coming and Newtown Braveheart.
Newtown Is Coming is also an acceptor at Goulburn's meeting on Monday and is likely to start there.
Meanwhile, Wagga's feature race schedule is fast approaching with the Ag races (September 18), Picnic races (October 2) and Kurrajong race day (October 16) all to be held on a Saturday two weeks apart.
