3 minute read

Track likely Soft 6 and rail out 4m from 1400m to WP & True the remainder.

We open up over the mile for a Heat of the Rising Star on a track that is likely to drop back well into soft range with some heavy rain forecast. Progressive four-year-old 1. Baledon has plenty of ability, and will relish returning to a bigger track over a bit more ground after hitting the line late at Corowa. Carried 2kg more sweeping home to win a Cl1 here previously. Only concern is a new inexperienced claimer hopping aboard.

Dangers: Improving five-year-old 5. Belleistic Lad is the immediate threat third-up from the inside draw; while underrated six-year-old 8. The Chaplain hasn't won for a long time, but hit the line powerfully third-up, and carries half kilo less here.

How to play it: Baledon to win. Odds and Evens: Odds

Very tricky sprint. Wodonga five-year-old 6. Openhimup has knocked up running minor placings, with still only one win from 22 starts. That said he's attacked the line nicely from well back in his last two, and is weighted to repeat the dose fifth-up, especially if the track gets well into soft range.

Dangers: Keep very safe home track mare 8. Fifty Carats who resumes in likely ground she relishes. Has always been a good line-finder, and didn't finish further back than second in her four consecutive runs before spelling. You're never quite sure what's coming with capable albeit wayward four-year-old 1. Tap 'N' Run who is a stablemate to the previous top selection. Hasn't started since hitting the line impressively in a Highway early spring, and normally comes to hand quickly, although this local trainer has elected not to officially trial. Local four-year-old 4. Last War also resumes off a 23-week spell without an official trial. Was all at sea in his last two on heavy ground before the break after leading all the way here in the wet to win his maiden. Suspect the more rain the better he looks. Include in wider exotics five-year-old mare 7. Dissedge who gets key gear changes fifth-up.

How to play it: Openhimup each way and box trifecta 1,4,6,8. Odds and Evens: Evens

Very keen on four-year-old 3. Mr Moppett third-up and drawn to get ideal cover. Resumed in much tougher metro grade before charging home to win a BM 66 country affair. Drops 4.5kg here, and can head to a Highway by taking care of this lot.

Dangers: Progressive Canberra mare 6. Tejori is well placed at the weights, and unbeaten from two starts in soft ground; while local six-year-old 4. Kurocaine is hard fit and draws the inside fifth-up.

How to play it: Mr Moppett to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Like four-year-old 2. War At Sea who hops over the border second-up in a suitable race. Drawn the extreme outside, but this is a weak race, and he's well in at the weights after the rider's 3kg allowance.

Dangers: Provincial six-year-old 7. Giottino has a poor record, but has found the line okay late in his last two, and this is the thinnest race he's tackled in a while. Must include four-year-old 1. Honour The Legend from the inside draw having worked home okay in his last two; while 8. Gisbelle and 10. Like A Tiger Cod go in wider exotics.

How to play it: War At Sea to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Another moderate but very even Heat of the Wagga Stayers Series. Progressive Canberra mare 10. In My Wallet should have nearly won at the Sapphire Coast 10 days back when hitting the line hard. Comes through deeper form races than this, and will be tucked away off the speed and saved for one final surge over a bit more ground.

Dangers: Improving five-year-old 2. Decker will be hard to hold out. Was consistently in the money on both sides of the border after puncturing when leading in deeper metro company, although won't want it too wet. Victorian six-year-old 3. Elope To Vegas doesn't win out of turn, but was dominant in a weak BM 58 on Boxing Day, and one of the better weighted runners after the full claim. Keep safe at bigger odds 4. Hemmerle who has been working home okay over shorter trips this prep, and peaks at this range fourth-up; while Wodonga mare 7. Lady Kermadec will be much more at ease in this grade after dropping out in a BM 64 at Sandown.

How to play it: In My Wallet each way. Odds and Evens: Evens

Wide sprint for the girls at set weights. Improving four-year-old mare 8. Wee Juggler is terrific value well into double figure odds third-up. Finished off okay here two weeks back, and bred to thrive on rain-affected ground, being by a star Group 1-winning wet track sire.

Dangers: Local Nostradamus mare 7. Prophet's Daughter has trialled well enough, and can start her career with a bang. Home track Dream Ahead filly 18. Blushing Mary was well supported on debut, although only fair from the wide barrier. Much better placed under these conditions but needs a few scratchings to get a run. Improving mare 6. Perfect Sun is a shade over the odds second-up from a low draw.

How to play it: Wee Juggler each way. Odds and Evens: Split

Now the boys' edition, and it's one of the tougher races, with a stack of hopes. Lightly raced colt 13. Prince Nicconi failed to run on first-up here when hard in the market, but has since trialled in strong fashion. In good hands, and bred to react on what should be rain-affected ground late in the day.

Dangers: Improving provincial four-year-old 4. Mancconi draws to get a good trail just off the speed second-up over 200m further. Watch the betting on 5. My Alma who resumes without publicly trialing for a smart provincial stable. Keep safe too 1. Duck Egg second-up for leading local stable; while 8. Cranberry King at his second start; 2. Jedinak on debut and 10. Fitzgibbon with blinkers off all go into wider exotics.

How to play it: Prince Nicconi each way. Odds and Evens: Split

Progressive Canberra mare 5. Lady Tabloid can strike second-up after sticking on well when resuming here in deeper grade. Stable has found an ideal follow-up race in her preferred soft going.

Dangers: Home track filly 11. Whenitrainsitpours showed early speed from a wide draw in that same race as the top selection, but weakened out badly. Was well backed that day, and can almost guarantee a much improved showing here. Watch the betting on 2. Galactic Warrior second-up and down in weight; while Wodonga mare 4. Bint Alqamar can also improve sharply second-up.

How to play it: Lady Tabloid to win. Odds and Evens: Odds

BEST BETS:
R3 3. MR MOPPETT
R8 5. LADY TABLOID

BEST VALUE:
R5 10. IN MY WALLET