Raceday focus: Preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday’s meeting at Lismore

Lismore is a long way from home but Zac Wadick is prepared to make the journey on Sunday as he edges closer to outriding his claim. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Zac Wadick will ride at Lismore on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Hard-working jockey Zac Wadick will look to close in on outriding his country claim when he heads to Lismore on Sunday.

Wadick has seven winners left to ride before he starts the next chapter of his riding career and heads to Brad Widdup at Hawkesbury for a stint.

While Lismore is a long way from home, the Taree-based hoop enjoys the daily grind of the game and said the busy schedule keeps him in check.

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“I was supposed to head to Kembla on Sunday to ride for Brad (Widdup) but that fell through and I would have only had the one ride so I scratched that to head to Lismore,” Wadick said.

“I don’t like to have much time off between races. I need to be riding all the time, it keeps my weight good and it keeps me focused.

“It’s not always great spending so much time away from home but I love the sport and the grind of it and it does make that time back home just that bit more special.”

Of the winners Wadick needs to outride his claim, he hopes one can be for Matt Dunn in the Country Boosted Class 1 Handicap when he partners with three-year-old filly Wonderland Star.

“I’ve been getting chucked on a few of Matt Dunn’s as of lately and I haven’t ridden a winner for him so I’m hoping I can at Lismore,” Wadick said.

“He’s one of those trainers that you really hope to be riding for and it’s always a privilege.

“She (Wonderland Star) won by a length and a half last start so it wasn’t like she just nabbed the win and there was a gap to third.

“That was at Ballina too and I think it’s a bit similar to Lismore in the way they can run.

“Whenever you ride for him (Matt Dunn) in the Northern Rivers you know you’re on a winning hope and he’s always got them fit and ready to go and I expect that to be the case with her.”

Zac Wadick has been travelling up and down the coast on New South Wales for rides. Picture: David Smith

Thirty five minutes earlier will see Wadick pair with six-year-old mare Exhibitor again after the two ran sixth at Murwillumbah earlier this month.

It was the first time in her career the daughter of Exosphere has stepped out beyond a mile and Wadick thinks the run had plenty of merit.

“It’s definitely a sneaky chance off her run at Murwillumbah,” Wadick said.

“Exhibitor is one of those horses that goes around at a big price but over the 2000(m) at Murwillumbah I thought she was huge.

“If I could have got off the fence with it and got into the clear then I reckon it runs a bit better than where it finished.

“It is a bit of a tricky gate in 10 but it gets back anyway so I’ll look to do the same and I think it can run another good race.”

While not winning in 10 starts at Lismore, Exhibitor has a strong record at the track having finished runner up in half of those starts plus two third placings.

Wadick’s three other rides include Mahomes in race one before he partners with Abrazen Laugh and Nanarobi Yaoki later in the card.

It will be the third consecutive day he rides before jumping in the car to Murwillumbah on Monday and Grafton on the Tuesday.

“Hopefully we can chip off a few winners left to outride the claim and then head to Hawkesbury for the next chapter,” Wadick said.

JETT HATTON’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

WONDERLAND STAR (Race 3, No.6)

Has to take the leap from maiden to Class 1 company but does look to have a bit of upside. Won with a bit in hand last start and if she improves at her third run in, she can win again.

NEXT BEST

NORTH OF ELI (Race 5, No.6)

Ran super up in grade when tackling a metropolitan race in Brisbane last start and running second. Can go one better back in grade.

VALUE BET

EXHIBITOR (Race 2, No.5)

Went huge at her first go at 2000m. Wide barrier but she’ll go back anyway and with a bit of scope to improve, she can run well. Has finished in the placings in seven of 10 runs at Lismore.

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW – Zac Wadick

Has a strong book of rides at Lismore on Sunday and he looks to edge closer to outriding his country claim.

INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1

I’m Madeline was second to Wonderland Star two runs back and that horse looks tough to beat later in the card. Didn’t have a whole lot of luck at Coffs Harbour last start when she was trapped three wide without cover but she was solid to stick on for seventh, beaten just over three lengths. Dangereuse looked the winner in the Wonderland Star race when kicking for home at the top of the straight before running out of gas. Was first-up that day so will strip fitter. Shalaa Spirit is down from Queensland following two OK runs this time, the latest on the polytrack at the Gold Coast. Draws well in gate one and Stacey Callow takes 2kg off.

Bet: I’m Madeline to win.

RACE 2

It took Exhibitor a long time to stretch past a mile. At start 35 she ran over the 2000m at Murwillumbah and went well. Comes here with improvement and she’s got a good record at the track. In 10 starts she’s run second on five occasions and third twice. Good hope. Ocean Shores comes out of the same race when hitting the line hard. The ex-Chris Waller-trained galloper should be nearing his peak as well. Iberian Ruler comes down from Annabel Neasham’s Queensland base. Good first-up and then didn’t fire a shot last time out at the Sunshine Coast. Good enough to bounce back. Minister Garrett was an improved effort getting back to 2000m last start. Should be thereabouts in what looks a weak race.

Bet: Backing Exhibitor 1x3 and quinella Ocean Shores.

RACE 3

Wonderland Star lobbed at a big price last time out but there was no fluke to it. She was strong over the last 200m to win by 1½ lengths and there was a gap to third. Gets weight relief with Zac Wadick jumping on and Matt Dunn is always hard to beat up here. Vetoed has runner in the quinella in each of his four career starts and will take improvement off his first-up defeat to Firstluv – one of the chances in the last race. Will also appreciate the extra trip after probably finding 1250m a touch too sharp.

Bet: Wonderland Star to win.

RACE 4

Tectonic Plate has run second twice at his three career runs and will improve off his first-up effort at Murwillumbah. The Daniel Bowen-trained galloper should enjoy the extra furlong as well. Bit of a tricky draw is the only query. Change The Date had zero room at Taree two back before running second at Coffs Harbour. The ex-Michael Freedman-trained galloper maps to get a good run with 2kg claimer Courtney Bellamy in the saddle. I Am Marvel gets blinkers back on. If he’s not slow out again, he’s some hope.

Bet: Tectonic Plate to win.

RACE 5

North Of Eli was a first-up winner at Grafton before measuring up in town when running second to Show Me Mercy at Eagle Farm. Blinkers go off here and he looks ready to peak third-up. Gee Bee Ess stuck a hot race last time out, won by Highway performer Centre Bounce, and she beat all but the winner. This is probably the easiest race she’s even contested and it’s a good set up with barrier one and Andrew Mallyon in the saddle. Babayka is undefeated in two runs at Lismore. He too was last spotted in the Centre Bounce race at Murwillumbah when finishing seventh, beaten less than three lengths. Can improve here. Uno Moon fires first-up and has to be respected.

Bet: North Of Eli to win.

RACE 6

I Shot The Sheriff is racing well without a win. Looked home two back at Coffs Harbour but just had a think about it and the leader kicked back to win. Can lead from the positive gate and with Jake Bayliss keeping his mind on the job, the seven-year-old can break through. The stablemate Burdekin has been asked to carry 62kg but gets here in rock solid form. He’s flying and has a good record at the track, just needs to carry the weight.

Bet: Cavanough quinella with I Shot The Sheriff and Burdekin.

RACE 7

Backseat Promise gets here in super order having run in the top three at her last five starts and her last two trips to Lismore, has gone back on the float as a winner. Drawn a good barrier here to go add to the tally at the track. Firstluv was a big winner first-up for the new stable when coasting in by more than three lengths. This is a tougher race but he’s drawn a good barrier with 3kg claimer Rob Thorburn in the saddle. Nanakarobi Yaoki has a tricky barrier but gets here nearing peak fitness at her third run in. Tough effort when just running out of gas last start but she’ll be better for the run.

Bet: Backseat Promise to win.

Originally published as Raceday focus: Preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday’s meeting at Lismore