Raceday focus: Previews and tips for Monday’s Wagga Wagga meeting

The jockey to follow, the trainer with the super strong team and all the in-form runners. Matt Jones and Shayne O’Cass preview a big day or racing at Wagga Wagga.

SCOTT Spackman knows there’s a good motor inside Jaytee’s The Fox and if he unleashes it again he can get back into the winner’s circle on Monday.

The Foxwedge three-year-old races in a Class 1 Handicap (1200m) and is looking to bounce back from a 12th place at Dubbo when he was distressed beforehand because of delays.

“He was just in a mood at Dubbo last start,” Spackman said.

“He’s going to be one of the better horses I’ve trained. I’ve got O’ So Hazy and he’s going to be that good.

“We put a set of blinkers on him in the trial and he’ll race in them. I think they will help him focus.”

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SHAYNE OCASS’S BEST BETS — WAGGA

BEST BET

Race 5 no.2 Noble Descent

Noble Descent has been pretty good in two runs back this time in and he should get a good run from gate two.

BEST VALUE

Race 4 no.7 Fusca

Fusca wasn’t far away in a recent trial and she wasn’t asked for a great deal against some nice horses in the straight.

UNDER THE RADAR

Race 2 no.7 Mixed Blossoms

This mare has a terrific first-up record and she might represent a bit of value here.

BEST EXOTIC

Quaddie: 1st leg 7,2,10,8,11,14. 2nd leg 2,3,1. 3rd leg 4,2. 4th leg 10,8,1,3.

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Mathew Cahill has a strong book of rides across the program today.

TRAINER TO FOLLOW

Matt Dale has a select team in today but Elm Court, in particular, should run well in the last.

SCROLL DOWN FOR SHAYNE’S EXTENDED PREVIEW & TIPS

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Jaytee’s The Fox won two starts back so after his flop at Dubbo he was made to trial and won a 1000m heat by eight lengths when he wasn’t asked to do much by jockey Nick Heywood.

Heywood is back on him for the first time in a race since they won together two starts back and he’ll get the right run from barrier seven.

“When Nick got off him (after the trial on September 29) he said ‘you could start him next week or the week after and he’d probably win’,” Spackman said.

“He’s just got to bring his manners. He doesn’t like being overpowered and once you’re on terms with him he’s the best ride ever.

“He has a ton of natural ability but his problems are all in his head. If things go his way, look out.”

If Jaytee’s The Fox can string a win or two together he might head to Queensland for a rich race early in the new year.

“The Country Championships is his goal and he’s even eligible for those Magic Millions races on the Gold Coast,” Spackman said.

“It’s pie-in-the-sky stuff but we’ve paid up for them, so if he can do what I think he can do he might get there.”

Truth Be Written is Spackman’s other leading charge today in a Maiden Handicap (1200m) and he has high hopes for him, too.

He ran second last start at Cootamundra when favourite and Spackman thinks he could be a Country Championships contender.

Nick Heywood takes the ride for Scott Spackman

But he has to start winning and Heywood will ride him out of gate 11.

“It’s still all new to him and the hard tracks have knocked him about, but he’ll get some nice cushion this time,” Spackman said.

“His work has been a lot better and he seems to be in the right frame of mind.

“He could mature into a nice horse once he learns what he’s got to do.

“You don’t need to tell Nick Heywood how to ride him. He has ridden him before but it’s a tricky start from the 1200m here.

“I don’t want him to lead but if it wouldn’t worry me if he does and gets some easy sectionals.”

Kiwicod is the stable’s other runner in the first race and she needs a confidence-boosting win to turn things around.

“She shows me a lot at home, so it’s frustrating,” Spackman said.

“She got held up a bit last start and this time we walk across the road and take the blinkers off, so we’ll see what happens.”

Jockey Michael Cahill has a strong book at Wagga. Picture Glenn Hampson

COOL PRINCE AIMS FOR BACK-TO-BACK CROWNS

By SHAYNE O’CASS

RELOCATING to Grafton from his former base at Tamworth has worked for Ballina-bound galloper Cool Prince, who will be aiming for his second consecutive win when he contests Monday’s Slipway Hotel Handicap (1405m).

The son of Casino Prince was originally trained by Sue Grills, who was the driving force in the decision to send the six-year-old across to John Shelton HQ at Grafton.

“Sue recommended that he come down here,” Shelton said.

“The horse was a bit of a rogue at the barriers and she thought that maybe with a change of scenery that it might help him to overcome that.”

Cool Prince hasn’t finished further back than fourth in seven outings for Shelton, culminating in a last-start win at Grafton, where he sat outside the leader before dashing clear impressively over the final stages.

“Ballina is different track but he races up on the speed, which is where you have to be up there,” Shelton said.

“I think he’ll race well. He looks like has trained on nice and is still working well.

“It’s a tough race all the same. There are quite a few chances.

“Shannon (Doyle) has ridden him at his last two starts and he gets on good with him.”

Cool Prince has been saddled with 57kg for Monday’s assignment, up 2kg on his Grafton victory.

“It’s the worst thing you can do sometimes is win but he’s a nice horse to train and if he can keep holding his form, he won’t (ever) get beaten very far,” Shelton said.

Shelton’s inaugural $1.3 million ATC Kosciuszko (1200m) winner Belfyler will spend the summer in a paddock at a nearby propertyowned by Cathy Chapman.

“I was going to press on with him but we decided to give him a little spell,” Shelton said.

“He has done a great job and has been in work quite a while.

“I think he’s earned a little holiday. He’s a great horse.”

Gold Coast-based Maryann Brosnan is in line to take out training honours today on the seven-event card at Ballina.

Brosnan will saddle-up major players Charlotte’s Girl and Golden Lily in races they ought to feature in.

Trainer John Shelton won in Sydney during the spring with Belflyer. Pic: Getty Images

THE LATE MAIL — WAGGA

Shayne O’Cass

RACE 1

Lady Of Kos brings provincial form to the table here and she has been placed two from four overall. 6. Jounama Gold was wellbeaten last start but that was on a wet track and he will appreciate getting back on top of the ground. 11. Reign Over Mestarted odds on last start and must be respected as well.

Betting strategy: Lady Of Kos to win.

RACE 2

Mixed Blossoms has a terrific first up record and she might represent a bit of value here.

My Maher won the Snake Gully Cup last start and she has been competitive in the city in the past. Her class will take her a long way here. 5. Fermanagh Lad has plenty of early speed and expect him to go forward. 2. Liberty Song looks next best.

Betting strategy: Mixed Blossoms each way.

RACE 3

Irenic has come up pretty short here but he wasn’t disgraced in the city last Wednesday and that should toughen him up for this. 2. Grassing gets the blinkers on again and he has at least had a run over this distance range last start. 3. Run HoffRun will have admirers, while 5. Rising Force looks best of the rest.

Betting strategy: Irenic to win.

RACE 4

Pretty open race this with plenty of chances as the market suggests. 7. Fusca wasn’t far away in a recent trial and she wasn’tasked for a great deal against some nice horses in the straight. 2. Truth Be Written has drawn a touch awkwardly but he hasearly speed and should roll along and be hard to catch. 10. Miss Crompton, 8. Il Professionale, 11. Rosy Dawn and 14. She’sAll In all have claims as well.

Betting strategy: Fusca each way.

RACE 5

Noble Descent has been pretty good in two runs back this time in and he should get a good run from gate two. 3. Elle A Walkinggets the blinkers on again and she has a good finish on her day. Former city galloper 1. Mornington is an interesting runnerfirst up at a mile in the country.

Betting strategy: Noble Descent to win.

RACE 6

Riverset was well backed at Canberra last start and got the cash. Third up she should still be on the up here. 2. Fantasy Belle has been knocking on the door of late and gets another chance, while 8. Rocky High and 3. French Politician should be included in exotics as well.

Betting strategy: Riverset to win

RACE 7

Elm Court is a lightly raced filly for the Matt Dale yard and she was a dominant maiden winner at Gundagai last start. 8. Jaytee’s The Fox looks the danger, while 1. Yeldarb has been runner up at two runs back from a freshen and deserves to winanother race. 3. Trumbo is in the same boat and he has had to settle for second at both runs back from a spell.

Betting strategy: Elm Court to win