Raceday focus: Best bets and inside mail for Wagga

The Joseph/Jones stable appear set for a lucrative day with two leading chances. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Racing in New South Wales on Thursday is at Wagga.

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Wagga.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

WAGGA

BEST BET

Race 1, No.5: BELLEISTIC LAD

Has come back better than ever evidenced by a third and a second from the two runs this preparation. Wants the mile and gets it here.

NEXT BEST

Race 5, No.10: IN MY WALLET

Another Joseph/Jones galloper with it’s hoof on the till after a close second at her most recent outing at the Sapphire Coast. Got the gun draw.

VALUE BET

Race 7, No.13: PRINCE NICCONI

Stepped away slow first-up here and had to be used up too much early which told at the finish. Expect a whole lot better from him this time.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 8,10

Race 6: 7,8,9,18

Race 7: 4,13

Race 8: 2,11,12

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 1, Nos: 1, 5

Kayla Nisbet looks a good chance of taking out the TAB Jockeys Challenge at Wagga.

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Kayla Nisbet will have plenty of fans, as always, in the TAB Jockeys Challenge and for good reason.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR WAGGA

RACE 1

Belleistic Lad has come back well this prep; he resumed with a third at home in the ACT then was a closing and close second here after that. Note that both of those assignments were at 1040m so he should appreciate/love the mile. Ditto it seems for Baledon is on trial at the trip for the first time but trainer Ron Stubbs said he was looking forward to the horse running 1600m. The Chaplain is building up to a win and races well at the venue.

Bet: Belleistic Lad to win, exacta 5 to beat 1, quinella 1,5

RACE 2

Tap ‘N’ Run is a handy little horse or should that he is a handy big horse from the aforementioned Ron Stubbs stable. The son of Reward For Effort is being aimed at the Country Championships - he’s got all the attributes for 1400m when he gets there too. Might be too classy. Locally trained Fifty Carats has a track/distance record of a win and three seconds from four goes. Her stablemate Last war has the in-form Winona Costin to steer.

Bet: Tap ‘N’ Run to win

RACE 3

Tejori was scratched from a race at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, maybe because of the wide draw, I don’t know, but this is a bit easier by comparison but still not easy with a handful of rock solid SDRA types. Fast mare, it may just boil down to ‘pressure’. Kurocaine finished upwards of two lengths in front of Tejori when they met here on Christmas Eve but about the same margin behind her in that race on the Kensington before that. Go well. Magnavale is a player.

Bet: Tejori to win, quinella 4,6

Tejori (left) looks hard to beat at Wagga. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 4

Ahzeezah has two placings from 11 but they were recent and very good runs from Thursday’s perspective. In fact, her Christmas Eve performance in a 1400m maiden was worthy of a win which is no doubt why Kayla Nisbet is backing up again. Another horse getting close to a first win is Like A Tiger Cod who has the hometown advantage. Honour The Legend will surely run well if he comes. Searchlight is crying for a mile on the last run anyway.

Bet: Ahzeezah to win, quinella 5,10

RACE 5

In My Wallet has only won 3 out of 24 but she is a generally consistent mare who is rarely far away. That was surely the case last start at the Sapphire Coast where she finished a close second to her Jones/Joseph stable Nicholas in a 1612m race. This is her first time to 1800m but she should be okay. Broo Boss won over 1800m on the Riverside track on November 22. Perhaps he was outclassed in the Ted Ryder a month after that. Suited back to a Bm58.

Bet: In My Wallet to win, box trifecta 4,5,8,10

RACE 6

Blushing Mary was $3.10 into $2.70 when she made her debut here on Christmas Eve having trialled really well 19-days prior. She ran 8th on the day but the barrier was always going to present some unwanted issues. Worth sticking with - has talent. Very interesting first starter from the Ron Stubbs camp in Prophet’s Daughter. Her trail was good and worth noting that her dam has five foals to race - all of them are winner. Wee Juggler was third in the same race that Blushing Mary ran in. Worth some thought.

Bet: Blushing Mary to win, exacta 18 to beat 7, Daily Double 1st leg (18), 2nd leg (2)

Trainer Danny Williams has Prince Nicconi ready to bounce back on Thursday. Picture: AAP Image

RACE 7

Prince Nicconi was well-backed, and for good reason, when he resumed in a 1000m maiden here on December 6. He was slow to begin and had to be used up a tad to get into striking distance. No impression late but worth forgiving. Has trialled since and went super. Manconni has done some good things in his eight starts, enough to suggest that he will play a part just so long as he sees out the 1200m fully. Cranberry King has been blessed with barrier one. That brings him into this big time now.

Bet: Prince Nicconi to win

RACE 8

Galactic Warrior was a forget and forgive first-up at Moruya. Nothing went right for the horse on the day, zero. It will be interesting to see how he goes here because he won his maiden like a ‘good horse’ but this is a pretty deep Class 1 if they all show up. It was a wash out for those of us who declared Whenitrainsitpours first-up here on Christmas Eve. Only excuses given - she was fractious in the gates and travelled wide throughout. Better than that. The best Super Riff would be winning this and a whole lot more. He has to step up to the plate soon.

Bet: Galactic Warrior to win, quinella 2,11