Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Wagga, Armidale

An in-form Matthew Dale-trained mare can build on her terrific record and take out the Queen of The South at Wagga on Friday. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer Matthew Dale has Fourmadec racing in great form and she can take out the Queen Of The South at Wagga on Friday. Picture: AAP Image

Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones 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 6, No.3: FOURMEDEC

She’s got a bit of an awkward draw but with a touch of luck she’s very hard to beat here. She’s never missed a top three finish to date and this looks the ideal race for her.

NEXT BEST

Race 2, No.14: SMOKIN’ COD

She got bad luck on debut but with even luck she would’ve run with ease. She’s out to 1200m and looks ready to rip again.

VALUE BET

Race 4, No.8: MERC

They’re going to ride him positive so if he doesn’t get a tough run in transit he’ll be in it for a long time and $26 just looks well over the odds.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 3, 4, 6

Race 6: 1, 2, 3, 17

Race 7: 4, 7, 9, 13

Race 8: 7, 8

Chad Schofield only has one ride but can take out the Wagga Gold Cup on Aleas for trainer Chris Waller. Picture: Grant Guy

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Chad Schofield is heading to Wagga for just one ride and it’s on the well fancied Chris Waller-trained Aleas who looks primed to take out the feature race.

TRAINER TO WATCH

Tim Donnelly has two very promising horses going around, Blushing Mary and Miss Kirribilli. Both have drawn wide but they’re on the way up.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR WAGGA

RACE 1

Good race to start the day. London Gal goes well fresh and defeated Shelby Sixtysix in a Class 3 Highway at Randwick late last year and 1000m looks to be her sweet spot and she has the inside gate to help. Circularity should also get the favours from the gate and dropping back from 1200m in three weeks looks to suit him. Devine Miss hasn’t done much wrong to date and has got the right draw also to the fancied runners should all be getting their chances which make them hard to upset. Blushing Mary has drawn out but she’s used to that and has won twice here from double figure gates so even she’s not out of it off a comfortable barrier trial.

Bet: Blushing Mary each way

RACE 2

Smokin’ Cod would’ve won with ease on debut had she started better. She might be forced to go back again though from the wide gate. She was flashing home over 1000m here two weeks ago and look to appreciate this rise in trip. Kappy’s Angel blitzed them in a barrier trial but it was against only unraced horses so it’s hard to get a good gauge on it but he did it comfortably. Greek Tycoon does have race experience and was flashing late at Albury first-up and hasn’t drawn the carpark this time.

Bet: Smokin’ Cod to win

RACE 3

Our Last Cash hammered them last start and while going up in grade is tough, it’s made easier when you win by four lengths the start before. He should be getting back and rattling home again. Miss Kirribilli appeared to win on debut with a bit in hand as the jockey just niggled him along to the line. The draw is an issue though. Verbek’s only had success at this track and it might be the key to him again stepping down in grade. Mooshaka gets a better chance to win now from the draw.

Bet: Miss Kirribilli to win

Tommy Berry rides Miss Kirribilli for trainer Tim Donnelly. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 4

Vaaroom has just improved with each run this time in and should be looking to lead this one after doing that last start at Canberra when winning by four lengths as an odds-on pop. Nats Enough looks better placed to win second-up and let down nicely in a recent barrier trial and should sit off them again when getting the gun run. Unique Prince won here first-up last time in and third-up too and he’ll be stalking the speed. Merc drops in grade which gives him a chance and rain wouldn’t hurt his hopes and at $23 he looks way overs.

Bet: Merc each-way

RACE 5

It will be some effort if Sea Treasures can drop back from the 2400m of the ATC Derby to a mile here within five weeks. If anyone can do it, Bjorn Baker can. Jalmari only drops back to a mile from 2000m and that is a proven formula. He does give away so much weight which is the obvious issue. Publicist probably goes forward from the wide gate and if he gives a kick in the straight, he’s a chance. Local horse Manderboss won the Guineas Prelude in top style and it wouldn’t surprise to see him upset the city horses.

Bet: Manderboss to win

RACE 6

Fourmadec hasn’t run a bad race in her career to date. She has been up for a little while now but is a mare in form and only needs to hold her current form to be winning this. Too Much Lippy will appreciate a drier track and a bigger one here and she’s already beaten Gin Martini who went on to place in a Group 1. Milamoo’s wide gate is the problem but she still looks above the odds. Zelady Luck gets the inside gate and she should be able to take advantage of that and lead them into the straight under Tim Clark.

Bet: Fourmadec to win

Fourmadec (inside) is coming off a third to Mr Hussill and can win the Queen Of The South. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7

Numerian is also a chance of running in the Gosford Cup on Saturday but if he runs here at $9.50 that’s top value but does give away 6kg to most of the field. Ain’tnodeeldun was only beaten by Grandslam. Look for Roman to be coming at them late at odds. Jo Pride is a master at winning with horses on the quick back up and Brutality finally gets off a bog track and his effort last Saturday in the Hawkesbury Cup was very good. Aleas is so well placed here at the weights and put the writing on the wall last start. He’s only third-up and drops 2kg in weight off the last run and gets all the favours from gate three. Stablemate Irish Sequel beat him last time and can’t be discounted either.

Bet: Aleas to win

RACE 8

Fangela was beaten only by Milamoo last time and it runs in a stronger race here. Fangela should’ve won last start easily however after getting help up for a long time in the straight. Distillate bolted in last start from a cushy gate but has to do it from the carpark but has the speed to get across. Halo Warrior looks to take a sit and swamp them late while Gusonic will find this easier.

Bet: Fangela to win

Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Wagga, Armidale