Best bets and inside mail for Wagga and Taree on Monday, August 26, 2024

A Wagga specialist who wasn’t disgraced in town last time out can get the cash for punters on Monday. Get Shayne O’Cass’s best bets, value picks and quaddie selections for Wagga and Taree.

Gundy Guy dashes clear to win at Canberra in March. Picture: Bradley Photos

A Wagga specialist who wasn’t disgraced in town last time out can get the cash for punters on Monday. Get Shayne O’Cass’s best bets, value picks and quaddie selections for Wagga and Taree.

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WAGGA TIPS

BEST BET
Race 6 No.2 GUNDY GUY
Unbeaten in both starts at Wagga and was creditable in the Highway first-up.

NEXT BEST
Race 3 No.9 ROWDY SHEBANG
Placed two of two at Wagga; inclined to overlook the first-up run on the Acton.

VALUE
Race 2 No.3 MISS MIKKI ISLE
Local mare who trialled rather well here albeit last October. Market the guide.

QUADDIE
Race 4: 1,3,8
Race 5: 6,7
Race 6: 2
Race 7: 5,12

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Nick Heywood is having an incredible season and can keep the tally ticking over on Monday.

WAGGA INSIDE MAIL

RACE 4: Class 1 Plate (1600m)
NEWYORK MISSILE (3) became trainer Gary Colvin’s 400th winner when he won here at Wagga on August 11 in a 1400m Maiden. He steps up to the mile for the first time but that shouldn’t be too much of an issue for the son of Manhattan Rain, least of all given his favourable alley for a very, very in-form jockey. CRAFT (1) blotted the copybook on the Acton last start over 1750m. Back to the 1600m and the turf should see a return to form.
Bet: Newyork Missile to win.

RACE 5: Benchmark 58 (1000m)
DAZE OFF (6) has trialled exceedingly well 11 days prior to his debut here, hence why he was $1.60 favourite on the day. Raced handy and ended up winning by a half-length but he was in truth, a fair bit more decisive than that. XSPIRITOUS (7) has a small but select CV of three starts; one of them was an easy win at Moruya straight after her close third to the above-average Gundy Guy here. Down in class/grade essentially given who she raced against first-up.
Bet: Daze Off to win, exacta 6 to beat 7, Daily Double 1st Leg (6), 2nd Leg (5).

RACE 6: Class 3 Handicap (1200m)
GUNDY GUY (2) – as alluded to above – is a horse with more talent than your average country galloper. The Todd Smart-trained son of Capitalist has won three of his six starts and was second at another. On top of that, he is unbeaten in both starts at Wagga and ran an honourable race in a Highway first-up. YOU’RE ON MUTE (9) has a similarly tidy strike-rate; three wins and two placings from six starts including an outstanding fifth in a Highway to Wilbury and Gallant Star, no less.
Bet: Gundy Guy to win, exacta 2 to beat 9, trifecta 2 (standout) to beat 1,5,9 (boxed).

RACE 7: Benchmark 66 (1400m)
TISZO FAB (5) has been holding his form admirably this campaign, so much so, that he was rewarded for his on-going efforts with that narrow but gritty all the way win at Albury over 1500m on July 8. Had the freshen-up since and starts over again from barrier 5 and with 3kg off. Fiorente son MAKE IT SWEET (12) has two wins, two seconds and a third from just five starts which is reason enough to include this last start Wagga winner. KING DE LUNE (11) is from an astute stable and has won a trial since his Cranbourne ‘failure’.
Bet: Tizso Fan to win.

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TAREE TIPS

BEST BET
Race 5 No.9 TAKING THE MIKKI
Boasts a compelling and impressive set of numbers at the track and the distance as well.

NEXT BEST
Race 2 No.9 PERRI LASS
Been costly and consistent in equal measures. No excuses this time.

VALUE
Race 1 No.7 BILLYBAGO
Colt Prosser-trained colt who sent out some great signs first-up.

TAREE INSIDE MAIL

RACE 3: Maiden Plate (1255m)
TAYLA THE SAILOR (10) doesn’t do himself too many favours, giving away some pretty big headstarts from time to time, but she certainly can finish with a flourish when circumstances allow. You could make a case to argue that she is the ‘best’ horse in this field, just needs things to go her way now. Blue-blooded MARGOT’S BULLSEYE (9) is ‘437’ in her three starts for Noel Mayfield-Smith and frankly the seventh was as good as the two preceding runs. GEOFF AND JENNY (8) is a player.
Bet: Tayla The Sailor to win, exacta 9 to beat 10, box trifecta 2,8,9,10.

RACE 4: Benchmark 58 (1605m)
GOLDEN HONOUR (2) is a Glen Milligan-trained local who has been very good for most, if not all of this campaign. He was an easy winner of a rather solid Benchmark 58 here three runs back. This is way, way down in class on his decent sixth in the Benchmark 86 race here 10-days ago. NO TACKLE (8) beat Golden Honour home when they met at Kempsey. He (No Tackle) is a reliable type. AMALFI AMORE (4) is much better off back in trip after a 2105m at Tuncurry.
Bet: Golden Honour to win, quinella 2.8, Daily Double 1st leg (2), 2nd Leg (1).

RACE 5: Benchmark 66 (1255m)
TAKING THE MIKKI (9) is a Kristen Buchanan-trained gelding who has 26 starts on his CV, seven of them have been here at Taree. For the record, he has won twice and been third two-times. This distance is his absolute sweet spot and other than the draw, there is so much to like. Former Randwick resident SUPREME COMMAND (7) is ‘161’ in his three starts for Taree master Glen Milligan. One of those wins was here; the other one was in a decent Class 1 at Tuncurry.
Bet: Taking The Mikki to win (best bet).

RACE 6: Benchmark 66 (1005m)
BUCK PHARAOH (1) would be a dream horse to own. Neil Godbolt bought him for $30,000 and subsequent to the son of American Pharoah’s first-up third here, his earnings went past $100,000. He’ll carry the huge weight all right but the draw is a worry. MONTE CRUISE (7) is ‘1311’ in four starts for Noel Mayfield-Smith. This is a Benchmark 66 now so it will test her mettle but she does look up to the challenge. TELEGRAPH (8) is the value and the ‘first-up watch’ here.
Bet: Buck Pharoah to win, Telegraph to place.

Originally published as Best bets and inside mail for Wagga and Taree on Monday, August 26, 2024