Wagga preview: Tips, best bets and inside mail

Gary Colvin has some red-hot chances at Wagga and a barrier trial after the races for Kosciuszko hopeful Another One can top off his day.

Tom Sherry on Another One after winning a TAB Highway last December. Picture: Getty Images

Gary Colvin could easily train a few winners on Sunday’s Wagga card but it is what happens after the races that is most important to him for the spring.

Reason being is Colvin’s Country Championship runner-up Another One will take part in a barrier trial after the last on his way to a possible, nay likely, tilt at the $1.3m Kosciuszko at Randwick on October 19.

“He’s come back as good as gold,” Colvin said.

“He’s big and he has matured. You have got to remember he was only a three-year-old when he ran second in the Championships and he was a bit of an immature horse then so he has come on really well now.

“I thought of going to Sydney on the 21st but there is an Open Handicap at Wagga so if it is going to be a hassle, he might even start at Wagga, I don’t know yet.’’

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Given his form and talent, Another One is almost guaranteed to tempt a lucky Kosciuskzo ticket holder, not to mention punters at the $15 TAB fixed odds quote.

“Art Cadeau is second favourite for the Kosciuskzo and I thought if we had a decent run in the Championship Final we could have beaten him,’’ Colvin says.

So far as more immediate matters are concerned, Colvin saddles-up numerous red-hot chances at Wagga led perhaps by Carnival Miss.

The daughter of former Riverina stalwart stallion, Zariz, turned in a fast finish fourth on a bog track at Narrandera on July 18.

“She didn’t handle it all at Narrandera,’’ Colvin said

“It is a very tricky track and I think she will be more suited at Wagga for sure.

“She’s had two runs back from a spell now and while the track will be wet on Sunday, it won’t be too bad. I reckon she can handle a slow track all right.’’

Colvin is forecasting a better outcome too for Carnival Miss’s stablemate and race rival Victory Idol in the Anthony Malone Handicap over 1200m after her luckless sixth at Narrandera on the same day.

“I think she has been getting away with too much so I have got a senior jockey on her on Sunday so we’ll see how she goes,’’ Colvin said.

“She has got a win in her in, but I am losing excuses for her.’’

Colvin meanwhile is rightfully bullish about the winning prospects of the lightly-raced Nic’s Hero whose only two wins so far have both been at Wagga.

The son of Kaphero should have finished closer when he too headed to Narrandera at his most recent start, taken back from his outside draw only to charge home and finish third in a deep Class 2.

“His mother was a pretty handy galloper and there aren’t a lot of Kaphero’s around but they do handle the wet.

“I think he is Highway class, he needs to have a crack at one, that’s what the races are for,’’ said Colvin.

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 1 No.3: LA VALKYRIE

Too good to be a maiden after 13 starts; the daughter of Bianconi can prove it today given how she well ran at Forbes a week back.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No.4: MESCAMINTO

Has raced five times for two wins and two seconds. Last start winner by almost five lengths too, and could easily keep progressing from here.

VALUE BET

Race 6 No.8: NEWTOWN BRAVEHEART

Exciting galloper who could/should maybe go into as a winner of his only three starts. Surely bound for better things in time.

QUADDIE

Race 3: 3,6,7

Race 4: 1,5,14

Race 5: 3,4

Race 6: 5,8

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Handy apprentice Hannah Williams has the rides today to give the TAB Jockeys Challenge a real shake.

INSIDE MAIL: WAGGA

RACE 1

La Valkyrie is a sister to Norm Gardner’s nine-time winner Le Cavalier who was famous for his big finish in his races. This daughter of Bianconi is somewhat similar in pattern which probably explains why she is still a maiden after 13 starts. That is to say, she is a more than capable type but she just needs it run to suit so she can let rip late. If You Say So is another one who comes on strongly late in his races. Getting close himself to a breakthrough win. Uno Zoom completes out trio of barnstormers and is on an upward trajectory.

Bet: La Valkyrie win, exacta 3 to beat 6.

RACE 2

Mescaminto is a daughter of Chris Waller’s Doncaster Mile winner and now Darley resident sire, Kermadec. The Wangaratta-trained mare has barely put a foot wrong in her career; five starts for two wins, two seconds and a fourth at Sandown is a most compelling CV. Looks the one here off that near five-length win last time to the races. Boogie Woogie has raced 44 times for seven wins and a dozen placings. The son of Reset is certainly in form in light of his own commanding win at Corowa last time. Packer’s Bound’s style is suited to Wagga and it shows up perfectly in his record here.

Bet: Mescaminto win, exacta 4 to beat 2, trifecta 4 (standout) to beat 2/7/9 (boxed).

RACE 3

Lady Brook is a gem. The Phil Sweeney-trained mare has raced 11 times for four wins and four placings. This is her pet trip and she has won at Wagga but, better still, she has at times been very competitive in town in Melbourne. Ah, but the most important thing to note is that she is unbeaten in her two first-up outings. Gate one and Jeff Penza – tick, tick. Halo Warrior is another handy type; this one from the prolific Donna Scott stable at Albury. Halo Warrior is first-up as well bearing in mind that he has won two of four fresh missions. Nevada Dane is the one capable of running the fastest splits. Looks on paper that he will get this one run to suit. First Seal’s brother, Seventh Seal, is an obvious player.

Bet: Lady Brook win, quinella 3,7.

RACE 4

Carnival Miss is a Gary Colvin trained daughter of the once revered Riverina stallion Zariz who will be remembered as one of the best bread and better sires of his time. Carnival Miss has raced seven times for just the one placing but she is better than that. Has been hampered by very, very wet tracks and some bad luck at times so best to ignore her form. Huge interest here in the first starter, Whenitrainsitpours, from the always astute Tim Donnelly stable. This daughter of noted mudlark Your Song has trialled infinitely better than what the guide would suggest. Market watch advised. Barinzies had trialled up well before his debut and ran accordingly on the day. Can keep progressing from here.

Bet: Carnival Miss win, Whenitrainsitpours each-way.

RACE 5

Emma’s Gift is a stablemate of Kosciuszko winner Handle The Truth trained in Canberra by Keith Dryden who also bred and part owners the mare. Emma’s Gift has done a good job in her 10 starts to day with a win and four placings. Take note that three of those minors were seconds. Drawn out a touch but gets her big chance to win another one today. Black Lavender is another of the Donna Scott string up from Albury this afternoon. The daughter of John O’Shea’s Primus is clearly on an upward spiral given that she was able to break her maiden at only her second start (recently). Samindi is a half to Victorem and didn’t take long to produce his best one he got to Joe Cleary HQ. Can go on with it.

Bet: Emma’s Gift win, box trifecta 2,3,4,6.

RACE 6

Newtown Braveheart is probably unlucky not to have been unbeaten in his three starts at his first preparation but regardless, there can be no doubting that he is a very promising and talented racehorse. Trained by Emma and Lucy Longmire, the son of Knight’s Exemplar is part-owned by popular race caller Mitch Manners who could rightfully expect to see his chestnut in a Highway at some stage – maybe even a Country Championships Final. Time will tell, but look out for him to be finishing off hard (again). That said, the presence of Nic’s Hero makes it no slam dunk for Newtown Braveheart. Nic’s Hero won his first two of the current prep then was out of luck there on the slop at Narrandera. Crimson Hoffa loves it here. Away She Goes is a player.

Bet: Newtown Braveheart win, exacta 8 to beat 5, quinella 5,8, box trifecta 2,5,7,8.

Originally published as Wagga preview: Tips, best bets and inside mail