Wagga, Wyong best bets, inside mail for Thursday, May 1, 2025

Trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton have just one runner on the first day of the Wagga carnival and can make it a winner with Buckeye. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Buckeye can start the day off on a winning note at Wagga. Picture: Bradley Photos

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Adam Sherry provides his best bets and quaddie analysis at Wagga and Wyong on Thursday.

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WAGGA TIPS

BEST BET

Race 1 No.2: BUCKEYE

Just beaten a Scone first-up and not a lot of luck last start.

NEXT BEST

Race 4 No.6: DUBAI WARRIOR

Made ground late at Kembla last start. Drops in grade and gets his chance from the pole.

VALUE BET

Race 5 No.8: GROUP CHAT

Was good winning last start and looks suited stepping up in trip.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 2, 6, 8

Race 6: 2, 3, 4, 6

Race 7: 2, 3, 6, 7, 14

Race 8: 3, 7, 8

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

ASH MORGAN has some nice rides and is a good chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

WAGGA INSIDE MAIL

RACE 5: CLASS 2 SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1400m)

GROUP CHAT (8) was fifth behind One Hard Lady on debut at Albury. Took benefit from the experience with a nice win over 1200m here last start. Got clear at the 250m and extended smartly over the final 100m. Extra trip look ideal. WEXFORD MISS (6) won her maiden over this trip at Kembla last September. Will appreciate a drop in grade from her eighth to Empress Of Japan at Goulburn. XCEPTIONAL FELLA (2) scored a handy win from Ghost Walker before a third to Canadian Ruler, both at Canberra.

BET: GROUP CHAT each-way.

RACE 6: BENCHMARK 66 – HEAT OF THE WAGGA STAYER SERIES (2000m)

EXTRAVAGANT CHOICE (2) is on a quick back-up from a smart win over Devils Daughter over 1800m at Bathurst last Friday. Led all the way at the Sapphire Coast two starts back with close seconds either side. Stablemate FINAL COMMENT (3) is also backing up from a half-length second to Jannik over 1600m at Albury last Thursday. He is a winner over the 2000m and just pipped over 2500m on a heavy track here last October. SACRED MISTRESS (6) is chasing a sixth consecutive win. Goes to 2000m for the first time.

BET: EXTRAVAGANT CHOICE each-way.

RACE 7: WAGGA TOWN PLATE (1200m)

FELIX MAJESTIC (2) ended last campaign with a gutsy short half-head second to Briasa in Group 2 The Hunter over 1300m at Newcastle after leading. Was slow out and made steady ground late when fourth to Eagle Nest first-up over 1100m. Is a second-up winner and will give this a shake. THE INSTRUCTOR (3) scored a big first-up win at The Valley on Mar 22 then was kept fresh to win the Listed Hareeba Stakes at Mornington on Apr 19 both over this trip. COMPELLING TRUTH (6) returns from a Queensland campaign with a win and two placings.

BET: FELIX MAJESTIC each-way.

RACE 8: 4YO+ BENCHMARK 66 SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1600m)

EXCEEDINGLY HOT (8) raced outside the leader when he beat The Predictor over 1400m here on Mar 1. Was off a five-week break when third to the progressive Win The Day at the Sapphire Coast before a second to the smart Villasaurus. DARK VADOR (7) scored a nice win at Port Macquarie before handy placings at Canberra and Newcastle. Battles away when fifth at Eagle Farm before a fourth to Fiftyfivechevy at Newcastle. PERSIAN DANCER (3) was a nice second to Arthur The Great here first-up. Is a winner this track and trip.

BET: EXCEEDINGLY HOT to win.

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WYONG TIPS

BEST BET

Race 7 No.1: JUST FEELIN’ LUCKY

Came from a wide gate to win first-up and can repeat it.

NEXT BEST

Race 5 No.5: NIGHT SKY

Smart win on debut here and can go back-to-back.

WYONG INSIDE MAIL

RACE 5: F&M BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1100m)

NIGHT SKY (5) was very good winning her two recent trials and took that to the races with an impressive win from Lunaite in a Super Maiden over this track and distance. Hard to beat again. Stablemate GLORIOSO (1) came from last at the 400m with a strong run down the outside to finish a half-length third to Oakfield Badger over 1000m here first-up. Raced just behind the speed and battled away when fifth at Caulfield last start. CORDINA (7) won well on debut at Kilmore before a third at Ballarat and a third at Canterbury on Apr 21.

BET: NIGHT SKY to win.

RACE 6: CG&E BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1100m)

UP THE FRONT (3) was badly bumped on jumping and settled well back when fifth to Shall Be here first-up. Is a second-up winner. LIVIN’ THING (4) debuted with a stylish win at Hawkesbury. Resumes for a new stable and trials have been good including a second to Photographics at Randwick on Apr 14. READY TO SHINE (2) ran a nice race first-up when second to Metallic Ruler over 1200m here on a Soft 5. Disappointed when last behind Sizzler on a Good 4 at Kembla. Gets his preferred wet conditions.

BET: UP THE FRONT to win.

RACE 7: BENCHMARK 68 HCP (1350m)

JUST FEELIN’ LUCKY (1) was a close second to One Last Shot at Hawkesbury first-up last preparation before breaking his maiden with a four-length win from Squeezebox at Kembla. Kicked off this campaign with a handy win at Newcastle and can go back-to-back. TITANIUM MISS (2) was third to Money Team on the Provincial-Midway Qualifier at Gosford before a wide when ninth in the Wyong Qualifier. Drops in grade from her last in the Group 3 James Carr at Randwick. WEXFORD MISS (8) can sneak a place.

BET: JUST FEELIN’ LUCKY to win.

RACE 8: CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1600m)

SISU SPIRIT (2) went forward from and outside gate to lead but stayed off the fence in scoring by a length from Tempranillo when resuming over 1500m at Newcastle. Drawn out again but will go close. INCANTATION (10) won nicely first-up at Goulburn before coming from a long way back right down the outside when midfield to Rockbarton Angel at Newcastle. Handy third to Let’s Fly at Kembla last start. TACT (5) and OAKFIELD SATURN (6) have genuine claims.

BET: SISU SPIRIT to win.