Wagga preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, April 13, 2025
Former jockey and now trainer, Danny Beasley, is hoping his talented yet temperamental filly Jato puts her best foot forward when she resumes.
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The world wide audience for another epic running of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick included a man who played a starring role in one of the great upsets of the annual autumn showpiece.
Danny Beasley, then a jockey, now a trainer, was a villain for most in the 2004 rendition when Grand Armee spoiled Lonhro’s farewell performance and sunk one punter’s $5 million win bet on the Ingham champ.
While for many, Lonhro’s loss was an Ajax-like upset, not so for Beasley who piloted the Alan Bell-owned galloper to seven of his 13 wins.
“They only met three times and Grand Armee got Lonhro twice,” Beasley said.
“He holds a special place in my heart.
Superstar Lonhro started a $1.26 favourite in his final career start, the 2004 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
— Nick Quinn (@Quinny_1) April 10, 2019
The Gai Waterhouse trained Grand Armee spoiled the farewell party with a terrific front running ride from Danny Beasley.
What a magical call by Ian Craig. pic.twitter.com/LLrQ2Iq8Ra
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!
“I have got a beautiful photo of the big fella the day he beat Lonhro in the Queen Elizabeth so I get reminded every time I walk past it in the hallway.”
Beasley will combine with another champion of the turf at Wagga when he hands jockey Louise Day the family colours of the iconic Neville Begg.
Begg’s own post Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day marks the return to racing of his exciting three-year-old filly Jato who resumes in the Queen of The South Prelude (1300m).
Jato was first seen, and as it turned out last seen, winning a 1200m Maiden at Wagga November 1 last year.
“She is quite a difficult filly, temperament wise,” Beasley explained.
“She had a very long preparation to get her to the races and once she got to the races and did the job, we gave her a break but unfortunately, she hurt herself in the paddock, she cut her leg.
“Then when she came me back, she was going really well and I took her to the jumpouts about six weeks ago but she misbehaved and did a few things wrong so it has taken a while to straighten her out and get her back where her behaviour is good enough to go to the races.
“There is no doubting her ability.
“I’ll be holding my breath when she is going into the barriers, albeit we have done a lot of work with her at home and think that we have her right.
It's a winning debut for Jato at Wagga! ðŸ‘@DanBeasley111pic.twitter.com/KfgVck1Kw0
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 1, 2024
“She’s by Starcraft out of a Zabeel mare so she’s got plenty of hotness bred into her and when she decides to turn it on, she can really turn it on.
“The main thing is, she’s extremely fit, I’m not worried about 1300m or the quality of the race, I think she can tick both boxes. It will just be about her behaviour.”
Beasley’s other runner at Wagga is his own, Gerry Harvey-bred, Majestic Roca, who was one of many run off their legs in a 56.41 seconds 1000m at the same venue on debut at the end of March.
“I think it will be an improved showing but it is probably still a bit short of his ultimate distance,” Beasley said.
“He’ll definitely get out to a mile, maybe even 2000m one day.
“He has been a big, raw, very immature horse that has taken a long time to learn his craft and he is still learning but at 1200m, he will be allowed to travel and finish off quite nicely.”
SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS
BEST BET
Race 8 No. 4: The Predictor
In great form and loves it here at Wagga. Go well again.
NEXT BEST
Race 2 No. 12: Dita Von
Runner-up at her last two, both were at this same track and trip.
VALUE BET
Race 4 No. 2: Dupli Kate
Was so dominant winning last start. Blaike McDougall sticks.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 7, 11
Race 6: 1, 5, 7
Race 7: 2, 12
Race 8: 4
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Blaike McDougall is a big player in the TAB Jockeys Challenge
INSIDE MAIL - WAGGA
Cashbrook was a $28,000 Classic Yearling purchase by Flying Artie out of a Canterbury winning Snitzel mare. The Todd Smart-trained gelding looked the part when winning a March 26 trial in Canberra by almost four lengths. Speaking of good trials and big margins, local My Inspiration won her March 10 heat on the Riverside by six. Great pedigree behind her. Deekaygeebee has good race experience.
Bet: Cashbrook to win, quinella 2, 11; box trifecta 2, 3, 7, 11
Dita Von has had the last two of her three starts under the care of Michael Travers. Both of those were here at home at Wagga and over 1200m, which sets her up well for the win here. In The Nic Of Time handed in an encouraging debut when a distant second in a 1000m Maiden here on March 30. The extra 200m (and good draw) work in his favour. Majestic Roca is an improver.
Bet: Dita Von to win, exacta 12 to beat 5
It's an all the way victory for Hollerloud getting the cash for David O'Prey! 👠pic.twitter.com/dBaVTpGkIU
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 30, 2025
Lunar Mojo has raced four times for two seconds, one fourth and one fifth. His last start was his visit to Wagga. He led but was passed late to clock in two lengths third. That was 1200m, so coming back to 1000m seems both logical and suitable. Bonnyville remains winless after 12 starts but the Yass resident has placed five times. Been here three times, finished runner-up at one of them, Desert Boots has the form, seems like he’s plenty forward enough too.
Bet: Lunar Mojo to win
Dupli Kate is a Norm Gardner-bred and trained daughter of his former handy mare Atom Eve. This three-year-old has raced 10 times, she’s won three and run third three times. She just could not have been any more impressive when she won as recently as last Sunday Gundagai. Granted, this is harder but she’s run in some strong races herself. Michael Travers has some really nice horses in his stable right now. Pussyfoot is one; gosh she won well here first-up.
Bet: Dupli Kate to win, Pussyfoot each-way; quinella 2, 9
Dupli Kate wins and wins well at Gundagai! @BlaikeMcDougallpic.twitter.com/UXQEhlwNBM
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 6, 2025
Jato was purchased by the iconic Neville Begg at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling sale for $25,000 in 2022. A daughter of Starcraft, his dam is by Zabeel and was runner-up in a Wakeful. Jato was set aside after leading throughout to win a 1200m Maiden here (beating So Magnificent) on November 1. Nice prospect. Speaking of nice prospects, Remadosi is a Reliable Man on an upward spiral.
Bet: Jato to win; quinella 7, 11
Helluva Soiree was scratched from Friday’s Orange Cup to contest the feature Kooringal Cup. The Luke Pepper-trained mare has won three of her last four and was unlucky in the Canberra Cup Preview at her ‘losing’ run. This is harder than her March 13 win here but she won it very easily beating Associate et al. Cliff House is far and away the best horse in the race but he’ll have to carry 61kg to win. That said, he’s a big horse. Pioneer Lass doesn’t win out of turn but is frequently unlucky.
Bet: Helluva Soiree each-way, Daily Double 1st Leg 7, 2nd leg 4
Helluva Soiree powers home to win Race 2 at Wagga! pic.twitter.com/f1pYBoQ3DF
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 13, 2025
Iron Will has raced 19 times for six wins and three seconds and has a lot of city form behind the likes of Derry Grove, Rantan Yiska, Mogo Magic and Accredited no less. The two stats that stand out like a lighthouse are that he has won three from four first-up and he is one for one at Wagga. If, as most are, this is a fast run 1200m, something could charge home over the top late. If that happens, the most likely candidate is Keikoko. Arthur The Great has handed in some huge runs here at Wagga.
Bet: Iron Will to win
The Predictor is a well-named son of Nostradamus. He’s well-bred too given his dam is an Encosta de Lago half-sister to Bel Esprit. Trained at Queanbeyan by Jenny Hoy, The Predictor has been in great form this time in; in fact he is ‘212’ coming into this and what’s more, the win was here at Wagga, a track which plays to his pattern. Scared Mistress made it four wins in-a-row last start - and how - winning by eight lengths. Drawn 5 here. Sorry Sunshine has won twice at Wagga and sent out some encouraging signs at Albury last start.
Bet: The Predictor to win
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