Race-by-race preview and tips for Thursday meeting at Wagga Wagga

Track Soft 5 and rail True

Race 1

2. Buckeye, a Randwick-based colt by Zousain, can claim a very competitive battle for the two-year-olds third-up in his first full prep. Hit the line to miss narrowly when fresh at Scone in heavy ground before failing to run home in a deeper provincial race. Much better suited here, drawn to get to the outside of runners, and any rain is a bonus. 5. Wonderful Mistake has to get across from a wide barrier, but is primed after twice finishing a half-length from the winner at Canberra, the latest 13 days ago as a well-backed favourite. 1. Deekaygeebee is a lightly raced Victorian and over the odds after scoring a smart win here 18 days ago.
How to play it: Buckeye to win

Wagga Wagga hosts an eight-race card on Thursday.Credit: Getty Images

Race 2

3. Riverbend Unicorn is an honest and improving local four-year-old who represents outstanding value, resuming off a four-month spell in a tricky race. Has placed five times from seven starts, draws to get a soft run inside, and fitted to run this trip out off a solid 1000m trial on the Riverside track. 5. Doc March is also trained here, and a natural improver after rushing home late to beat all bar the winner second-up, but still shapes under the odds jumping from a wide gate. 1. Dita Von is also trained on the track and hasn’t missed a place in four consecutive runs, chasing home a smart one at Albury a week ago, but is also drawn wide. 9. Hot Toddy is desperate for this longer trip third-up. 11. Deebaa at her third start, and 16. Cinephile deep into the prep; can both add plenty of value into wider exotics.
How to play it: Riverbend Unicorn to win

Race 3

It doesn’t get any easier here in a wide maiden sprint, with a few key first starters on show. One of them, 4. Explosive Style, a five-year-old mare by Carravaggio, makes the trip over the border and is ready to strike on debut. Careered away to win a trial on the Riverside track here a fortnight ago, and is bred for speed on both sides. 1. Brucedale is a local three-year-old by Shaft on debut in winkers off a handy trial, but draws wide. 3. Der Blaue Reiter is a lightly raced improver, and over the odds second up coming through that same federal maiden in Canberra as one of the better chances in the opening race. 9. Noble Ruby is another genuine each-way chance dropping back from deeper provincial races fourth up. 10. Momentice, down in weight second up, is capable of running into the minor money.
How to play it: Explosive Style to win

Race 4

6. Dubai Warrior is the one to beat, hitting peak fitness fourth up with gear changes from the inside draw and dropping significantly in grade from his past two. Keep safe 8. Jamacri, a Warwick Farm-based mare, which also has claims dropping back sharply in distance fourth up, with blinkers being added, while 15. Qismah a sparingly raced filly, which draws low, can feature in the minor money. 1. Lucky Bay second up is the best of the rest.
How to play it: Dubai Warrior to win.

Race 5

8. Group Chat is a progressive and lightly raced mare shooting for back-to-back wins at only her third start. Failed to hit the line on debut at Albury when soft in betting, but was impressive sweeping home to claim a handy maiden here 18 days ago. Gets a nice 2.5kg weight drop for this rise in class, and a leading country jockey makes the trip south to ride. 6. Wexford Miss is a rival Goulburn mare that finds the right race third up. Worked home OK from the back when resuming in class 1 company before only fair in deeper company 23 days ago. Less depth here, and the more rain that falls in the lead-up the better placed she is. Progressive 2. Xceptional Fella is in the hunt well into his prep from a middle draw. Disappointing three runs back before finding his best when ridden quieter in a class 2 at Canberra, then running home OK from well back in similar company a fortnight ago. Home tracker 3. Kirk is a big market watch, resuming off a quiet trial for the new local stable since transferring from Victoria. Watch the betting on 1. Ceremonious, resuming for the new Canberra stable after tackling BM78 company when based in Queensland last prep for the Chris Waller yard. 9. Sweet Paree, which likes to settle back and hit the line, is next best.
How to play it: Group Chat to win

Race 6

4. Burgundy Girl, a dominant and tough winner here in this grade two starts back, represents the best value in an open race. Did her best work late in the deeper Murrumbidgee Cup last start, and is yearning to get back out to this longer trip. 6. Sacred Mistress is an ultra-progressive and rival Canberra mare who has won her last five in a row. That said, she took care of some very ordinary fields before proving too strong in a good quality BM 58 18 days ago. Takes another step up here, but from a tricky draw, must be under the odds. 2. Extravagant Choice continues to build a solid record, winning two of his last three, and while this is tougher he’s hard fit and a reliable weight carrier.
How to play it: Burgundy Girl to win

Race 7

6. Compelling Truth is an imposing and high-class on-speed sprinter that won a stack of races in dominant fashion last campaign. Headed north and hasn’t been out of the money in three runs at Eagle Farm this prep up to BM90 level, including a last-start win over 1200m, although hasn’t quite reproduced those dominant early and mid-race sectionals. Looks well treated at the weights here and primed to find his best back in NSW. Boasts a near 50 per cent winning strike rate from 21 starts. 3. The Instructor made it two straight, digging in hard to claim the listed Hareeba Stakes at Mornington 12 days ago. Has tactical speed, but a big task to hold this lot off on a track with a much longer run home. 2. Felix Majestic is a talented sprinter that has been freshened up since a gallant closing run in group 3 company at Rosehill. Normally takes a run to his straps when on the fresher side, but too good to dismiss in this company. 14. Ticklebelly is each-way value well into the prep after boxing on OK in the Country Championship Final at Randwick. 7. Breeze Easy, resuming off a long break via a dominant trial win, is a market watch at bigger odds.
How to play it: Compelling Truth to win.

Race 8

9. Mega Flight is an underrated provincial-based four-year-old peaking fourth-up in the closer over a furlong further. Hit the line late in a handy BM66 11 days ago, and reportedly has trained on well since. 7. Dark Vador has been consistently in and around the money this prep across tougher races, and drawn to get a trail and be right in the finish. So too 8. Exceedingly Hot who won a weaker race here three starts back, and has been in the money in two starts since around this level. Drawn to either lead or sit right behind the speed. 3. Persian Dancer is over the odds peaking third-up at the mile. Similar story with home tracker 2. Nats Enough who has run home well in two runs this prep up to BM 82 level.
How to play it: Mega Flight to win

Best bets

Race 3: (4) Explosive Style
Race 7: (6) Compelling Truth

Best value

Race 2: (3) Riverbend Unicorn

Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au