Australian Racing – Thursday 26 August 2021 – Wagga

Race 5

There are two unraced runners in the field, so as is always the case in these types of races, a keen eye should be kept on the betting markets to get some indication as to whether the connection believe that they can win first time out. Any betting support for a runner or runners should be respected. Of the raced runners, two 3yr old fillies could fight out the finish to the race and complete the exacta, but the slight preference goes to FLYING SQUAD who has shown solid form in her three outings to date, and although fifth in her last start over 1100M, she was just two and a half lengths behind the winner. She jumped awkwardly that day and overraced in the early stages before having to be steadied off the heels of other runners at the 800M mark, so did well to finish as close to the victor as she did. She will have to negotiate draw nine, but she likes to race up with the pace, so should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.

WHENITRAINSITPOURS is drawn one outside the top choice and battled all the way down to the wire when finishing second on debut over this c&d, 2.3L back from the winner. She would have learnt from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected, she should be right up there when they hit the line.

GIDDY UP GIDLEIGH made good late progress when ending up in third place first time out, just under a half-length behind the winner, suggesting that the extra ground on offer here will be to his liking. He gets gate eight and should be involved in the finish.

Race 6

As with the case of the first leg of the Jackpot, there are unraced entrants in this race as well, so keep a tab on the betting. However, if no support comes for any of the three debutants and with the late scratching of one of his main rivals, the door may have opened for YOU ARE KING to chalk up his maiden victory. He finished second on debut over today’s trip, two lengths behind the winner, but he would have come on with the run under his belt and from a handy draw four, he looks to be the one to side with here.

BLACKALL drops in trip after finishing sixth last time out over a mile, just over four and a half lengths back from the winner, despite being bumped at the start. He returns from a 12-week rest but did finish second in his only barrier trial to showcase his well-being. He has a wideish gate nine, but he should keep the top pick honest.

AIDENABET finished strongly despite hanging in over the latter stages to end up in fourth spot last time out over seven furlongs, 0.8L adrift of the victor. He returns from an even longer 20-week break, but he too finished second in his only barrier trial to prove his fitness. He faces a wide draw fourteen, but he should be doing his best work late.

Race 7

Today’s best bet, LADY BROOK is a 5yr old mare taking on the boys, but she has won two of her last three runs, the latest over five furlongs at this track. She went from jump to wire for a dead-head victory that day when returning from a 24-week break. She jumps from a cosy gate five and may well prove to be too good for the males.

JAWWAAL missed out on his hat-trick when finishing second in his latest outing over 1100M, 1.8L off the winner, this after winning his penultimate start over the c&d by 2.8L. He gets gate two and returns from a 48-week absence but did finish second in his only barrier trial. The fact that his connections have brought him back into racing after such a lengthy absence would seem to suggest that they believe that he still has something more to offer them.

ANOTHER ONE followed up his penultimate run victory over seven furlongs with a second-place finish next time out over the same trip, just a half-length behind the winner and the form of that race has been franked. The colt is drawn one outside the latter and has his first run since a 19-week absence, but did post a second-place finish in his only barrier trial.

Race 8

CLAPTONE goes for his hat-trick after wins over 1100M and the latest over this trip by 2.8L. He jumped awkwardly that day but recovered well to hit the front as the field entered the home straight and then fought off all the chasing pack in the dash down to the wire. He faces a wide gate twelve, but he is a speedy sort who should be able to get across without using up too much gas and as such, he is taken to be the value bet on the day’s program.

HARDY has only had the two runs to date, winning first time out over 1300M at this venue and was then being outrun very late when finishing third next tie out over six furlongs, one length behind the winner. He was returning from an 18-week absence that day and from a kinder gate six, he should be right up there in the firing line.

CANZONET has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three runs, the latest when second over six furlongs, just a head back from the winner. He jumps from gate four and will be hoping to go one better today.