Australian Racing: 5 July 2021 – Wagga

Best Bet: YELDARB (Race 9)

Value Bet: WAR BLUES (Race 7)

Jackpot (race 7 – 10)

Cost: R54.00

Race 7

Two 5yr old mares could fight out the finish to this race and secure the exacta, but the day’s value bet, WAR BLUES is taken to lead the pack home. She showed marked improvement to win her last start over six furlongs by ahead, despite being friendless in the betting markets. She battled all the way down to the wire that day and if showing the same determination here, she could prove difficult to beat. She will have to negotiate draw ten, but she should be doing her best work late.

Although IL PROFESSIONALE is recorded as finishing sixth last time out, she was just over a length behind the winner. She hit the front entering the home straight and was only run out of it very late and the form of that race has been franked. She has a wider draw twelve, but on the plus side, she will have 2kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice.

DELIVERED had finished second in his two runs prior to being a tad disappointing last time out over seven furlongs, ending up 7.8L adrift of the winner. He faces a wide gate thirteen, but he will be looking to bounce back to his better form today.

Race 8

AWAY SHE GOES is a 7yr old mare taking on the boys. She disappointed last time out, but that was on the synthetic track and that effort is best ignored. She was not given the best of rides when finishing 4.7L back in her penultimate outing over seven furlongs and although draw eleven, she will have 3kgs taken off her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice. Given better luck in running today, she looks to be the one to side with here.

NIC’S HERO went from jump to wire to win his maiden race by just over a half length last time out over this c&d when returning from a 23 week break. He will have to overcome a wide draw fourteen, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.

POLYXENA is a 6yr old mare who had finished second and third in her last two outings before ending up in seventh place last time out over 1206M on a synthetic track, just over seven lengths back from the winner. Whilst having a wide draw seventeen, she will have 2kgs taken off her back for the services of her claiming apprentice to aid her cause.

Race 9

YELDARB had his consistency rewarded with a 1.8L victory last time out over 1170M. He kicked clear of the opposition at the 200M mark and the race was over as a contest from that point. He has a handy draw three and will have 3kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice. As such, he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s program.

UP TRUMPZ has finished third in his last two runs, the latest when beaten a neck over six furlongs. He finished strongly that day and despite facing a wideish draw eight, he could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice.

MAD AS ZARIZ followed up his penultimate run victory over 1280M with a second spot finish next time out over seven furlongs, just under a length back from the winner. He showed plenty of toe that day and was only collared very late. From a wide draw twelve, he is likely to attempt similar tactics today and should be involved in the finish.

Race 10

BUDDEROO BLITZ had recorded one second and three third place finishes in his four outings before ending up in fourth spot last time out over 1100M, just over six and a half lengths behind the winner, but the form of that race has stood up well with no less than seven runners out of that contest subsequently winning. He has his first run after a lengthy 33 week absence and has not had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust, but he jumps from gate nine and could nevertheless find his way into the winner’s box today.

MATHRIN is a 3yr old filly taking on males, but she has posted a second and a third-place finish in her last two runs since returning from a 12-week rest, the latest over 1100M, 2.2L off the victor. She stayed on well that day and from her cozy draw three, she should give the boys a good run for their money.

ARCTIC ROVER has only had the one run, but he overraced in the middle stages and understandably had nothing to offer in the closing stages. It should however be noted that three runners from that race have subsequently won. He now returns from a slightly shorter 31-week break and has also not had a barrier trial, but he gets gate four and 2kgs off his back for his claiming apprentice. He should be included in all bets.