Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Wagga on 5 May 2023.
Best Bet: CELESTIAL SPIRIT (Race 6)
Value Bet: ASSOCIATE (Race 5)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
9 | 1 | 12 | 11 |
1 | 4 | 2 | 13 |
5 |
| 3 | 10 |
|
| 8 |
|
|
| 19 |
|
Cost: R90.00
Race 5
ASSOCIATE put his disappointing penultimate start over seven furlongs behind him when winning his maiden race last time out over six furlongs by a length, at the third time of asking. He was returning from an 11-week rest that day and had to weave his way through the traffic in the home straight, so the win was full of merit. The form of that race has also been franked and from gate six, he is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card.
CLEAR CHOICE missed out on his hat-trick after victories over seven furlongs and 1500M when finishing ninth last time out over seven furlongs, just under five lengths behind the winner, but he raced three wide without cover that day and was bumped at the 600M mark. He is drawn one inside the top choice and should be right up there when they hit the line.
LONG TYCOON was returning from a 25-week break when winning his maiden race last time out over seven furlongs, albeit by just a head. He went from jump to wire that day and had to survive an objection laid by the second-place finisher after he shifted outwards at the 75M mark. The gelding is drawn the widest of them all in gate seventeen, but he is likely to attempt similar tactics today.
Race 6
CELESTIAL SPIRIT showed solid improvement to finish third in her latest outing over six furlongs, just one and a half lengths back from the winner, when returning from a 28-week spell. That was at a stronger centre where she raced just behind the leaders before staying on well over the closing stages. She has pulled a handy draw four and is made the day’s best bet.
NOBLE BEAUTY is seldom far off the action, finishing second last time out over six furlongs, 1.3L back from the winner. She has her peak run after returning from a 19-week rest and whilst facing a wide draw ten, she is a speedy sort who should be able to work her way across without using up too much gas.
MISS FABERGE had consistent formlines to her name prior to ending up in sixth place last time out over a mile, 5.7L adrift of the victor, but that was at a stronger centre and she jumped awkwardly and raced three wide after that, so she had her excuses. She has a kinder draw six and should be involved in the finish.
Race 7
This looks to be a tricky race with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested, but the powerful Chris Waller stable could dominate the finish and complete the trifecta. The narrow top pick goes to WICKLOW who overraced and had to be checked off the heels of another runner at the 1100M pole before coming the widest of them all into the home straight. He did however make good late progress over the latter stages, suggesting that the extra ground on offer here will be to his liking. The gelding will have to overcome a wide draw 22, but nevertheless, he could be the one that they all have to beat.
GREAT HOUSE on the other hand has a useful gate four and has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when fourth over ten furlongs, 3.2L behind the winner, but if he has continued down the same path of improvement, he should be right up there when they hit the line. He has his peak run after returning from a 17-week rest.
KUKERACHA stayed on well when ending up in fifth spot last time out over a mile, 3.8L behind the winner and has won a subsequent barrier trial. He has pulled gate six and should not be lightly disregarded in this line-up.
Race 8
Two 3yr old fillies could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but ASGARDA is taken to lead the field home. She has produced two solid last runs, the latest when winning her maiden race over 1100M by putting five lengths between herself and the opposition and the form of that race has been franked. She jumped awkwardly in that event and raced wide throughout and although drawn wide in gate ten, she does have her peak run after returning from a 20-week break and could well be up to the task at hand.
DANCEENUFF followed up her penultimate run victory over five furlongs with a fifth-place finish next time out over the same sprint trip, five lengths back from the winner, but she did race three wide that day. She will have to deal with a wide draw nineteen, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
ALLABOUTROY has only had the two runs to date, finishing third on debut over five furlongs and then showing the expected improvement to win next time out over the same trip by 1.8L. The gelding was returning from a 13-week rest that day and raced three wide without cover, so he clearly has some ability. He jumps from gate seven and should keep the top two fillies honest.
