Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Thursday's racing coming your way from Wagga on 2 May 2024.
Best Bet: DUPED BY SPIN (Race 8)
Value Bet: FIFI BLUE (Race 5)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
9 | 3 | 11 | 7 |
6 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
2 | 2 | 1 |
|
Cost: R54.00
Race 5
FIFI BLUE is a 4-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she is seldom far off the action and has finished second in four of her last five starts, the latest over ten furlongs, one and a half lengths back from the winner, but she had to check at the 400M mark that day, before finishing off her race powerfully. She is drawn in gate five and will have 2kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice and will be hoping to go one better here. As such, she is made the value bet on the day’s card.
BRINGBACKTHEBEARS has consistent formlines to his name and followed up his penultimate run victory over nine furlongs with a third-place finish next time out over a mile, just a length back from the winner, but he did race two wide the whole way that day. He is drawn wide in gate thirteen, but he should be doing his best work late.
VERBEK raced just behind the frontrunners and stayed on well to finish eighth last time out over ten furlongs, three and a half lengths back from the victor, but his jockey put up 1kg overweight that day. The gelding faces a wider gate fourteen, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
Race 6
BIG OPINION goes for his hat-trick after victories over five furlongs and the latest over 1300M, albeit by just a short-head. He raced three wide in that event and shifted out at the 150m mark, with the resultant objection that was lodged for that movement being overruled and the original result was allowed to stand. The gelding has a wideish draw eight, but he will be having his peak run after returning from a 20-week break.
STURN WORDS showed solid improvement to win his last start over six furlongs by a length. He raced just behind the pace and had to be held up approaching the home turn, but he struck the front at the 100M pole to win going away. The gelding will be having his peak run after returning from an 18-week spell and will have to negotiate a wide draw twelve, but he is a speedy sort who should be able to work his way across without using up too much gas.
FERRARI MAN is drawn one outside the latter, but he has finished second in his last two outings, the latest over six furlongs, beaten just a length, when returning from a 17-week absence. He made good late progress in that event, suggesting that the extra ground on offer here would be to his liking.
Race 7
ASGARDA is a 4-year-old filly taking on males, but she had her consistency rewarded with a 1.3L victory last time out over seven furlongs and that was at a stronger centre. She kicked clear of the opposition at the 250M mark and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. From her handy draw four, she looks to be the one to side with here.
GRAVINA had to be held up at the 50M mark when ending up in eighth spot last time out over seven furlongs, 4.3L off the winner. He returns here from a 19-week absence without having had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust and he has his first run for his new trainer, but if fully settled into his new surroundings, he should give a good account of himself here and the engaging of top jockey Tommy Berry catches the eye.
ROCKETING BY finished eighth on his latest outing over six furlongs, 3.8L behind the winner, but he was bumped at the start on that occasion and had to be eased at the 800M mark, so he had his excuses. The gelding will have to deal with a wide gate nine, but nevertheless, he should not be lightly dismissed.
Race 8
The day’s best bet, DUPED BY SPIN is a 4-year-old filly taking on boys, but she won over 1500M three runs back, finished twelfth in her penultimate start over a mile and then fourth in her latest outing over the same journey, 4.3L behind the winner, but that was at a stronger centre. She will have to overcome a wide draw twelve, but given her style of racing, she is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the front runners over the latter part of the race.
FOX APPEAL on the other hand has cracked pole position and has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when fourth over 1500M, 2.2L behind the winner, but he was slow away in that event, but ran on strongly over the closing stages. On that effort, he could emerge as the biggest threat to the top pick.
COUNTY KILKENNY put his disappointing penultimate start over seven furlongs behind him when winning by a short-head in the shadow of the post next time out over a mile. The gelding raced three wide without cover in that contest, but still managed to finish well. From gate five, he should be involved in the finish.
