Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Wagga, Kembla

Form analyst Matt Jones is keen on a Robert and Luke-trained daughter of All Too Hard to break through at Wagga.

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WAGGA WAGGA

BEST BET

Race 2, No. 6: GRAND PALAZZO

She didn’t step away well last start which left her with too much to do so she had a big excuse. If she jumps well this time, she should be very hard to beat.

NEXT BEST

Race 7, No. 3: SOUTHERN LAD

I know a lot of you may have sacked him but I’m going to give him another chance in the bush after so many near misses is stronger races.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 2, 6, 7, 8

Race 6: 5, 10, 11, 16

Race 7: 1, 2, 3, 9, 17

Race 8: 2, 6, 7

Nash Rawiller looks hard to beat in the Jockey’s Challenge with a number of top rides at Wagga on Friday. Photo: Mark Evans/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Nash Rawiller has a stack of good rides as expected and Go Troppo, Black Wand, Handle The Truth and The Stager.

KEMBLA GRANGE

BEST BET

Race 4, No. 1: PAPADUM

The Hinchinbrook three-year-old ran fourth at this track on debut but should’ve been in the finish after not getting the clearest of runs in the straight.

TRAINER TO WATCH

The team of Robert and Luke Price can have big days at Wagga Wagga and Kembla Grange with Grand Palazzo, Auburn Boy and Verbek no matter which track they run at.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR WAGGA

RACE 1

Nephradiva went a bit like her sire Winning Rupert used to and blew them away with her speed to win by four lengths at Albury on debut. She does go straight up to 1200m off that 900m win which will make her fans slightly nervous but she gets the favours to lead from barrier one. Impact Star didn’t win as impressive at Port Macquarie but does look to run out the 1200m and the same can be said for Mortal Witness off a strong win at this track last time. Verbek, if he runs here, will have the last crack at them.

Bet: Nephradiva to win

RACE 2

Grand Palazzo missed the kick last start and had to settle in last before running on to within a length off the winner at Kembla Grange and she gets Tommy Berry on now from a good gate so this is her chance to win. Berenib also made up ground in Victoria last start and has to take on the older horses here without a great weight relief. Tears Of Effort peaks not third-up and gets the charmed run behind the speed or may even want to lead and give them something to chase. Either way he’s a hope.

Bet: Grand Palazzo to win

Tommy Berry will partner Grand Palazzo for Robert and Luke Price. Photo: Grant GuySource:The Daily Telegraph

RACE 3

Kermatin was a slightly surprising winner but a good one over a mile here last start and beat a handy enough horse in the process so the win was no fluke and she’s got a nice style about her and was the winner a long way out last start. Go Troppo won in similar fashion at Goulburn last start and is well into his prep but ready to run somewhere near or at his best again. Boadelle won at very short odds in Victoria at her second start and she can be a touch closer over a mile but will still sit off the speed. Battenburg won first-up off a nearly two-year break after almost winning a Group 1 as a three-year-old.

Bet: Kermatin each way

RACE 4

Smuggler’s Bay looks to have the gate speed to get into a good spot from his barrier so he can take bad luck out of the equation in the big field. Mick’s Mate did it easy in a lead up trial so we’ll find out what’s under the bonnet on Thursday. A wide gate isn’t what a first starter needs though. She’ll Be Apples ran within a length of a horse that qualified for the Country Championships Final last time in while Last War won a trial at Randwick but may not run due to the wide gate.

Bet: Mick’s Mate to win

Blaike McDougall rides debutant Mick’s Mate for trainer Keith Dryden. Photo: David Thorpe/Racing Photos via Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

RACE 5

Shenandoah is set to start favourite after showing consistent form but his trainer Keith Dryden, along with his connections, would be getting a bit impatient with his inability to get the job done. He’ll need luck early from the gate but is in the right race. Tocatchacod has been a tough one to catch in his 26 starts and sucks punters in because they know he’s talented enough to win races when things go his way. This Skilled Cat has got gate one which might be against him because he gets back, but if he gets the gaps he’ll finish over the top of most of these.

Bet: This Skilled Cat to win

RACE 6

Himiko was a solid winner last start and is very fit and will need to lift again to win this race. She likes to lead which is always hard to do over 2000m but she’s got the light weight. Aperol Sprint finds a winnable race now after two runs in town at the midweeks in Sydney including a fifth behind eventual Stakes winner and Group 1 runner-up Duais. Call Me Artie comes out of a very good Group 3 race and prior to that he was a very good winner at this track and in this grade. If he brings that run he’s going to be very hard to hold out.

Bet: Call Me Artie to win

Southern Lad can find winning form in the Wagga Town Plate. Photo: Jenny Evans/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

RACE 7

What a great Town Plate. Lord Von Costa has to be over the odds here. He nearly won this race a few years back but was beaten by a horse called Santa Ana Lane. He’ll appreciate this track more than Caulfield as well and any rain is a big help. Marway will look to do what he did last start from a wide gate and cross and lead them after doing it twice in his past three runs in town. Southern Lad rarely runs a bad race but rarely wins. He’s likely to pop up and win this if he gets the luck. Handle The Truth can’t be dismissed as Nash Rawiller gets back on after a luckless run in Sydney.

Bet: Quinella 3, 9

RACE 8

Kibosh will push forward from her wide gate and will try and lead all the way at her first go at 1400m off a solid win at 1200m second-up. She’s read for the trip but her backers will probably have their hearts in their mouths late. The Stager will run this out while Pontmain is an interesting runner. He’s had a little more than two years off and is a seven-year-old having his third start after winning and running second over 1600m and 1800m. That last run was a Class 3 Highway. Zachariah ran second to an in-form horse and he gets the perfect run.

Bet: Zachariah to win

Originally published asWagga, Kembla tips: Price’s have Grand design on victory

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