The Ladbrokes Bidgee Cup heats highlight a fierce Friday night of chasing at Wagga Wagga and we have a full preview of the 11-race card here:
LADBROKES BEST BET
Race 7 | #2 Lucy’s Chance (Lorraine Roy)
Will be looking to overturn a luckless last outing where she was a little slow out and saw nothing but rump steak in a disappointing seventh-placed finish at the track and trip.
That was in a mixed fourth/fifth grade event though and she did start favourite for the race so the forgive file is out and we think she can bounce back in a pure fifth grade heat of The Wagga 400.
She’s better drawn in Box 2 where she’s had three starts for a win and a placing and her best of 22.92 is the fastest benchmark in the race. Key rivals drawn out in #6 and #7 so she appeals as the best bet of the evening.
Try Catch Up (8) is unbeatable according to the bookies but the short-priced quote currently available looks fair enough considering the recent trial performances. Trainer Peter Sims has openly declared he is back to his best after a four-month lay off and despite being lightly-raced, his exposed form of 29.64 at Wentworth Park and 25.45 at Temora looks well and truly above par. Scorching Boy (4) comes out of last week’s G3 Goulburn Cup Final where he wasn’t disgraced behind Quantifiable (5.5 lengths off her). He did win at the track during the MDC series in a time of 30.10 but has to jump from Box 4 where his record is 5: 0-3-1. Tiggerlong Amy (6) raced at Wagga a few times early on in her career but has been doing her work around Wentworth Park of late. Knows how to run a drum too with four runners-up finishes in her last five starts. Litter brother Tiggerlong Mate (7) would need to improve a few lengths to knock off the favourite.
Tiggerlong Ruby (5) is a litter mate to the two mentioned above and looks the best chance of the three. She might not possess as much early pace as her brother and sister but that should suit her from Box 5 and allow her to really wind up behind the pacesetters. Owns a super track and trip record of 13: 6-3-3, has run 29.97 at the circuit and comes into the series of a last start win for Helen Finn at Wagga. Rampani (7) has also been spruiked during the week and all he needs is some room to move to be a serious threat. Box 7 in a six dog field certainly helps his cause and he will be strong late as well after recently racing well over 600m at Dapto. Loxton Bale (4) is a four-year-old now but is still as honest as the day is long. Enters the Bidgee Cup after two straight wins at Temora and although she hasn’t busted the clock, she will be thereabouts at a decent price. And Cartwright Queen (2) has been racing consistently in the Riverina area and did make the Wagga regional final of the MDC.
Bianca’s Boy (4) has serious wheels for Ray Sims and deserves a crack at higher honours after winning five of his first six starts. His winning times have ranged from 30.03 to 30.67 and considering all his career starts have come at the track, it’s enough to suggest he will be a strong winning hope. Not Wanted (8) is a dog in form with her last five starts producing four wins and a second. A 29.81 winning effort at Wentworth Park last month looks nice on paper but did get rolled by Bianca’s Boy last week to the tune of 2.25 lengths. Gretel Bale (6) comes out of a couple of fifth-grade races at the track so it is certainly a jump up in grade, but she is a 29.76 winner at Sandown. Box 6 record stinks though (9: 1-0-0). Stagger Out Elly (1) is a litter sister to the super stayer Stagger Out Lee, and although she has better early pace, she doesn’t possess the same strength. 525m will be a stretch but Box 1 helps.
The Dogs Tips
4 Bianca’s Boy
8 Not Wanted
6 Gretel Bale
1 Stagger Out Elly
TRAINER IN FOCUS | Ben Talbot
R2 - Cola Lemon Soda (Box 3) – he’s a young dog who is finding form again after a spell midway through the year. He won well off the pink last week and I think if he jumps, he’s a very big chance.
R3 - Tequila Bandit (Box 1) – has drawn her box but in any Cup field, you need a bit of luck early. She went 5.25 to the mark and 17.40 down the back in her last look and I know that’s a little bit behind Try Catch Up [current race favourite) but she will get the rails run.
R5 - Whirlwind Ethics (Box 3) – drawn close to the rail and that is where we want him. He’s been trialling exceptionally well, and he was unlucky in his last run so we’re expecting a forward showing.
R6 - Cawbourne Silver (Box 7) – running into good form, he’s back in a 1-3 win race and has been trialling well. He’s still a young dog with only a handful of starts but he’s well drawn in that race. He’s been up against Bianca’s Son a few times who goes around in the Cup so the quality of this race is not as strong.
R9 - Cawbourne Butter (Box 2) – brilliant early and has trialled 23.15/23.20, just needs a clean run. She will need to be in front though and cannot come from behind. Needs everything to go her way.
R11 - Flash Wave (Box 3) - is a very good sprinter that prefers wide draws but think he can still run well.
Best Chance | I think Cawbourne Silver is the best winning chance but I reckon Cola Lemon Soda might be the best bet.
