Wagga Preview & Best Bets – 02/05/2024

Wagga Tips for Thursday, May 2

Our form expert provides Wagga tips for today’s horse racing at Wagga Racecourse and gives his best bets.

BEST BET 🏆

Race 7:  No.11  ASGARDA 

Local trainer, Doug Gorrel saddles-up ASGARDA here who is in career-best form and yet to miss a podium finish this time in, looks set to deliver again. Last start, the four-year-old mare made it win number two for this campaign when she surprised many by taking out the final of the Country Championships over 1400m at Randwick. With Kayla Nisbet in pride of place and on a Heavy 8 that day, she came from mid-field in the 16-strong contest to go on and win comfortably in the end, crossing the line 1.5 lengths clear of the pack. She was unwanted in the market, sent out a $26 chance, but don’t expect anything like that today. Nisbet sticks with the mare in the $200k event and has been well treated at the barrier, drawing nicely in gate four. She maps to settle in the first half-dozen and with a trouble-free run here, should prove hard to beat.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 3:  No.6  SCARLI JAPALI

The Goulburn-based SCARLI JAPALI has her third race start today and after impressing at her first two runs, she looks ready to bring up that first win in this contest. Last start, the well-bred Adelaide filly came from well back to grab third prize in a 1200m Maiden on this track. Damon Budler was aboard that day and steers the ship again here. Both race starts to date have been on the Wagga track and her experience here can only add to her chances today. She does no early work from gate five and maps to settle near mid-field. With ‘staying’ blood in her veins, the step-up in distance looks ideal now and avoiding any dramas today, she looks a big chance of breaking through here.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 5:  No.3  JUST GO BANG

The Nick Olive-trained JUST GO BANG has found the step-up in journey to be what he has needed and over this trip today, he looks right a home and should be there at the finish. Last start, the Sizzling gelding came off two unplaced runs over shorter trips when Olive sent him around the Canberra track where he seemed at home, winning the Class 3 event over the longer 1600m journey. Billy Owen was in the saddle for the past three races and sticks with him here. At his peak after four runs back, today’s 2000m contest looks ideal for him now and his Wagga debut could very well be a winning one.