Wagga Preview & Best Bets – 22/12/2023

Wagga Tips for Friday, December 22

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 6:  No.6  CONTROVERSIAL MISS  ($8.50 with Palmerbet)

Victorian galloper CONTROVERSIAL MISS is in red-hot form this preparation and already familiar with the Wagga track, looks well placed here to be challenging for victory today. Last start, the Dissident mare came off a win at Hay in an Open Hcp when she beat all but one home in similar company, here over 1200m. They ran that out in 1:09.7 where she went down by just a head on the line. Jake Duffy has built a strong relationship with the mare where his 17 rides to date have resulted in five wins and three minor placings and he returns for today’s assignment. Drawn well in gate four, she maps to be parked just behind the pace today and with a trouble-free run here, she can bring up podium finish number six for this campaign.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 8:  No.6  HALLOWED STAR  ($9 with Neds)

Clint Lundholm saddles-up HALLOWED STAR here who is fitter for two runs back and is capable of a forward showing today. Last start, the Hallowed Crown gelding came from mid-field to grab third prize in a BM58 over 1300m at Narromine. That was Ron Simpson’s first ride on the four-year-old as he sticks with him for this assignment. He has drawn out in gate 11 today but maps to settle worse than mid-field anyway and has the extra distance in this contest to use in his run to the line. He has proven to be a consistent galloper in his nine-start career where he is yet to finish worse than fifth across the line. With a little luck in running today, he can stake his claim for victory in this contest.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 3:  No.4  DOOGAN’S DESIGN  ($10 with BlueBet)

The Craig Widdison-trained DOOGAN’S DESIGN has improved with three starts this preparation and looks a solid chance of upsetting her more fancied rivals today. Last start, the Master Of Design mare recorded her second win in just five career-starts when she led from barrier to box in a Class 1 over 1175m at Albury. With Simon Miller aboard, she jumped from gate six (of seven) and set a good pace and whilst threatened in the run home, dug deep and found a little more to fend them off and cross for a well deserved victory. She faces Class 2 company for the first time today but has Miller sticking with her and from gate six again, she maps to be on-speed and vying for the front. At her peak today, she can give this a real shake.