Wagga Preview & Best Bets – 31/08/2023

Wagga Tips for Thursday, August 31

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 2:  No.4  MILLER TIME  ($3.10 with Ladbrokes)

Albury-based galloper MILLER TIME sees the Wagga track for the first time today and third-up here looks a serious contender for the main prize. Last start, the lightly-raced four-year-old mare was having just her third race start when she beat all but one home in a Class 1 Hcp over 1000m on a Heavy 9 at Gundagai. Two starts earlier, she won her maiden on debut on a Soft 6 giving the impression she likes the sting out of the ground. Conditions today (Soft 7) look ideal for her and after the claim here, she carries 3kgs less than last start. She maps to lead from gate three and will take catching in this contest.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 5:  No.2  SPITFIRE  ($4.80 with bet365)

The Matt Dale-trained SPITFIRE returns to country racing today and looks set to bounce back in this contest. Last start, the Pierro gelding came off an unplaced run in a Class 3 Hwy Hcp at Rosehill and put in a déjà vu performance when he repeated that effort in a similar race on the same track. Prior to his city trip, he won a BM66 at Goulburn when first-up off a 15-week break. Last preparation, he changed camps from the Gary Portelli stable and his six starts all ended in top-three finishes, (two of which were victories). He lines-up here rock-hard fit and down in class. A trouble-free run here has him well in contention for the gold medal today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 7:  No.13  SWAGGER  ($8 with Picklebet)

Mitch Beer saddles-up SWAGGER here who is a track specialist and looking for back-to-back victories today. Last start, the eight-year-old showed he has lost nothing with age when he destroyed his rivals in an Open Hcp, here over 1400m on a Heavy 8 that day. With Holly Durnan aboard, the young apprentice rode him a treat, coming from well back to take control inside the final 100m and put 3.5 lengths on them over the line. This looks no harder and he gets the gun-run from gate one today as well. Durnan has yet to taste defeat on the gelding, (currently two from two), and sticks with him for this assignment. Already a two-time winner at the track, he looks well worth an each-way ticket here.