Australian Racing: Naval College can cruise to Wagga win

There are a number of meetings set to take place on Friday, including at Wagga where the Listed Wagga Gold Cup is the feature race of the day.

Race 7 Wagga

Naval College @ 7.00

Race 6 Muswellbrook

Ballinderry Sal @ 5.50

Race 5 Wangaratta

Khabalov @ 2.70

Naval College to claim Gold Cup 

The previously mentioned Wagga Gold Cup, a 2000m Listed event, comes up as the penultimate contest on an eight-race card at Wagga. 

Trapeze Artist gelding Flying Bandit is expected to jump as favourite for the race, having registered three top-four finishes from as many starts this prep.

The four-year-old, who ended his last prep with a Benchmark 72 success over 1800m at Randwick in November, resumed with a length fifth in a 1400m Class 5 event at Kembla Grange.

Kerry Parker’s gelding took a step forward when registering a victory in an 1800m Benchmark 78 handicap at Hawkesbury next time out.

Jay Ford, on board at Hawkesbury and set to ride here, was again in the saddle when the gelding came home fourth in a Randwick Benchmark 94 handicap last weekend.

While the likely favourite rates highly, seeking his sixth win in 12 career starts, preference is for the six-year-old import NAVAL COLLEGE.

The gelding registered the sixth win of his career when successful in a 2400m Listed contest held on a sound surface at Warwick Farm in January last year.

While the pick is without a win since then, he has registered some solid efforts in defeat since, including when third over 2300m in a Newcastle Listed event in November.

The son of Dartmouth raced on a wet track for just the second time this season when resuming with a fourth in the Group 3 JRA Plate over 2000m at Randwick last month.

Naval College was beaten just over three-and-a-half-lengths on that occasion and he is expected to have improved for that effort.

Brodie Loy rides for the Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald team and his mount looks capable of overcoming a wide barrier to register his fourth win over this distance. 

Ballinderry Sal to score at Muswellbrook

A heavy 10 track is expected at Muswellbrook with the sixth race of the day a 1450m Benchmark 74 Showcase Handicap event.

Top weight Gentileschi drops markedly in grade here having been seen in action at Group 3 level on her most recent start.

This daughter of Dundeel suffered a heavy defeat when ninth of 11 in the 2000m Summer Cup at Randwick in December on that occasion.

The filly was spelled following that effort, however, she did deliver a good fourth place finish in an 1800m Benchmark 78 handicap at Rosehill prior to that.

Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich’s representative looks a major player at this level, however, she is expected to find BALLINDERRY SAL too strong.

Rodney Northam’s mare has registered wins on wet tracks in each of her last two starts, including on a heavy surface in a 1400m Benchmark 58 handicap at Scone in March.

The five-year-old went on to complete a double when jumping at $31 for a Class 3 1400m handicap at Randwick subsequently.

A switch to racing on wet tracks has been a big positive in recent outings, with the mare now unbeaten in two starts on heavy going, while she’s won half of her four outings on soft tracks. 

Andrew Gibbons rides for the first time and his mount looks capable of completing a hat-trick.   

Khabalov for Wangaratta win

The fifth race of the day at Wangaratta is a Benchmark 64 handicap set to take place over 2000m. 

Good going is expected for the race with KHABALOV taking the eye for the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jr team.

The son of Russian Revolution impressed when breaking through for his first win in a 1600m maiden at Cranbourne in March.

This three-year-old came home four lengths clear of his 10 rivals when racing on a good 4 surface that day and he was stepped up to Listed company at Morphettville subsequently. 

While he could finish only seventh at Morphettville, that rated a respectable effort in the 1800m Port Adelaide Guineas and he is expected to appreciate the step up in distance he gets here.

The drop in grade is a positive in this contest and Liam Riordan’s mount looks up to doubling his career tally.