Race 5 QUEEN OF THE SOUTH PRELUDE BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1300m)

Another big field and open battle tailor made for exotic punters. Local mare 7. Mathrin will go around at a big price, but she can improve sharply second up from a softer draw over more ground. Was slow to begin resuming before making up late ground and much more at home over this distance.
Dangers: Tough mare 1. Pruscino has won both second-up starts and bolted in in a C2 on Boxing Day by more than nine lengths, but like most will need some luck from a wide barrier. Canberra filly 10. My Girona found the front and dug in hard when challenged third up here, although an even tougher test drawn further out and carrying 2kg more. Include improving provincial filly 9. Las Vegas Girl, who won her maiden easily before sticking on well in a weaker grade at Moruya. Emerging Wodonga filly 5. Dalroshio scrambled home on debut and looked under the odds from the wide barrier. 3. Evanora with a 3kg claim and 8. Aftershock resuming from the outside draw can go in trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Mathrin and Pruscino both each way; Odds and Evens: Odds

Race 6 WAGGA TOWN PLATE PRELUDE (1200m)

Speaking of open, it doesn’t get much wider than this entree to the feature sprint on cup day. Home track five-year-old 5. Blitzar will likely drift a long way back from the wide gate, but he’ll get enough speed up front to launch a big finish. Sat closer when beating a handy BM 74 field two starts back before charging home late in the feature sprint on Orange Cup day. Will relish getting back home on the bigger track, and this is the lightest weight he’s carried since winning here on Australia Day.
Dangers: Wangaratta five-year-old 13. Northernero continues to hit the line and looks the best-weighted runner in the race. Will also get back from the wide draw but, with the speed on, can launch a dominant final 400m sprint. Big watch on 15. Kattegat. Resumes off a dominant heavy track trial win and generally comes to hand quickly. Watch the betting on Albury six-year-old 1. Matowi resuming on the back of an impressive trial win. Capable mare 3. Calescent shoots for a third win from her last five; and 8. Kurocaine who has been in and around the money all prep; can be kept safe at big odds, while 12. Major Time is ultra consistent and continues to sneak down in the weights.
How to play it: Blitzar each way and trifecta 5,13,15/1,3,5,13,15/1,3,5,8,13,15; Odds and Evens: Odds

Race 7 MURRUMBIDGEE CUP (1800m)

Very competitive Heat of the Stayers Series stacks up nicely for talented and lightly raced Albury four-year-old 7. Tap ‘N’ Run stretched out to this distance for the first time. Unsuited in the Country Championship Final in heavy ground last start but three previous runs in deeper grades were very good from off the speed, and he’ll relish being back on top of the ground.
Dangers:Watch the betting on 5. Gunga Din who produced his best run for a while surging home late in the Albury Mile, and suited over more ground. Include 6. Island Bay Boy deep into the prep, 10. This Skilled Cat coming back from metro class, and 14. Dolphina who has won her last two; in wider exotics.
How to play it: Tap ‘N’ Run to win; Odds and Evens: Split

Race 8 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1600m)

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Keen here on progressive provincial filly 14. Patrika Mist eyeing off a second win at her fourth start. Swept home to beat a handy maiden field here five weeks back before again finishing hard in CL2 grade. Even better suited this trip and track and boasts more scope than the rest.
Dangers: No fitter runner than local four-year-old 3. Lumber Dream, who carried 59kg to win his maiden here two starts ago before chasing all the way on a leader-biased track at Albury. Been given a month between runs but has to slot in from a wide gate. Honest three-year-old 12. Soloist is well placed fourth up, although a little query running out a strong mile. Don’t dismiss capable filly 15. Ella Amelia despite being drawn in the carpark. Has charged home to beat all bar the winner in her last two and wants every bit of the mile journey. Lightly raced five-year-old 5. Royal Deel is the best of the rest rising in class third up.
How to play it: Patrika Mist to win; Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS: Race 7 (7) TAP ‘N’ RUN; Race 8 (14) PATRIKA MIST
BEST VALUE: Race 2 (1) GALBALAN