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Wanganui Picks - Friday, 20 September

LA FLORA BELLE winning the STEELFORM ROOFING GROUP WANGANUI CUP 2040
LA FLORA BELLE winning the STEELFORM ROOFING GROUP WANGANUI CUP 2040 Picture: Race Images Photo

Wanganui Race 1
1 Landlock

This race is simply a stab in the dark, being an early season 2yo 800m contest on a Heavy10 track with three of the five runners having no public trials or jumpouts. Landlock is a well bred son of Merchant Navy who is the ¾ brother to smart juvenile Bright Blue Sky, who won her only start in NZ as a 2yo.

Wanganui Race 2
4 Librero

Librero was strongly supported on debut and it was an ugly watch for her backers from the moment the gates opened. She'll be better for that experience and the blinkers now go on, which is a key gear change worth noting from this stable. Should she race more tractably and jump cleanly, she can run a much improved race here.

Wanganui Race 3
8 Herbert

Herbert is resuming here off the back of a nice hit-out at the trials in August. While he did get up over much further last campaign, a strongly run 1200m contest on a Heavy10 track shouldn't be too sharp for him first-up. Look for him to be finishing over the top late if they overdo it in front.

Wanganui Race 4
3 Spencer

Spencer has the benefit of recent racing under his belt which should hold him in good stead on the Heavy10 track that is expected on Saturday. His last start 2nd at this course/distance behind Hi Yo Sass Bomb is a very good guide for this, as I believe a repeat of that would take plenty of beating here.

Wanganui Race 5
3 Frank The Tank

Frank The Tank is first-up here, having been off the scene since running down the track at Trentham in April. His sole trial on a Heavy10 in August was eye-catching, where he ran strongly through the line on the bridle. He'll likely be back and wide, I don't see that as a negative given runners may be steering a wide path in the straight come this point of the day.

Wanganui Race 6
5 Lightning Jack

Lightning Jack was very plain to the eye in his resuming run, however, he doesn't have a great first-up record and was also caught in the inferior going on the rail that day. His trial leading into his resumption was extremely impressive. Stepping up the mile 2nd up looks ideal. Willing to forgive the first-up flop and take a chance on him at odds here.

Wanganui Race 7
1 Indian Gold

Indian Gold arguably has more upside than many of his more exposed rivals here. The 4kg claim of Rihaan Goyaram sees him get into this with only 55.5kg on his back, which will aid him in getting through the trying conditions. Happy to side with him in an open race.

Wanganui Race 8
5 Crouch

Crouch comes back in grade for this, having held his own in Open Handicap company last start. The testing conditions come the last race of the day won't bother him one bit. He'll be my main bet in the race. I'll look to have a small saver on The Finnster at odds, given he looks to get a very similar setup to when he bolted in at this course/distance two starts back.


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