Wakata has not been seen at the races since April, but she has trialled extremely well in the lead-up to her return and strikes a winnable one first-up at Grafton today. The Northern Meteor mare was a strong and consistent performer for Matt Dunn last time in, bit wasn’t able to break her maiden. She’s drawn well today and has the advantage of Jason Collett in the saddle.
Former Godolphin galloper Sanglier will have his third start for Matt Dunn at Grafton this afternoon and looks ready to win. The Albrecht gelding is several times placed in black type company and shook off the cobwebs with a fair effort at Doomben first-up, before finishing off well for third on the Gold Coast last time. He’ll take further improvement into this race and will be steered by Glyn Schofield.
La Scopa has been racing well this time and can book her ticket to The Championships by winning the Country Championships Qualifier (1400m) at Grafton this afternoon. The Show A Heart mare worked home from back in the field to finish a close second at her first two starts when resuming in December, before recording a dominant win in a Highway race at Randwick in January. Her most-recent start for fifth at Eagle Farm was fair, and I like that her runs have been spaced heading into this. Jason Collett can take a position off the pace before calling on the mare’s turn of foot.
Hydrazine has gone close at his two most-recent efforts and is good enough to fight out the finish of the last at Grafton this afternoon. The Stratum gelding has been a strong and consistent performer this time – the one blemish being his run four eleventh in the Magic Millions Country Cup, in which he was simply outclassed. He’s been charged with carrying topweight, but he’s rock-hard fit and could enjoy the run of the race from barrier 5.