It is always risky buying tried racehorses but Royal Page and Urbane Valour have already proven their worth for their new connections heading into the Wagga meeting on Friday.
Royal Page will be chasing his fifth win from his past seven starts this campaign in the Rural Benchmark 60 Handicap (1000m), while last start winner Urbane Valour lines up in the Robbo’s Sand Pty Ltd Class 2 Handicap (1600m).
Royal Page is in career-best form and faces one of his toughest tests for trainer Trish Anderson and jockey Brad Clark.
Anderson is more than pleased with the gelding’s progress this preparation after two starts in his previous campaign produced as many seconds.
“He has come back really well following a break and while it’s a tough race he is going well enough to figure in the finish,” Anderson said.
“The draw is a bit tricky in gate 12 but he normally gets back a bit anyway.
“He has beaten the topweight before and there are a few others that go well so it’s not an easy race.”
Topweight Undercurrent will have to carry 64 kilograms – one of the biggest weights allocated at Wagga for some time – if he is to maintain his strong recent form which includes a win at the track.
Royal Page was purchased for $2000 and has more than repaid that outlay for owners Noel Sargent of Harden and Albury’s Howie Horselman.
“There are a few problems with the horse, but we try and overcome them the best way we can,” Anderson said.
“A bit of rain would be a big help.”
Urbane Valour was also a cheap purchase for the stable and Anderson is hopeful more wins are in store.
Ideally drawn in gate two, Urbane Valour faces the in-form Hadron with 61.5 kilograms as well as the well bred Wagga maiden winner Rawnaq.
His trainer David Hayes again has a few runners at Wagga which will all be ridden by Nathan Rose.
Anderson believes the best of Urbane Valour is still to come.
“He is up in grade and is still learning,” she said.
“He was only a cheapie so he has done the job so far.”
In-form jockey Richard Bensley will be out to continue his hot streak with a full book of rides headed by Who’s Paying and last start Narrandera winner Redlingo.
The 29-year-old has ridden winning doubles at Canberra and Gundagai in the past few weeks and has finished with a winner at most meetings he has attended in recent times.
“Who’s Paying is an up-and-coming horse racing well, while Redlingo finished off well last start and if he runs up to that run he will be hard to beat again,” Bensley said.
