has had to settle for minor placings in six stakes races and trainer Kris Lees is hoping the mare finally gets her moment in the sun this weekend.
The four-year-old will get another chance to post a valuable black-type win in Saturday’s Listed Civic Stakes at Randwick after failing by a neck to run down Adelong in the Bob Charley AO Stakes last start.
With four wins and six placings from 11 runs on wet tracks, Wandabaa will have no issue with the rain-affected conditions, leaving the 1400m journey as Lees’ only query.
The mare has tackled the distance four times for three placings but is yet to win beyond 1200m.
“She’s a very consistent mare. She is multiple stakes placed and probably deserves a win,” Lees said.
“There’s a little question mark about her at the 1400 but I think it just needs to set up right for her.
“She gets the right conditions on Saturday so I’m sure she will run it out.”
Lees also has Chief Ironside in the Civic Stakes but says the gelding will only line up if the track improves from its heavy rating.
The six-year-old has been off the scene since his unplaced effort in The Hunter last November and while he traditionally improves off his first-up performance, he did show up on resumption last campaign when third in the Cameron Handicap at Newcastle.
“We had him pretty forward that day and he seems to be in a similar vein, although he’s had a long time off,” Lees said.
“He seems to be coming up well but his record doesn’t read as well on heavy ground.
“I probably won’t run him on a heavy track, so we’ll just see what happens.”
Wandabaa remained at the top of Civic Stakes markets on Friday as a $5 Neds favourite with Chief Ironside a $21 chance.
