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  • Wagga's Feature Town Plate Very Open

    Thursday, 6th May 2021

    With the final line up for Thursday's $200,000 Wagga Town Plate (1200m) released, the large field of 16, plus six emergencies, brings together formlines from NSW and Victoria, noting three horses opened up as equal favourites. John O'Shea's Southern Lad (Ocean Park-Distinctive Lass, by Orientate), and Open Minded (Jimmy Choux-Hidden Passion, by Desert Prince) for Anthony and Sam Freedman, are joined with Mark Newnham's last start winner Marway (Hemingway -Maredamah, by Marechal) at the top line of betting. Second 12 months ago behind Irish Songs (Shamus Award-Lucky Songs, by Johar), who he will meet here, Southern Lad heads into Thursday's race first up, a position he has an excellent record at, with six first-up placed performances from seven runs and with a recent barrier trial win under his belt, the 6YO should prove very competitive. Open Minded, a winner of his last four starts, has been allocated the outside gate, and although he does like to race handy, jockey Nash Rawiller may have to employ different tactics. One of the most interesting runners in the race is the Mitchell Beer-trained 3YO Opalescence (Showcasing-Fairy Story, by Pentire). A new acquisition for the stable, the former New Zealand-raced filly was a winner of the Gr3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) in December, and last started in early March when fourth at Listed level, before jumping on a plane to Australia. Winning a recent barrier trail over 900m, it would not surprise to see this filly produce a forward showing at good odds.