Wagga preview, tips: Cross and Chung's next big hope
Trainer Bruce Cross and owner/breeder Malcolm Chung are best known via the deeds of the sensational siblings, Epsom winner Final Fantasy and Canberra Cup winner Padfoot Charlie.
Now, a quarter of a century on, the pair may have themselves another 'good horse' from the very same 'vines' that produced their former dynamic duo.
Her name is Just Like Tilda.
The daughter of Divine Prophet created a lasting impression when finishing over the top of her rivals to score an impressive, bookie-busting, debut win at Kembla earlier this month when crunched from an opening quote of $6.50 into $4.80.
Cross could be forgiven for talking up Just Like Tilda on the score of her debut but is playing down any hype.
'At the moment, I am holding my powder dry,' Cross said.
Just Like Tilda is looking to make it back-to-back wins. Picture: Bradley Photos
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'Her win at Kembla was a good win and I think she has improved a little bit, but I'm just not prepared to put my head on the block yet.
'Sometimes you can put the cart before the horse and you get too excited.
'That's why we are prepared to take a bit of time with her and give her all the chances she deserves.'
Cross revealed that he had toyed with the idea of a metropolitan start for Just Like Tilda, instead opting for a trip away down to Wagga.
'I thought about it but I was a little bit too scared that she would just get up in the benchmark system too quick,' Cross explained.
'I'm interested to see what she can do on Sunday and looking forward to it to be honest.
'We are going there with our glass half-full. Whatever happens, the trip away, the floating, that all improves a horse and it sort of adds another string to their bow.
'She is a very sensible little filly, we are going there hoping, we just have to wait for the outcome.'
Just Like Tilda will be ridden the Easdown's Accountants Class 1 Handicap (1300m) by Deanne Panya; gun jockey and twin sister of Beany, both of whom spend their mornings at Cross' home ground, Warwick Farm.
Trainer Bruce Cross is keeping expectations realistic with Just Like Tilda Picture: Bradley Photos
'Deanne and Beany are just super young ladies,' Cross said.
'They go out of their way to help you.
'Deanne knows Just Like Tilda pretty well. She's ridden her in a bit of a work and in the trial.
'And to be honest, Deanne might have very well been on her when she won at Kembla except she was suspended.
'Deanne rode a winner (on Thursday) at Gosford, she is very underrated.'
Just Like Tilda is the third foal of her dam Matilda Jade whose foaling date (September 14 in 2011) was the exact same day as Winx.
Matilda Jade was bred and raced by Chung and trained by Cross but sadly, the daughter of I Am Invincible only raced once, finishing runner-up at Gundagai.
'We took her there thinking she would win easily but she got galloped on and severed a tendon so that was the only start she ever had,' Cross said.
SHAYNE O'CASS' TOP SELECTIONS
BEST BET
Race 7 No. 1: JUST LIKE TILDA
Created a big impression when winning at Kembla on debut.
NEXT BEST
Race 6 No. 3: CONDOR
Won three of four and runner-up at the other this preparation. Easy to like.
VALUE BET
Race 5 No. 4: STAY TUNED
Boast some compelling provincial form. Fit and stays all day.
QUADDIE
Race 4: 1, 2, 3
Race 5: 4, 6
Race 6: 3
Race 7: 1
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
BLAIKE MCDOUGALL will have plenty of admirers to win the TAB Jockeys Challenge.
RACE 1: JJ'S WASTE & RECYCLING COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN PLATE 1200m
HARDLY FORTUNATE (7), an All Too Hard direct descendant of broodmare gem Extradite, was $9 out to $12 when she debuted at Wagga. Smashing run it was too, she drew 9 of 11, was ninth at the turn and got to within inches of the winner. That was 1000m, this is 1200m now. AL FLORES (5), the first foal of Coolmore Classic winning Dixie Blossoms, has had many chances. Many of us are still licking the wounds from her $1.55 loss at Goulburn the other day. Can atone but needs to win back a few fans.
Bet: Hardly Fortunate each-way, quinella 5, 7, box trifecta 2, 5, 7, 12
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
RACE 2: WDF ACCOUNTING & ADVISORY SUPER MAIDEN HANDICAP 1400m
BADHATHARRY (2) is a rarity, maybe a one of a kind in present day times given he is out a mare by Harry Lawton's beloved Bureaucracy who won the George Ryder way back in 1991. He's also the damsire of Silent Witness. As for Badhatharry, he has had a textbook build-up to 1400m which he is crying out for. Michael Travers has three accepted here and all three could easily medal. MISS PEPEHA (10) is getting closer than ever to a win. His other one Stormy Malice wants 1400m.
Bet: Badhatharry to win
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
RACE 3: RIDLEY WOOL CO CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE 1600m
DOC MARCH (11) has been very costly indeed at his last three starts, one at Canberra and two here at home at Wagga. To be fair to the horse, because he is a nice horse, he hasn't been at all helped by wide barriers hence he's been getting way back but running on dutifully. DESERT OPAL (5) has a win, four seconds and a third from his 11 starts, His personal best came last start on May 27 when he won a 1400m Maiden at home at Albury on a Heavy 8. Reliable type, well up to this.
Bet: Doc March to win, exacta 11 to beat 5
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
RACE 4: RIVERINA SIGNMAKERS COUNTRY BOOSTED BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP 1200m
CHRISTMAS STAR (2) races in the familiar colours of Shelley Hancox. This grey filly by Star Turn has finished on the podium at eight of her 12 starts. Only two are wins but looking back now, her losses, while costly at the time, were in races where the form has stood up since. Drawn one, should help. ELASTANE MISS (3) has done nothing wrong in her four starts; she won at Albury on a Heavy 10 and all the rest are seconds including one here at home. Third-up here; Blaike McDougall sticking for a third time too.
Bet: Christmas Star to win, quinella 2, 3
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
RACE 5: ICG CONSTRUCTION BENCHMARK 66 HANDICAP- HEAT OF THE WAGGA STAYERS SERIES 2000m
STAY TUNED (4) is a Paul and Martha Cave-trained gelding who makes his second visit to Wagga bearing in mind that he broke his maiden here almost 12 months to the day. Fast forward to now and the son of Prized Icon is off a closing second to Hooligan Tommy at Kembla. Ready for 2000m. AVONVIEW (6) is as fit as any horse racing on the card. Well placed apart from the draw. Any upgrade from Heavy could also assist. DANDRUFF (2) will stay all day and is one for one on Heavy.
Bet: Stay Tuned to win, Daily Double 1st Leg 4, 2nd Leg 1
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
RACE 6: RIVERINA CRANE SERVICES WAGGA WINTER SPRINT BENCHMARK 82 HANDICAP 1000m
CONDOR (3) had his first 13 starts in Singapore, where he won twice and posted two placings. His last four starts are for Tim Fitzsimmons and are '1211'. That second by the way was at Bendigo by less than a neck. Big winner on the Heavy 9 at Mornington last time. Obviously Condor is flying, pardon the pun. MAJOR TIME (5) is a grand old campaigner from the Gratz Vella camp. He's got a good set of numbers across the board and as for each-way punters are concerned; he has won and placed at 34 of his 65 starts.
Bet: Condor to win, exacta 3 to beat 5
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
RACE 7: EASDOWNS ACCOUNTANTS & ADVISORS CLASS 1 HANDICAP 1300m
JUST LIKE TILDA (1) was just so impressive winning on debut at Kembla when $6.50 into $4.40. Won with a lot of authority on the day demonstrating a high degree of race-smarts and quality. Deanne Panya knows her well, so does the trainer of course and he's set her a task that while not a total slam dunk, looks pretty close to it.
Bet: Just like Tilda to win, exacta 1 to beat 5.
WAGGA
BEST BET
Race 7 No. 1: Just Like Tilda
Created a big impression when winning at Kembla on debut.
NEXT BEST
Race 6 No. 3: Condor
Won 3 of 4 and runner-up at the other this preparation. Easy to like.
VALUE
Race 5 No. 4: Stay Tuned
Boast some compelling provincial form. Fit and stays all day.
QUADDIE
Race 4: 1,2,3
Race 5: 4,6
Race 6: 3
Race 7: 1
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Blaike McDougall will have plenty of admirers to win today's TAB Jockeys Challenge
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