WAGGA RACE PREVIEW – THURSDAY 15 JANUARY
By GRAEME WHITE
It’s only in the first couple of weeks of 2026 and already the omen bet of the year has arrived in the shape of Wagga Wagga.
The racehorses Wagga Wagga will be having his first start for new trainer Anthony Warren in the Diageo Australia Class 2 Benchmark 62 Hcp (1600m) at Wagga on Thursday.
Wagga Wagga has had an interesting life story being born in the United Kingdom where he had nine starts before arriving in Australia.
The seven-year-old won by seven and a half lengths at Pontefract and followed up with another victory at Newbury at his next start.
Not only is Wagga Wagga named after the city, but he is by English sire Australia.
The fact he found his way to racing in Australia and now more coincidently Wagga is quite staggering.
Anyway, current trainer Anthony Warren said a lot has fallen into place for Wagga Wagga to be having his first start for him there on Thursday.
“I acquired him through David McGrath who is an independent director of the Australian Turf Club,” Warren said.
“Wagga Wagga is the first horse I have trained for him. He will actually race in the colours of Icebath (Group 1 winner of $5.2 million) who David also had a share in.”
Wagga Wagga was trained firstly in Australia by Ciaron Maher then by Kris Lees at Newcastle whom he had three starts for.
His latest resulted in a last at the Sunshine Coast over 2200 metres on November 14 which was nine weeks ago.
Warren has added a shadow roll and dropped Wagga Wagga back in distance for his first start for him.
“He has got plenty of talents and has to learn to slow it down a bit which is why I think the shorter distance may suit him,” he said.
“It’s trial and error a bit at this stage. It’s an ideal race for him and from his good gate and what he has shown me in his work I expect him to be thereabouts.’
The 36-year-old has won races in recent weeks with Brooklyn Lights and Wegotabetterhoffa who are due to start again over the next week or two.
If Wagga Wagga can win it will break a drought going back to his latest victory in July of 2022.
Apprentice jockey Coriah Keatings will have the ride on Wagga Wagga which Warren feels is a bonus.
“She is riding in massive form,” Warren said of Keatings who guided Scarli Japali to victory for him at Canterbury on New Year’s Day.
The top weight Compostela has been scratched leaving eight starters including recent winners Holy Hell and Amanoah.
Meanwhile, Cando Attitude is first-up from a spell in the Viewco Country Boosted Benchmark 58 (1000m).
She has drawn well in gate three and was scratched from Nowra on Sunday after coming up with a wide alley,
Veteran Vainstream captured the tenth win of his 96 start career at Gundagai at his latest start.
Magna Mak has raced twice this preparation for a win and a second and is another of the chances
