MONDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2026
By GRAEME WHITE
Stablemates Vasala and Justifiably will go their separate ways this week as trainer Darrell Burnet attempts to win two feature races at Wagga in the space of five days.
Justifiably will contest the Kooringal Hotel Benchmark 66 Heat of the Wagga Stayers Series (2000m) on Monday, while Vasala will be scratched from the same race and saved for his hometown meeting on Saturday.
It’s a big week for the Murrumbidgee Turf Club with the annual Wagga Picnic races to be conducted on Saturday following on from the hugely successful Ag races.
Burnet has Vasala nominated for the Wagga Picnic Cup (1600m) on Saturday which is also part of the stayers series.
Vasala is a last start winner, while Justifiably finished second in the Aggies Cup at his second start back from a nine week racing break.
Burnett said Justifiably was well placed on his previous racing history to be prominent.
“He has a very similar rating to when he last won. He is also on a nine day back-up and the last time he won it was on a similar gap between starts.
‘He is down in the weights in a similar class of race.
“He is pretty consistent and it’s the right race for him.”
Prophet’sPromise has won two of his past four starts and was down on his best when last at his latest appearance at Goulburn.
It Is To Be ran sixth behind Sorry Sunshine and Justifiably last start and has bene placed at four of his eight starts at 2000 metres.
Canberra trainer Rob Potter is hopeful Malinga Missile can excel at his first start at 2000 metres and continue the stable’s solid run of success.
Potter landed his first training quinella at Hawkesbury last week with Blow In and Tavolo.
“That was great because it had been a long time between wins for Blow In. I have had him for a bit over twelve months, but it was well before that since his previous win,” Potter said.
“Malinga Missile drops four and a half kilograms on his previous start. It’s his first try at 2000 metres so that is always a question mark.”
Potter has scratched his other acceptor Bosco from the last of seven races The William Farrer Hotel Class 3 (1200m) after he drew the outside alley.
Potter’s stable apprentice Erin Ellison won on Bosco first-up and has been out of action in recent weeks with a broken bone in her hand.
Promising four-year-old Hip Hip Ole returns to racing in the last race. The mare won the Wagga Guineas prelude in April and last raced in a Highway race at Scone in May.