Consistent sprinter On Par gets his chance to return to the winner’s list at Wagga on Friday.
The well-related son of Fernando Bale last stepped out at Goulburn on July 30 and, from box four, was cramped for room in the run to the first turn. He dropped away late to finish a well-held seventh to Due West in 25.18 at his first try over 440m and the drop back to 320m is a real plus.
In four starts at Wagga over 320m, On Par has managed three wins yet his personal best time was posted two runs back when second to Mystic Faith in a smart 18.24.
Box one is a big tick item for On Par but there is depth of opposition.
Classic Artist (box seven) returned from an extended break to score in a sharp 18.77 at Temora when able to quickly lead from box three. She moves to box seven yet the 320m is in her wheelhouse. Classic Artist's dam One Cold Foot had high speed. She saluted in 25 of 39 career starts and her first litter (by Aston Dee Bee) boasts 43 wins from 143 starts, striking at an impressive 30.1 percent.
And then there is Gregg Mills’ Sunbird Izmir … the X Factor in the contest.
She’s not raced since winning at Casino over 300m on June 24 when prePared by Ken Staines. A near faultless beginner, Sunbird Izmir was hampered early when attempting to cross from box eight last time but rallied to score by a half-length as a well-supported $2.90 chance.
The first of 11 races at Wagga gets underway at 6.24pm.
