The $200,000 Wagga Town Plate (1200m) has become one of the NSW country racing calendar’s strongest and most coveted sprint races.
Attracting trainers and owners from all over, the 2025 edition – set to be run and won at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club on Thursday, May 1 – promises another sensational event.
Mudgee visitor Compelling Truth (Baily Wheeler, $5.50) for trainer Mack Griffith is the favourite in an open field.
A ten-time winner in 21 starts, the 5YO boasts a list of big wins in the country, taking out the $35,000 Coonamble Cannonball (1100m) by nearly seven lengths when run at Dubbo in June.
The noted speedster won the time-honoured $75,000 Sir James Kirby Quality (1000m) by four lengths during the Grafton July Carnival.
A winner at Doomben in August, then Compelling Truth added the $110,000 Panorama (1300m) to Griffith’s trophy cabinet in September.
After finishing down the track in the $2 million Kosciuszko in October, the I Am Invincible gelding returned with back-to-back placings at Eagle Farm in March before triumphing there in the $85,000 Open Handicap (1200m) on Saturday, April 5.
A winner of over $330,000 in prizemoney, Compelling Truth meets a challenging field at Wagga.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott will race last-start Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) winner The Instructor (Jett Stanley, $6) – a six-time winner with career earnings up around $600,000.
Having finished second in the Group 1 The Hunter (1300m) in November of last year, six-time winner Felix Majestic (Molly Bourke, $7) from the Gary Nickson yard will be every chance after drawing kindly with gate 6.
2023 Town Plate winner Mnementh (Grant Buckley, $24) from the Mitch Beer yard and 2024 defending champion The Prodigal Son (Jason Lyon, $12) for Wodonga visitor Craig Widdison will also go around.
Who Dares (Jake Duffy, $17) for Wangaratta trainer Craig Weeding is an interesting runner.
The two-time Listed winner was first-up for his new stable in the $500,000 Country Discovery (1000m) at Echuca earlier this month, but second-up over 1200m, the 5YO has drawn kindly and should get a good run in the Wagga Town Plate.
The Wagga Town Plate headlines an eight-race card on Saturday and the first day of the two-day Wagga Gold Cup carnival.
The $200,000 Wagga Gold Cup (2000m) is the feature event on Friday, May 2.
Wagga Tips – May 1
Race 1: #8 Stardom $3.40
Race 2: #11 Deeba $5.50
Race 3: #9 Noble Ruby $7.50
Race 4: #15 Qismah $10
Race 5: #6 Wexford Miss $4.80
Race 6: #1 Dynamic One $10
Race 7: #5 Who Dares $17
Race 8: #7 Dark Valour $4.20
