A DROP in class, the booking of Linda Meech and the home track advantage has Craig Widdison upbeat about the chances of Banger at Wodonga on Tuesday.
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The lightly raced gelding drops sharply in grade after running fifth at Flemington earlier this month in his first test in city grade.
Banger will face seven rivals in the $35,000 Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400m) at Wodonga.
“I’ve been really happy with him and he keeps improving all the time,” Widdison said.
“I’m expecting him to run really well.
“I think he is a nice, progressive horse and I’m keen to get back down to the city again with him.
“But the extra prizemoney today was too hard to pass up.
“I think if we can find the right race, he will be more than competitive in the city.”
Widdison said Banger wasn’t suited by the slow tempo at Flemington and his run was full of merit.
“I was really happy how he hit the line and his sectional times late were great,” he said.
“He probably doesn’t have to settle back as far as he did and he was just a bit unlucky that there was no tempo in that race which made it hard for the backmarkers to make ground.
“He should be able to slot into a nice spot and be hard to hold out late.”
Widdison was rapt to snap up the services of Meech who has a full book of rides on the eight race card.
“She is a gun and we are fortunate to have her on today,” he said.
“No doubt she will give him a great ride and with only eight runners I wouldn’t imagine he will be too far off the leaders in the run.”
Banger is quoted as the early favourite at $3.20.
Narrowly ahead of the Ciaron Maher-trained Cataracta at $3.60.
Cataracta finished unplaced in both runs this preparation.
Widdison will also saddle-up Cherro and Shehroz.
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