Trainer Ron Stubbs targets Wagga meeting with Balendon, Tap 'N' Run and Prophet's Daughter

Stubbs will target the meeting with consistent gelding Baledon alongside Country Championship hopeful Tap 'N' Run and debutante Prophet's Daughter.

Baledon was an impressive winner on his home track two starts back before hitting the line hard last-start at Corowa over 1400m when running fourth.

Stubbs is expecting the step-up to a mile in the $24,000 Class Two Handicap, (1600m) will benefit his gelding.

Balendon will be partnered by apprentice Madison Waters in the race which is restricted to apprentice jockeys only.

"I'm very happy how the horse is going this preparation and he gets his first opportunity over the mile," Stubbs said.

"All indications are that the mile will suit him.

"He was hitting the line hard last-start at Corowa over 1400m when beaten just over a length.

"The last two jockeys who have been on him (Jack Martin and Mathew Cahill) have gotten off the horse and told me to run him over a mile plus.

"So the horse gets his opportunity on Thursday to prove them right.

"It certainly looks a winnable race for him and if the horse brings his A-game I expect him to be right amongst them at the finish."

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Balendon is quoted as the $2.50-favourite in pre-post markets and has drawn barrier seven in the 10-horse field.

Stubbs is eagerly anticipating the return of Tap 'N' Run in the $24,000 Class Two Handicap, (1000m) with Jack Martin aboard.

Tap 'N' Run is set to form part of the stable's assault on the Country Championships which will be staged at Wagga next month for the second successive year.

The lightly raced gelding stamped himself as a potentially smart galloper at his most recent start when narrowly beaten in a $100,000 TAB Highway at Rosehill in September.

Tap 'N' Run resumes from a 15-week spell and has been placed once from two previous first-up attempts.

"I was rapt with his run in the TAB Highway which was over 1500m and his first go at the distance," Stubbs said.

"He is only a lightly raced gelding that's had eight starts with both his career wins being over 1000m.

"I certainly think he is a handy middle distance galloper in the making but the 1000m on Thursday will suit while he has got a bit of freshness in his legs.

"I expect him to be competitive first-up.

"I have mapped out his program around targeting the Country Championships and depending on how he runs at Wagga will determine what happens next."

Prophet's Daughter will make her debut in the $24,000 Fillies and Mares Maiden Hcp, (1200m) with Martin in the saddle.

The four-year-old daughter of Nostradamus ran third in a recent trial at Corowa in her only public appearance so far.

"I quite like her and she has only had the one trial where she ran third at Corowa," Stubbs said.

"She was a little bit green in the trial but should take good improvement from that."

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