David O’Prey commends the quality of country racing at Wangaratta

Wangaratta
The Wangaratta Turf Club has seen the quality of its meetings continue to rise in recent times. Picture: Racing.com

WODONGA-based trainer David O’Prey has heaped praise on the standard of racing in the Wangaratta and Wodonga area.

Thursday’s meet will feature gallopers from stables all around Victoria, including both big city operations, as well as the boutique stables.

The champion jockey turned trainer O’Prey believes the class of races in rural Victoria is as good as it has ever been, and the standard of the eight-race card on Thursday is reflective of that.

“You get them coming in from everywhere,” O’Prey told HorseBetting.com.au.

“You know you’re going to get quality fields. Colin Little had a favourite running around in the last in a midweek race meet a few weeks back, which tells you what you need to know about the standard.

“You know if you win a race up here you’ve earned it, that’s for sure.”

The trainer said that the locals are always looking to ply their trade in the city-grade races, but believes the country meets are now at a standard that allows the horse’s to gradually step up and progress through the grades.

“We’re always aiming to head down the line further to Seymour and the city tracks, but to have a high standard on both sides of the border means we get the best of it all.”

O’Prey takes his three-year-old gelding Do It Al Dente down the highway for Thursday’s meet, hoping the gelding can break through for an elusive win at start seven.

The trainer believes his horse will relish the 2000m distance after starting its career as a sprinter.

“His run the other day as he sort of stepped up in distances showed over the addition trip he’ll come to the fore,” the trainer said.

“He’s a pretty relaxed sort of customer and you’d think the 2000m he’ll swallow up.

“A maiden is always a bit of an unknown… (but) he was in a reasonably strong field the other day which will hold up I reckon.”

Do It Al Dente is a $6.50 chance at Crownbet.com.au to take out the Winsec Savings/Loans Maiden, which is the first race on the card at Wangaratta on Thursday.

O’Prey is not sure what the future holds for his gelding heading into the race, but he is hopeful it all clicks for the gelding when it matters most.

“He’s a big, dumb bugger and he’s sort of a work in progress but he’s improving every time we step him up.”

[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1135309_01]

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