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By Graeme White

A better version of Take The Rap is what trainer Norm Gardner is expecting to see at Wagga on Sunday when the galloper kicks off a new campaign in the WIN Network Wagga Whiz Benchmark 82 (1000m).

“He has come back better, but importantly he has settled down a lot in his trackwork and trials,” Gardner said.

“He wanted to get on with it before and could be a handful. This time in he is a lot better and Billy Owen who rides him on Sunday has helped a lot keeping him settled.

“I thought his trial was very good and I expect him to be right in the finish.”

Take The Rap has raced four times at Wagga for three wins and he has had one start on a soft track for a victory.

Take The Rap following a Nowra win in February (Pic: Bradley Photos).

His record first-up is also impressive reading two wins and a third from three attempts, while at seven runs at 1000 metres he has bene successful four times.

Gardner, who has had some of his best training moments at Wagga where he won a Wagga Cup, rates Take The Rap highly and hopes he can continue to improve and develop into better than just country grades.

The gelding is a son of Star Turn from Gardner’s former race mare Madam Tillly who won only one race and is a daughter of super sire II Am Invincible.

In the breeding barn, Madam Tilly has also produced Lethal Lady (5 wins) and Divine Miss (6 wins).

Take The Rap is on track to emulate those at this stage of his career.

“He has always had the ability, but wanted to get on with it and overdo it,” Gardner said.

“I was really impressed with his trial and if he shows that again he will be hard to beat.”

Top weight Cliff House is first-up from a spell and is heading towards a start in the Goulburn Cup as well as The Little Dance at Randwick in November.

The seven-year-old hasn’t raced since finishing 14th in the Wagga Cup and prior to that won through to The Little Dance with a second in the Wellington Cup over 1700 metres.

Trainer Tim Donnelly expects Cliff House to run a forward race despite the distance being short of his best having won at between 1300 and 1800 metres.

“In saying that, he is working well and ran third first-up at Canberra over 1200 metres with 63 kilograms,” he said.

“He has 65.5 kilograms on Sunday and Nick (Heywood) on him again so I’m expecting him to run well.”

Mr Moppett has been a well performed gelding for his owners winning nine times with earnings of $272,000.

The now eight-year-old was successful at his latest start at Narrandera over 1000 metres on July 13.

Blitzar won at his first start for current trainer Troy Lorback and has had a break since as he returns to his home track.

Another well performed sprinter, Blitzar was previously trained in the city by Chris Heywood and in more recent times by Brett Robb.

Lorback had Blitzar ready to fire last time and after a freshen up is another of the main chances.

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Wagga meeting