Year: 2019

A quinella in the opening qualifier at Hawkesbury on Sunday has trainer Kim Waugh one step closer to finally lifting the Polytrack Provincial Championships trophy.

Waugh’s promising pair Safado and Spring Charlie fought out the finish of the 1400m Hawkesbury Qualifier with Greg McFarlane’s It’s So Obvious also booking a spot in the $500,000 April 13 final at Royal Randwick.

In the four previous years of the Provincial Championships, Waugh has posted placings with Oxford Poet (2015), His Majesty (2016) and Newsfan (2018).

“They are both so gutsy and very professional,’’ Waugh said on Sky Thoroughbred Central after Safado ran down Spring Charlie near the post.

“I could see they both had beautiful runs. Spring Charlie was on the hot pace first-up and I thought he was going to win still and I thought Safado, ‘please just run third and you’re qualified’.

“But, wow, he’s just powered home, he’s a good horse.’’

Safado, who had been beaten at Canterbury as an odds-on favourite on February 1, was still 12m behind Spring Charlie at the 300m but Punter’s Intelligence data showed he ran his last 200m in 11.79 compared to his stablemate’s 12.44.

Jockey Jason Collett said he was wary of the pace set by Cuban Royale and elected to be patient, convinced the leaders would come back to him. “The speed made it interesting. It got me out of my comfort zone and I didn’t want to chase so I ended up giving them a good head start,’’ Collett said.

“I was confident I was going to run them down, I was more worried about what I was dragging into the race.’’

Waugh said she wouldn’t make any racetrack decisions about the path both horses would take to the final in six weeks.

It was Safado’s third run this preparation while Spring Charlie was first-up. Waugh’s other major contender Fuchu will head to the Newcastle Qualifier on March 9.

 Spring Charlie’s jockey Blake Shinn was rapt with his mount’s effort in defeat. “His run was very brave, being first-up over 1400m,’’ Shinn said. “From the 900m the leader really applied the pressure and until then I was very happy. It took the sprint I had and it was going to leave him vulnerable.’’

Kim Waugh kicks of her quest to claim the rich $500,000 Polytrack Provincial Championship title this Sunday at Hawkesbury.

Waugh is hoping to go one better than last year when Newsfan was narrowly beaten in the final.

She will start both Spring Charlie and Safado in the 1400m Hawkesbury $150,000 Qualifier.

Spring Charlie put together three successive wins including two metropolitan victories before spelling.

He looks to have come back in great condition, with two trial wins leading into this race.

Safado also looks a genuine contender, with the gelding having two wins and two placings to his record, the latest a third at Canterbury on February 1.

Waugh said she is likely to have other runners over the series, including Fuchu who has been given a short freshen up after also notching up three successive wins in December and early January.

Damien Lane is the only other Wyong representative on Sunday, with his last start winner Oakfield Missile a likely starter.

The $150,000 Wyong Qualifier, the last in the series, will be run on Saturday, March 30 over 1350m.

 

The in-form Waugh stable capped off a good day for local trainers with White Boots and Joy For Us both posting wins.

Tracey Bartley and Stephen Schofield also celebrated victories earlier in the program with Commute and Stunned respectively.

It was a race to race double for Waugh’s pair with Joy For Us winning the 1350m OVER THE LINE RACING CLASS 1 and White Boots, the WYONG TRAINERS’ TROPHY CONDITIONAL BM 70.

White Boots added to his impressive record, bringing up his sixth win from 11 starts.

The Animal Kingdom gelding was coming off a third at Kensington when resuming on February 6, and was installed $1.50 favourite.

Apprentice Billy Owen sat just off the lead early in the race, hitting the front before the straight and fighting off a late challenge by the second favourite Invicta ($7).

“He rode him perfectly to instructions,” Waugh said.

“He is a real 2000m horse and we needed genuine pace. I told Billy to get him rolling around the 600m mark or he would be outsprinted.

“He rode him really well.”

Waugh said the horse has a great will to win.

“We tossed up whether to start him here or Kensington tomorrow and this proved to be the right decision.

“It was the perfect second up run and I think he’s in for a good preparation.”

Waugh was equally impressed with Joy For Us, who she said had always shown ability but had been racing without much luck.

“She has been really unlucky in her last two starts. She’s been knocked over and all sorts of things. Everything that could of gone wrong has,” she said.

“But she’s been going very, very well. With a little bit of luck today she’s did what we thought she would do.

“She’s a lovely filly, very brave and very professional and she tries hard. “

Parr said the win would be a real confidence builder for the mare.

“We had a really nice run in transit and they ran at a nice gallop for us,” he said.

“It’s a nice feeling when everything surrounding you is under pressure and your horse is coming up underneath you on the bit and really chiming into the race comfortably, which is what she did today.

“She was quite convincingly albeit by a short margin.

“The second horse is pretty smart and that definitely adds merit to the win. I’m really pleased how she won today, she’s definitely on the way up.”
Joy for Us ($9), beat the Lees trained favourite Lifetime Quest ($3.20), with Godolphin runner Waka ($8.50) a close third.

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Tracey Bartley is confident he has a smart filly on his books after Commute put paid to her opposition with an impressive two and a half length win in the 1100m MEN CARE TOO PROVINCIAL & COUNTRY MAIDEN.

Bartley’s three-year-old Commute, was a $6000 weanling purchase for Andrew Phillips, who races her with members of his family.

The Phillips family also race McCormack with Bartley, who has had two wins from two starts for the stable.

Commute was coming off a debut run at Kensington on February 6 where she finished toward the rear of the field.

“She’s a high-class filly,” Bartley said.

“I gave Tim (Clark) the wrong instructions in Sydney. If she had been on speed, she probably would of run fourth of fifth. It went all pear shaped but it was good to see her bounce back today.

“She’s a massive horse. I was afraid she wouldn’t get around here because she’s never really been on the fence but when she gallops, she gets down nice and low and she’s got a good action.

“She’s pretty good, we’ve got a bit opinion of her.”

Clark said Commute had come out of a pretty strong form race at Kensington.

“She equipped herself pretty well that day. She didn’t have the smoothest of passages but still ran well and was always going to improve off the run.

“She’s a really big filly and hadn’t trialled going into it so she had plenty of improvement to come.

“I think she’s a nice filly who will keep improving, especially as the distances increase. If she gets to 1200m and 1400m rolls up onto the speed and keeps building, she might cause a few issues for the horses trying to chase her down.”

Commute, who started $2.50 favourite, beat fellow Wyong galloper So Very Vein ($2.90) from the Waugh stable, with Pacific Legend ($3.40), trained by Matthew Vella, third.

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A popular local victory with the Stephen ‘Beaver’ Schofield trained Stunned ($5.50) breaking through for his maiden win over 1600m.

The four-year-old Reset gelding was purchased unraced by Schofield for $8000 from Godolphin last year.

He retains a share in the gelding along with a group of locals, who were on course to celebrate the win.

“He’s a good honest horse and it’s really good to see him win so well today,” Schofield said.

“He’s been pretty consistent but this was his first go at a mile and you worry about if he will get the distance. He seemed to run it right out so he should win again somewhere.

“He hit the line well. He was only a cheap buy from Godolphin but he does everything right like all theirs do. He is a nice horse.

“I was confident in the horse’s ability today but a bit guarded as to whether he was going to run the mile.

“He was well weighted with Mikayla’s claim today and that really makes the difference. He carried 59 and 58.5kg at his last few starts and it’s hard for them. He does his best but weight will get everything.”

Schofield said he would look for a mile race in the country next start for Stunned.

Winning jockey Mikayla Weir said Stunned had answered any query there had been about him getting the distance.

“It wasn’t an issue today,” she said.

”Just on the corner he was travelling too well and I had to expose him a bit early but it suited him to keep rolling.

“It was good to see him attack the line. He’s gone super today.”

Milawa ($18) trained by Gwenda Markwell was second in the KIM WAUGH RACING STABLES MAIDEN, a length and a half ahead of the $2.50 race favourite Duchess Of Windsor, trained by Mathew Smith.

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The Josh Parr fan squad had plenty to cheer about with the leading jockey taking out the riding honours with a winning double.

Parr has a group of local men who support him at Wyong and in Sydney and they were on hand to celebrate his two wins.

His ride on the Kim Waugh trained Joy For Us was worth cheering, with Parr coming from the rear of the field and weaving a passage in the straight to score a narrow win.

Earlier a well-planned ride paid dividends for Parr earlier with Bon Equus ($3.10fav) proving the dominant stayer in 2100m ALLAN DENHAM RACING STABLES BM 64.

Parr took the Medagilia d’Oro gelding to the front early before surrendering the lead to Heroic Fighter ($4) in the middle stages.

He got going again before the turn and was able to run down in the favourite in the final stages of the straight to score a narrow win.

“It did look the perfect race for him so I’m glad he’s been able to come here and win,” Parr said.

“He’s been a horse that hasn’t won for some time now. He’s been competitive in some decent races without winning so it’s nice to win on him when the plan goes our way.

“It would have been very disappointing if he’d been beaten today especially given the run we had. I pressed forward quite intently early because I was keen on getting to the fence, to get the shortest way home with the weight, and get on our merry way coming to the corner.

“It all worked out really well and thankfully he stuck his head out.”

Stable representative Hayley Blythe-Devlin-Rorison said coming back in grade had been the key for Bon Equus, a brother to multiple black type winning stayer Destiny’s Kiss.

“He just keeps going and this is his trip today,” she said.

“He was unlucky here two starts back when he was caught off the track. He was out of his grade at Rosehill the other day but coming back here has given him a good confidence win.

“He just keeps on grinding and Josh really earned his money today. He got stuck into him around the 600m and it paid off in the end.

“He can mix his form a little bit but he seems a bit more genuine this time around and he’s enjoying his racing.”

Owned by Nick Moratis, Bon Equus has now had six wins and seven placings from 36 starts.

In a three-way finish Yorkshire Rock ($5.50), trained by Scott Singleton was second ahead of Heroic Fighter.

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Gerald Ryan looks to have unveiled another potential two-year-old star after Fortress Command’s debut victory over 1350m.

The Sebring colt could be targeted toward the Group 1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick on April 13, on the strength of his win.

“I’ve always had an opinion of him and he came here today and did everything right,” Ryan said.

“He’s a nice horse. His trials have all been too short for him and he is a horse who is going to get 1600m to 2000m without any problem.

“That’s why we waited for this race for him and he got the job done.”

Ryan said Fortress Command ($5) could head to the Champagne Stakes or Listed Fernill Handicap if he continued to improve.

“He settled terrific today, a lot better a than his trials. He should improve off that run and will improve over more ground.”

Jockey Brett Prebble settled the colt midfield in the GREAT NORTHERN ON TAP 2YO MAIDEN before taking him wide on the turn.

He hit the lead on straightening and held off challengers to score a strong one and a quarter length win.

Prebble, who is a regular rider for owners Sun Bloodstock, was happy with the win.

“It’s nice for him to come here and get it right the first time,” he said.

“He’s still a bit new and he’s a little bit temperamental. The race will do him the world of good. He’s come back, taken it all in his stride and had a really good look.

“He really gave me a good feel in the last part of the race and it was a nice win.

“I think you will see him over 2000m plus this horse.”

Fortress Command beat Prince Of Arragon ($12) from the John Thompson stable, with Godolphin’s $3.50 race favourite Promotions, third.

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Vinery Stud heavyweights Peter Orton and Adam White were trackside to celebrate their filly Silver Melody’s win in the 1000m DAMIEN LANE RACING STABLES CLASS 2.

The All Too Hard filly was unwanted at the 2017 Gold Coast Magic Millions sale, so Vinery owner Orton, his right-hand man White, and Newcastle businessman Allan Cox decided to race her.

They have been well rewarded with the three-year-old being super consistent in her short career with three wins and two placings from six starts.

Ridden by Brenton Avdulla, she led from barriers to post to record a three and a quarter length win, holding out the fast finishing race favourite Partners.

Trained by Kris Lees, the filly was coming off a let up, her last start at Randwick on December 26.

“She’s a speedy type at the gates and in the running,” stable representative Lucas Miller said.

“Brenton summed it up very well today. He got her to relax which is very important and she was too good in the end.

“She is very consistent. It’s vital she gets that breather during the race and Brenton was able to do that today.”

Miller said Lees would likely look for another race over a similar distance to keep the winning run going.

Winning jockey Brenton Avdulla said the filly had done everything right on the day.

“She’s lightly raced and has been around the mark her whole career and was able to get another win up today.

“She’s a short course horse. If she learns to switch off a bit maybe 1100m and I’m sure she’ll be better if she can relax more.

“At the moment she’s just a bit too quick for them so hopefully she just gets a bit of race sense and she’ll be right.”

Silver Melody ($2.80), beat Partners ($2.45) trained by Scott Singleton, with Crackneck ($13) from the Allan Kehoe stable, third.

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Jarrod Austin had never doubted the ability of his galloper Miss Antares but was frustrated she couldn’t bring that form to the track.

Unplaced in five starts, the Star Witness four-year-old turned the tables yesterday with an impressive length win in the 1000m KRISTEN BUCHANAN RACING STABLES 4YO & UP MAIDEN.

In a well-timed ride by Rachel King, the mare hit the lead around the 400m mark, kicking away to a three-length lead in the straight.

She held out the fast finishing Clara Et Moi, to bring up her first win.

Miss Antares was sent out $2.50 favourite on the strength of two recent trials, her latest a dominant win at Warwick Farm on February 4.

“We’ve had more than a few issues with her over the years, it’s been one thing after the other, so it is great to see her come her and perform like that,” Austin said.

“The key was for Rachel to get her out and into a nice rhythm and finish off strongly and Rachel did that perfectly.

“The most pleasing thing was to see her kick away in the straight.

“Her last couple of preparations she hasn’t been able to do that. She’s had a little wind operation since then and it’s done the trick.”

Austin said Miss Antares was a stable favourite with several of his staff having shares in the mare.

“They would have been cheering back home,” he laughed.

King said Miss Antares was still a “little bit new.”

“When she was in front in the straight she wasn’t quite sure about stretching out, but she’s been doing on half the amount of oxygen last preparation, so this time it was just nice to see her put them away like that.

“We knew she could always gallop but last start she was struggling with the win.

“She will improve further with that win.”

Miss Antares beat Clara Et Moi ($6.50) trained by Donna Griesdale, with Brooke ($6.50) from the Bob Holloway stable, third.

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Veteran trainer Ken Parker will rely on the expertise of his jockey when Invicta attempts to make it back to back wins in the 1600m Benchmark 70 at Wyong on Tuesday.

Parker has had a long association with champion jockey Robert Thompson and believes he gets the best out of the five-year-old Rothesay gelding.

“I’ve had other riders at times, but he always seems to run best for Robert,” Parker said.

“He knows the horse and the horse knows him and goes good for him. I have put others on when Robert couldn’t ride him, and he’s just gone awful. He just seems to go well for Robert, he really can get the best out of him.”

Invicta looks one of the main chances in the field of eight, but Parker believes the Kim Waugh trained White Boots will be the hardest to beat.

“White Boots is pretty smart, and they are claiming on it. If there’s a bit of speed on it will suit us because my bloke, he’ll get back anyway.

“Hopefully he’ll be running fifth or sixth, one off the fence and it will be lovely.

“It gets to the stage now, I say to Robert ‘you know how to ride him.’

“We did discuss it when he won at Newcastle last start because there was absolutely no speed but most times I just say, ‘you know what to do.’

‘It’s no good me telling him. He’s had more rides than I’ve had feeds,” Parker laughed.

Thompson has partnered Invicta in more than half his 29 starts including six of his seven career wins and Parker is confident they can bring up another victory on Tuesday.

“He’s come back in good form. He’s doing everything right and I’m very happy with him.

“I mapped out his program about eight weeks ago and this race fits in perfectly.

“He’s getting a big older now and wants 1400m or a mile minimum, so this looks spot on.”

Sixty-nine-year-old Parker, who has two in work at Gosford, has had a lifelong association with horses and Invicta is the best he has trained.

He was purchased by a friend Robert Gurr as a yearling for $10,000 and with close to $150,000 in prizemoney to date, he has proved to be a good earner.

“Robert rang me up and told me he liked one by Rothesay and asked what I thought,” Parker said.

“I told him to go ahead with him and he bought him sight unseen.

“I knew after his first run in a race he had ability. He’s a nice little horse and he’s been good to me.

“He’s an absolute nob, a lovely horse. He’s got his little quirky things which he puts on nearly daily, but I’m used to that and take no notice.

“Other than that, he’s just a lovely horse to have around the place. He’s quiet, he behaves himself and does everything right.”

Wyong Race Club host an eight race card on Tuesday, with the meeting acknowledging local owners and trainers.

The first race gets underway at 1.20pm.

 

SELECTIONS:

Race 1 – 1.20pm: GREAT NORTHERN ON TAP 2YO MAIDEN PLATE (1350m): 1 PROMOTIONS, 2 Fortress Command, 3 Manhattan Marvel, 4 Prince Of Arragon.

Race 2 – 1.55pm: DAMIEN LANE RACING STABLES CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1000m); 1 SILVER MELODY, 2 Crackneck, 3 Highly Desired, 4 Partners.

Race 3 – 2.35pm: ALLAN DENHAM RACING STABLES BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (2100m): 1 DYNAMIC DYNASTY, 2 Heroic Fighter, 3 Bon Equus, 4 Magic Over The Bay.

Race 4 – 3.10pm: KIM WAUGH RACING STABLES MAIDEN HANDICAP (1600m): 1 DUCHESS OF WINDSOR, 2 Invidentia, 3 Milawa, 4 Lohan Princess.

Race 5 – 3.45pm: KRISTEN BUCHANAN RACING STABLES 4YO & UPWARD MAIDEN PLATE (1000m): 1 SPICY MO, 2 Miss Antares, 3 Heeby Jeeby, 4 Clara Et Moi.

Race 6 – 4.20pm: MEN CARE TOO PROV & CTRY MAIDEN HANDICAP (1100m): 1 SO VERY VEIN, 2 Collision, 3 Fused Magic, 4 High Flight.

Race 7 – 4.55pm: OVER THE LINE RACING CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1350m): 1 LIFETIME QUEST, 2 Waka, 3 Paulo Pace, 4 Beidi.

Race 8 – 5.30pm: WYONG TRAINERS’ TROPHY CONDITIONAL BENCHMARK 70 (1600m): 1 INVICTA, 2 White Boots, 3 Captain Mannering, 4 Sensacova.

 

 

 

 

When the Chris Waller trained Tough Larry won his maiden on debut on the Kensington track last September there were tears all round.

The horse was bought by the late Matt Callander and there were tears from all the family, including his father, the former top racing journalist Ken and brother Richard.

There were also tears from the family of the late test cricketer Phillip Hughes who also share in the ownership of the three-year-old.

Tough Larry had one more run after that but failed on a heavy track at Randwick and was sent to the paddock.

He resumed at Wyong on Sunday in the Complete Roofing Warehouse Benchmark 64 (1000m) and carried 60kgs to break the class record and score an easy win to give Kathy O’Hara the second leg of a winning double.

There were no tears this time, just plenty of cheering and talk of where the son of Fast ‘n Famous might be headed.

“We know he is a city class horse because they have to be special to win a maiden in town on debut,” Richard said.

“He is a Saturday class horse for sure.”

It was only decided at 7.28 on race morning to run Tough Larry in this race.

Waller had accepted with him in two races at Wyong and in another at Warwick Farm on Monday.

“This race was last on the list of priorities and Chris rang from New Zealand this morning and wanted to run at Warwick Farm because it is 1200 metres and that is his best distance,” Richard said.

“However, we had a discussion and decided this was the most appropriate race first up.

“That was a nice kill and will give him a lot of confidence.”

O’Hara settled Tough Larry on the outside of the leader Miss Fisher but once they turned for home, he kicked away to win by one- and three-quarter lengths in 57.10 seconds.

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The Gerald Ryan trained problem horse, Mameli (James Innes), defied a betting drift and an unusual preparation to lead all the way and win the SEA FM Showstopper Maiden (1000m) on debut.

Memeli opened an odds-on favourite but drifted to start at $3.10 after going into the race on the back of just two gallops.

However, he just managed to hold off a late challenge from the well backed $2.10 favourite Temple Run (Jay Ford) to win by a short head.

“He is a difficult horse to train because he has had so many issues,” Ryan said.

“He has had two knee operations and a tie back on his throat and went into this race with a jump out and a trial.

“The rest of his work has been trotting and cantering and in the pool.”

Glenn and Viive Williams paid $70,000 for Memali at a breeze up.

“He was my third pick but the first two went for prices outside our range,” Glenn Williams said.

“At one stage I was regretting buying him because of the problems but we always had faith in him and Gerald has done an amazing job.”

Glenn and Viive Williams race the horse in partnership with former top jockey Neville Voigt and his wife Jenny.

“We had horses with Neville when he was training and we have remained friends after he closed his stable,” Glenn said.

“We convinced them to come into this horse and we bought three yearlings at the Gold Coast and I am going to try and talk them into coming into or two of them with us.”

That was the first leg of a double for Ryan who won the following race, the Club Toukley’s Harry Trotters Maiden (1350m) with another first starter in the beautifully bred Miss Belief (Glyn Schofield), a $350,000 yearling buy.

Miss Belief, the 2.60 favourite, is by Snitzel from Divine Rebel which ran two seconds in Sydney cups.

“Jay Ford had been riding her in a lot of her work and he thinks we will see the best of her when she gets to 1600 metres or 2000 metres,” Ryan said.

“She showed us a lot in her first preparation and I put her out but she came back and was going awful so I put her out again.

“This time in she has been going really well.”

Schofield settled her sixth place and she showed a great turn of foot when he asked her to go forward.

She was the widest runner on the turn and accelerated quickly to shake off Poseidon Star (7.50) and win by three quarters of a length.

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Another filly to stamp herself as a potential middle-distance galloper is the Anthony Cummings trained Turakina (Adam Hyeronimus) which caused something of an upset in winning the United Tools Maiden (1600m).

Turakina ($5.50) exploded away in the straight to easily put paid to the odds-on favourite Deelbraka ($1.40) to beat him by two and a quarter lengths.

“This is the first time we have put blinkers on Turakina and she really needed them,” stable representative, Harry Cruickshank, said.

“Her previous two starts over 1350 metres here showed she was crying out for the blinkers and the extra distance.

“We think she is going to make a nice middle-distance galloper.”

Hyeronimus settled Turakina in fifth place and tracked the favourite all the way.

Soon after straightening it was apparent the favourite was in trouble and Turakina strolled away to win easily.

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A brilliant ride from Kathy O’Hara and equally brilliant gate speed from Spiritual Pursuit led to the filly scoring an all the way win in the Floormaster Maiden (1000m) for trainer Jason Coyle.

Spiritual Pursuit ran a class record of 57 seconds for the win, coming home last 600 metres in 33.22 seconds.

The filly is by Snitzel from the Shamardal mare Happy Hippy and is a family that Coyle is well acquainted with.

He trained Happy Hippy to win a Taree maiden for Nathan Tinkler before the filly was switched to John Thompson at Randwick.

“She was the first Australian winner for Shamardal,” Coyle said.

Happy Hippy was a two-time Listed winner and was placed several times at Group level.

“Spiritual Pursuit is by Australia’s leading sire and with that breeding you just hope they can gallop,” Coyle said.

“She had three starts last preparation including one here at Wyong and she was just weak so I gave her a good break and she came back far stronger and more mature.”

Spiritual Pursuit ($3.20) was having her first start back from that break with the benefit of two trials.

She started from the outside barrier but easily won the start and O’Hara was able to use her natural early speed to get across and on to the fence.

She was strong the whole way and went to the line full of running to win by one-and-three-quarter lengths from You And You Alone ($9).

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The David Pfieffer-trained Fluidity made it two starts for two wins when he prevailed in the MI Property Benchmark 64 (2100m).

The mare, ridden by Jason Collett, won her maiden over a similar distance at Gosford earlier this month and turned in another true staying test to win here.

Collett had the $3 favourite last before taking off at the 700 metres to circle the field and join Fraudulent (Kathy O’Hara) in the lead.

That pair kicked away from the rest and it became a two-horse war in the straight.

Fraudulent took the lead but at the 200 metres Fluidity kicked away at the 100 metres to win by two lengths.

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The strength of English jockey Tom Marquand got the Scott Singleton trained Partners home in the Job Centre Class One (1100m).

Marquand did a great job to jump Partners ($3.70) straight to the lead from his outside gate and dictate terms and then hold off the Kim Waugh trained Mighty Marmalade ($5.50).

“It was Tom’s strength that got him home,” former jockey Benny Vassallo said.

“He is a pretty fair horse and Scott has done a good job with him.

“We bought a yearling at the Magic Millions which will go to Scott while we are also going to the Easter sales as well.”

Vassallo is the racing manager for B K Racing and Breeding which owns Partners.

Marquand said he had been worried half way down the straight.

“I could hear the other horse coming and I thought we were going to be swamped but he dug deep, it was a tough win,” he said.

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Salsa Man continued his good form at Wyong when he proved far too strong, second up, in the Bendigo Bank Wyong Benchmark 64 (1600m).

The son of I Am Invincible, bought for $300,000 at the 2017 Premier Yearling Sale, looks destined for a good preparation this time in.

“He was racing well in mid-week company in Sydney last preparation which was good form for a race like this,” foreman Nathan Perry said.

“He was gelded then spelled and has matured and improved.”

In three starts at Wyong Salsa Man has scored two wins and run a close second, first up, 17 days ago.

Chad Lever let Salsa Man ($6) drop out to second last then started to work forward from the 700 metres, circled the field and was the widest runner in the straight to win by half a length from the $2.30 favourite Nindamos.

 

Scott Singleton hopes he will be celebrating from New Zealand if one or both of his horses can post a win at Sunday’s Wyong race meeting.

Hawkesbury based Singleton has two runners at the club’s SEA FM Family Race Day but will be across the Tasman at the Karaka Bloodstock yearling sales.

“I’ll be cheering them home from there and it would be great to get a win,” he said. “But then again it might be a bit dangerous because I’ll be at the sales. I might put my hand up a little bit more,” he laughed.

Singleton considers Partners to have the best chance of the two but, is also expecting a good performance from stablemate Itasca.

Nicconi gelding Partners, was an $80,000 yearling purchase for prominent racing identity Brad Hunt, from BK Racing.

The three-year-old is coming off a second at Gosford on January 17 and despite drawing the extreme outside, Singleton is confident he can go one better on Sunday in the 1100m Class 1.

“It’s not an ideal barrier but he’s got plenty of speed,” he said. “Depending on how he jumps, if he’s not ultra-quick, he’s better off out there because he can take his time to come across. It’s not too bad for a horse like him.”

Singleton said he felt Partners was unlucky last start at Gosford.

“There was one horse in there that drew underneath him and had the same speed early. I think if you take it out he probably would have won the race but that’s just him. He goes hard and keeps at it.

“He’s racing in good heart and I don’t see why he can’t go to Wyong and do something similar.”

He said Partners was a horse with plenty of upside.

“He’s always been such a hard-going horse. He’s his own worst enemy but I think he’s just starting to come back a bit and his two runs this prep, at Gosford and Randwick, I’ve been pretty happy with.

“I think there is still a chance for him to go somewhere. He did win over 1300m but he was just too good for them that day in a maiden but he’s a short course horse for sure.”

Singleton has engaged inform English jockey Tom Marquand, who rode Partners last start.

“Tom is on him again. He seems to ride him good. He’s a nice rider and they know he’s on them, that’s for sure.”

Christian Reith partners Itasca in the 1600m Benchmark 64.

The five-year-old Tickets gelding finished fourth at Orange when resuming on December 30, beaten less than half a length.

“He’s come back well. I thought his first up run was really good and he’s in pretty good order this prep,” Singleton said.

“It’s one of those races where he looks one of the chances. He raced over 1400m first up and was strong late. He will be looking for further after Sunday and has won at 2000m.

“He didn’t have a bad prep last prep but without winning. He wasn’t far away on a few occasions in strong enough races, but I think he’s come back a bit better this time in.

“I don’t think he’s ever gone as good first up as he did the other day. He’s sort of always been a narrow horse but he actually looks a bit strong at the moment so hopefully he can put another good run in on Sunday and get him up in distance.”

Singleton is hoping for a change of luck with a pretty quiet start to the season.

“Things have been a little quiet, but we’ve got some babies coming through, four or five trialled last week and some others ready to come back. Hopefully we can start getting a few more winners.”

Selections:

Race 1 – 1.20pm: THE SEA FM SHOWSTOPPER CG&E MAIDEN (1000m): 1 BASTILLE GREY, 2 Temple Run, 3 Superbowl Sunday, 4 Vosti.

Race 2 – 1.55pm: CLUB TOUKLEY’S HARRY TROTTERS MAIDEN (1350m): 1 MISS BELIEF, 2 Poseidon Star, 3 Marisabel, 4 Loveseat.

Race 3 – 2.30pm: UNITED TOOLS MAIDEN (1600m): 1 DEELBRAKA, 2 Commander’s Watch, 3 Prince Silence, 4 Chief Command.

Race 4 – 3.05pm: FLOORMASTER F&M MAIDEN (1000m): 1 SWIZELER, 2 Modernity, 3 Ivira, 4 Joyous Times.

Race 5 – 3.45pm: MI PROPERTY GROUP BENCHMARK 64 (2100m): 1 DYLAN’S ROMANCE, 2 Triple Hero, 3 Pickelhaube, 4 Fluidity.

Race 6 – 4.20pm: COMPLETE ROOFING WAREHOUSE BENCHMARK 64 (1000m): 1 TOUGH LARRY, 2 Kedah, 3 Miss Fisher, 4 Disgraceful.

Race 7 – 5.00pm: JOB CENTRE CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1000m): 1 RECTITUDE, 2 Mighty Marmalade, 3 Tikkitala, 4 Miss Einstein.

Race 8 – 5.35pm: BENDIGO BANK WYONG BENCHMARK 64 (1600m): 1 NINDAMOS, 2 McMahon, 3 Salsa Man, 4 Chalk.