Month: January 2023

Wet weather may have impacted the crowd but certainly didn’t affect the racing, with several impressive performances across the seven races and a clean sweep for Chad Schofield, winning on both his mounts.

Kris Lees looks to have a handy prospect in Russian Revolution three-year-old Brudenell, who brought up his third win from just five starts in the 1000m BM64. 

Earl Of Devon could live up to his $230,000 price tag, the New Zealand bred three-year-old staying prospect breaking through at just his second start for trainer John Thompson. 

The Mark Newnham trained Lim’s Sydney could be one to follow with a dominant win in the 1100 Maiden, while training duo Tara and Phillipe Vigouroux were celebrating in the last with Izfallihngdown greeting the judge at $26.

The track held up well after being downgraded to a heavy 8 before the first race.  

Race 1 – BOOK YOUR NET FUNCTION AT WYONG RACE CLUB CLASS 1 (1100m)

An upset in the first with the Joe Pride trained Pole Position ($8) too strong in the final stages over the 1100m. 

The Astern gelding was in a battle down the straight with the Kim Waugh’s Oxford Vision ($11) and got the bob on the line to score by a head. 

The first and second placegetters kicked clear in the straight and Brad Widdup’s short priced favourite Justina looked like being well beaten. 

She hit a flat spot-on straightening before storming home late to finish third and looks like the one to follow. The Snitzel filly was sent out $2.05 favourite after late support, with the Lees trained second favourite Zanzibar Gem ($2.60) appearing to have no excuses. Aaron Bullock later relayed to stewards, the mare failed to handle the heavy track.

There were plenty of excited owners on course to cheer home the winner, a $50k Magic Millions buy, raced by Triple Crown and ridden by Chad Schofield

“It was a good debut run for him,” Pride said. “It looked a suitable assignment first up, it’s a good start to his preparation and there is good improvement to come.”

Race 2 – PRESILIENT – MANAGED IT SERVICES PROVINCIAL BM64 (1000m)

The Lees trained Brudenell showed his class to overcome a wide run and bring up his third win from just five starts. 

The son of Russian Revolution was sent out $2.70 favourite on the strength of his dominant win over the same distance at Tamworth last start. 

Stable representative Danny Greer said the three-year-old was showing plenty of promise. 

“We expect him to progress nicely through his grades,” he said. “He had no favours today, posted wide without cover, but Aaron (Bullock) got him moving at the right time and it was a solid win in the end.”

The Ben Smith trained Belieber ($3.60), who was the recipient of late support, battled on gamely to finish second, with the Perry trained Aspen Chase ($7) third. 

Race 3 – ABCOE CENTRAL COAST MIDWAY MAIDEN (1350m)

John Thompson looks to have a handy stayer on his hands, with Earl Of Devon ($8) scoring a nice first up win over the 1350m. 

The New Zealand bred three-year-old by Tavistock, a $230,000 Karaka yearling, was resuming from a spell having been unplaced at his only start. 

Coming off just one trial, he earnt support with the punters, opening at $13 and starting at $8. 

Despite being caught wide, Keagan Latham gave the gelding a good ride just off the speed and just when the $2.20 favourite Shigeru looked like he was going to break through for a win, Earl Of Devon was able to run him down on the line to win by a long neck.

Rod Craig, representing the stable, said they had expected a good run first up. 

“We wanted him to be more on the pace today and he was ridden beautifully,” he said. “I was a bit worried coming to the turn that he was pushing him along, but he levelled out nice. He’s a nice horse and it was a good win today.”

Lord Bob, ($5.60) trained locally by Allan Kehoe, was third. 

Race 4 – BIDFOOD MAIDEN (1100m)

Lim’s Energy ($1.50) won like a short-priced favourite should, putting more than three lengths on his opposition. 

The Smart Missile three-year-old was having just his second career start, after finishing second on debut at Nowra on January 8. 

Trainer Mark Newnham, had him over the same distance at Wyong and he was again partnered by apprentice Tyler Schiller, who gave the gelding a gun ride, despite copping interference at the 600m. 

He settled him one out, one back in the small field, before taking him to the front on straightening where he sped away for a dominant win. 

Schiller had been confident Lim’s Energy could break his maiden. 

“He was very good at his first start but was a bit wayward when he hit the front. I thought he would show a good turn of foot late and he did.”

The Matthew Smith trained Fiancetto ($7) was second and will be improved by the run, while Choix De La Mer ($4.20) from the Snowden stable, was third. 

Race 5 – GIBBOS PIES MAIDEN (1600m)

John O’Shea’s New Zealand bred More Saintly ($5.50) showed a super turn of foot to present Chad Schofield with a winning double.

The Reliable Man three-year-old was stepping out for the third time, his second start over the 1600m. 

He looks certain to excel over more ground after showing a great turn of foot to overhaul the leader and race favourite Bridget Wenlock ($4.20) in the final stages. 

The Neasham runner looked to have the race won after shooting away in the straight, before More Saintly emerged from the pack and gave chase, overhauling the favourite on the line to win by half a length. 

The Waller trained Stella Simone ($5.50) could be one to follow, finishing strongly in third. 

Race 6 – COAST & COUNTRY MEATS WYONG BM64(1600m)

The addition of blinkers and a trouble-free run set the tone for Real Peace to bring up his fifth career win after being sent out $3.30 favourite. 

The Clarry Connors trained five-year-old, a $30,000 Magic Millions yearling, has returned nearly $300,000 for his owners, many who were trackside to celebrate his latest victory. 

Tom Sherry was able to put the gelding in a good position despite the wide barrier, and when he gave him his head in the straight, he pulled away to win by three lengths. 

“He’s a horse that tends to find trouble and Tom took all the bad luck out of the equation today and sat outside the leader,” Marc Connors said. “He didn’t get in trouble and got the job done. He relaxed really well and when Tom asked, he gave plenty. The blinkers helped today as well.”

Mark Cross’s Sian’s ($5) put in another honest performance to finish second, with the Widdup trained Ausbred Bluebird ($8) third and looking for more ground.  

Race 7 – WYONG’S NEXT RACE MEETING BJ HOWES METALAND RACE DAY FEBRUARY 21 BM64 (2100m)

A rough result in the staying race with an outsider Izfallingdown upsetting her more fancied rivals to return $26.

Trained at Hawkesbury by Tara and Philippe Vigouroux, the six-year-old mare was having her first start over the 2100m and appreciated the extra ground, with a tough win. 

The Vigouroux’s have taken their time with Izfallingdown, a daughter of American sire London Bridge, who they race with Tara’s father former Hawkesbury Race Club chairman Ken Quigley. 

She was coming off a third at Canberra over 1600m on January 11. 

Taylor settled Izfallingdown midfield before circling the field on the turn and hitting the front on straightening. She toughed it out in the straight and was able to stave off the placegetters, the Doyle trained Brave Angel ($5.50) and Endorphins ($3.90) from the Lees stable, with both having every chance. It was Brave Angel’s last race, with the mare in foal. 

Tom Sherry reported to stewards Allan Kehoe’s $3.90 favourite Dragon Dream, had faield to back up after racing a Canterbury on Friday night. 

IT’S all in 24 hours’ work.
Jockey Winona Costin was in Tasmania on Friday to land a feature race for co-trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, then returned home to ride the last two winners at Wyong yesterday.
The much-travelled Costin, who chalked up 84 winners last season and is approaching a career tally of 550, was successful in the Listed Tasmanian Guineas (1600m) on three-year-old Russian Roni, who clinched a hat-trick.
She was at Wyong principally to partner stablemate Bucks Party in a successful debut and then finished off a busy 24 hours by also winning the closer on Miss Checkoni for Gosford trainer Nick Mitchell.
Punters who went to the meeting expecting to clean up on three short-priced favourites were left bitterly disappointed when none were successful.
Asva ($1.55) managed third and Overriding ($1.26) was narrowly beaten before bookmakers took a set against locally trained True Crime, who was withdrawn from a Rosehill Gardens engagement to resume on his home track when trainer Kim Waugh opted not to run him on a heavy surface in Sydney.
After opening at odds-on, he got out to start at $2.20 and couldn’t pick up Costin’s mount Miss Checkoni, although he ran on well.
The seven-race program was conducted on a soft 7 track and there were no suspensions, although Blake Spriggs was reprimanded by Stewards after his ride in the sixth race and told to exercise more care when shifting ground in future.

RACE 1: DE BORTOLI WINES MAIDEN (1600m):
The ride won the race. Jockey Jeff Penza took off from second last on Gleefilly nearing the 600m when the pace was muddling, and hotpot Asva was behind the leading pair and being steadied off heels. Gleefilly ($4.80) continued on with her run, took the lead on the home turn and kept going to comfortably defeat Pioneer Lass ($10) and the $1.55 favourite. A lightly raced Kermadec three-year-old who cost only $35,000 as a yearling, Gleefilly was having only her fourth start and continues to show improvement. On this performance, she looks capable of stretching out further in distance. Jockey Mitchell Bell told stewards Asva started to race keenly when the speed slackened near the 700m. He added that when able to secure clear running at the top of the straight, his mount finished the race off only fairly. Kaisa, who finished last of the seven runners, pulled up 1/5 lame in the off foreleg and a vet clearance is required before she can either trial or race again.
RACE 2: BISHOP COLLINS CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS BENCHMARK 64 (2100m):
FORMER French gelding Flambeur ($3.80 favourite) finally cracked it for his first Australian win. Trainer Matthew Smith was confident beforehand the seven-year-old could break his Aussie “duck” and jockey Ashley Morgan duly delivered. Nonetheless, it looked a bit dicey in the early stages when the seven-year-old was trapped wide until Morgan was able to secure cover in the back straight. He found the drop back to Provincial grade to his liking, having been runner-up to Made By Khan (who raced at Sandown Saturday) in a 2000m Midway Handicap at Royal Randwick on Christmas Eve. Under his 60kg today, he outstayed Nathan Doyle’s stablemates Celestial Fury ($12) and Brave Angel ($7). That pair are capable of getting into the winning list soon, both finishing solidly although never likely to overhaul the winner.

RACE 3: PRIORITY BUSINESS LAWYERS MIDWAY MAIDEN (1000m):
Well supported first starter First Class Molley was a late withdrawal when she became fractious in the barriers, reared up and lunged forward and momentarily got her head cast over the front gate. Stewards ruled she would have to barrier trial to their satisfaction being before permitted to start in a race. At his 16th start and after seven placings, Newcastle trained Super Freds ($4.60) shed his maiden status. Ridden by Andrew Adkins, the four-year-old settled near the tail but got a magnificent run through on straightening to run down Mr Kennedy ($7.50), who had kicked clear and looked a likely winner. Trainer Jay Hopkins said Super Freds was consistent, but usually found a way to strike trouble in his races and should have won a couple of starts back when runner-up at Taree. Separatist ($3.20 fav) was resuming and lost all chance when he didn’t make the home turn well and battled on to finish third. He will no doubt take improvement from this outing.

RACE 4: WYONG ROOS FOUNDATION F&M CLASS 1 (1350m):

Another “shortie” bit the dust here. Newcastle filly Overriding had made a winning debut at home in a 1200m Maiden on Boxing Day and was sent out at $1.26 against only four rivals. However, she never travelled like the good thing she was expected to be. She jumped awkwardly, then had to be steadied to avoid the heels of another runner near the 400m and shifted in under pressure from the 100m to 50m before being straightened. Just as she looked some chance of getting past Galactic Angel (third at $6.50), Definitely Maybe ($9) swooped and nabbed her in the closing stages. A $370,000 Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling, the So You Think four-year-old gave her trainer Matt Smith a double. While Overriding was beaten, she is definitely worth another chance.

RACE 5: GO ELECTRICAL CG&E CLASS 1 (1350m):
Wild Irish Rover ($6) won his Maiden on protest at Wyong on December 14 and jockey Andrew Adkins considered attempting a similar feat. His mount was narrowly beaten by Smooth Flight ($3.60 fav) and he asked to view Stewards’ footage to establish whether there were grounds to lodge an objection against the winner. Both Adkins and Stewards were satisfied there were insufficient grounds for a protest and correct weight was declared. Smooth Flight, a four-year-old by Air Force Blue, was having his seventh start and notched his second success. Watch The Clock ($7.50) followed up his recent Hawkesbury win with a solid third, running on gamely. Apprentice Georgina McDonnell was reminded of her obligations to fully ride her mounts out to the finish wherever possible after just holding fourth on Mancconi from By Nine, who was resuming and ran home stoutly and is looking for further ground.

RACE 6: CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES MAIDEN (1350m):
The Waterhouse-Bott stable is happy to send inexperienced young horses to the Provincials to begin their careers – and such was the case with New Zealand-bred three-year-old BUCKS PARTY ($3.60 fav). He made his debut after overcoming a stress fracture and contesting four barrier trials and gave Winona Costin the first leg of her double. He did a good job too, beginning well and sitting behind Sir Tom before challenging that horse and taking over on straightening. Though hotly pursued in the closing stages, Bucks Party wouldn’t surrender and toughed it out to hold off Diaco ($21) and Mister Hemsworth ($7.50). The runner-up had done nothing in five previous starts, so this was an indication that he is turning the corner. Nice run also from fourth placed Competition, who drew awkwardly and hit the line with purpose.

RACE 7:  WYONG’S NEXT RACES JANUARY 18TH & 22ND PROVINCIAL BENCHMARK 68 (1200m):
Bookmakers gambled and won when the third supposed “special” Kim Waugh’s True Crime couldn’t send most punters home with at least something in their pockets. Easing from odds-on to start at $2.20, True Crime was under pressure from the 600m and still found the line, but was no match for Miss Checkoni ($7), who enjoyed a comfortable run in transit and eased around the leader’s heels at the 200m to score decisively. Jockey Andrew Gibbons told Stewards in his opinion True Crime will derive a fitness benefit from the outing and be better suited over a longer distance. Miss Checkoni was considered good enough to tackle a heat of the Provincial Championships at Newcastle last March, so her win at her third run this preparation was certainly no surprise. She was dropping back from a last start fifth in city grade at Canterbury, and recorded her fourth victory. Local mare Mosht Up ($8.50) loomed up menacingly and finished third, whilst iron horse ISORICH ($13) faltered near the 100m before finishing fifth. Another local Oakfield Mahogany ($3.40) was strongly supported and appeared to have every chance when fourth.