Month: September 2023

Dark Halo could be the horse to follow from Wyong’s GO Electrical Race Day following an impressive debut over 1100m. 

The flashy son of Zoustar hit the ground running in the OMNI – HAGER – CABAC CG&E MAIDEN and despite maintaining a high cruising speed, was able to quicken in the straight and win by four lengths.

The $280k Magic Millions yearling had won his previous two trials for the Maher/Eustace stable, the latest at Rosehill by almost 10 lengths. 

But he wasn’t without fault, stable representative Liam Ruddy describing Dark Halo ($2.25fav) as a “work in progress.”

“He’s been scratched at the barriers a few times, so it was good to see him stand there and do everything properly today. He’s here now and it was a really nice debut. Off the back of that you couldn’t be anything but excited.”

Dark Halo’s win brought up a double for Maher/Eustace and Jason Collett, with Costa Smeralda scoring earlier in the day. 

It was a family affair in the 2100m SAL – MATCHMASTER – OMEGA POWER BM64, father and daughter Richard and Alysha Collett combining for victory with Whetu.

The late money was spot on for the Dundeel six-year-old who was backed in from $3.80 to $2.50. 

He put paid to his opposition in the final stages, romping home by over eight lengths, to bring up his 4^th career win. 

“I probably slaughtered him last start, so I’m surprised I got back on,” Collett laughed. “There were five leaders in the race today and that worked out well. I was able to keep him in his rhythm, keep him in the open and go through the gears.”

The family connection continued in the HANECO F&M MAIDEN with Jason Collett piloting Maher Eustace’s well bred filly Costa Smeralda ($3.50) to victory. 

There had been plenty of confidence from both the stable and Collett, who trialled the Exceed and Excel filly, that she would perform well on debut. 

She didn’t disappoint winning the1100m race by a length after showing plenty of early speed. 

“It’s good when a filly has got natural gate speed and takes luck out the equation,”  Liam Ruddy said. “She quickened nicely in the straight, giving the impression she might do something as the spring continues.”

It may have taken Kris Lees’ Satirical Fan eight starts to break his maiden, but he certainly did it in great fashion, winning the ROBUS LIGHTING – HPM LEGRAND – ELECTRA CABLES PROVINCIAL 4YO & UP MAIDEN over 1600m by almost nine lengths. 

Dylan Gibbons gave the So You Think gelding the perfect front running ride and was able to slip away in the straight for a very dominant win.

“He was beaten by a good horse last start, so we were confident today,” Danny Greer, representing the Lees stable, said. “I’d like to think he will go on improving as he steps up in distance.”

It was a race-to-race Lees/Gibbons double when consistent gelding Oakfield Prince ($2.05fav) took out the PSA – THORNE LIGHTING – APP BM64 over 1600m.

The So You Think six-year-old, raced by Bruce McKenzie, had been runner-up at his past two starts, but atoned for the losses with a three-length win. 

“It’s onwards and upwards for him now,” Gibbons said. “It’s a good sign when they can put them away like he did today.”

Mark Cross’s locally trained Sian ($7) stormed home to finish third.  

Gerald Ryan described the win by his All Too Hard gelding Let’s Try ($3.10) in the 1350m SCHNEIDER SUPER MAIDEN as “well deserved.”

The four-year-old brought up his first win at start six, with Brandon Lerena in the saddle.  

“He’s come a long way this time in,” Ryan said. “He did heaps wrong early but this time around after a nice spell, he’s much more settled and manageable. Brandon rated him good today. He’s no star but will win a couple more races.”

Damien Lane’s Red Cobra, the $101 outsider of the field, flashed home for second. 

Tim Clark made a successful return to Wyong at just his second meeting back after suffering an injury on Cup Day. 

Clark rode the David Pfieffer trained Beneficio ($8) to victory in the 1100m SHARKRACK – IPD – EMERALD LIGHTING BM64.

The Magnus mare was having only her second start for the stable having previously raced in Victoria and brought up her second career win. 

“It’s good to be back and in the winner’s stall,” Clark said. “This mare filled me with confidence in the run that she’d be in the finish a long way out. She fought it out really well.”

Kristen Buchanan’s Big Happiness could be in for a good preparation after finishing third, just a length behind the winner. 

A long shot winner in the last, the 1350m KLEIN TOOLS – EVOLT – PRYSMIAN – BRILLIANT MIDWAY BM64 with Brett Lazzarini’s Mancconi ($37) upsetting the more favoured riders with Brock Ryan in the saddle. 

There were some nervous moments for Lazzarini after a truck accident on the freeway delayed their arrival. 

“I didn’t think we were going to get here at one stage, but we made it. He’s no world beater this horse but every time you put him down, he does his best. My wife owns 80% so it keeps her happy, “he laughed. 

Like his famous namesake the John O’Shea trained Benaud has written himself into the record books claiming the 2023 Listed Carlton Wyong Gold Cup. 

And it was rising star Dylan Gibbons who rode the five-year-old to victory giving the son of Reliable Man his first black type win. 

The Cup was marred by a dramatic mid-race fall around the 800m, with front runner The Mediterranean faltering causing a ricochet effect, which resulted in three jockeys being dislodged and six runners pulled out of the race. 

Fortunately, riders Regan Bayliss, Tim Clark and Brett Prebble escaped serious injuries. 

Gibbons had settled Benaud mid field and was able to avoid the trouble caused by the fall, storming down the outside in the straight to claim victory from fellow grey and race favorite Bois D’Argent. 

The win was the result of a well thought out plan by O’Shea, who took Benaud to Wyong for a 2100m Class 1 in July, hoping for a confidence boosting win and run on the track.

The plan worked with the gelding posting a six-length victory, before returning to Wyong after a failed run in the Grafton Cup and freshen up, to claim the club’s biggest prize.

“He’s been going good and had a lovely draw to get an economical run in the race. He was well weighted, and we thought it was a great opportunity for him” 

While the win was only the third for Benaud, he has had three previous Group placings to his name, including a second to Hitotsu in the G1 ATC Australian Derby. 

It’s O’Shea’s second Wyong Cup win in as many years after claiming victory in 2021 with another grey Berdibek.

The Annabel Neasham pair Bois D’Argent ($4.60fav) and Spirit Ridge ($13) filled the minor placings.

O’Shea’s victory in the Cup atoned for a second in the day’s other feature the Mona Lisa, where he trained runner-up Sanstoc.

The Mona Lisa can turn up a long shot and this year was no exception with Peter and Paul Snowden’s Mirra View taking out the $200k Listed race returning $26. 

The More Than Ready five-year-old was given the perfect ride by Chad Schofield, who came from midfield with a sustained run in the straight to grab victory. 

In a huge result for the Snowden’s the well supported Wollombi finished third, behind Sanstoc ($21), who protested unsuccessfully against the winner. 

A delighted Peter Snowden described Mirra View as a “very genuine, honest filly.”

“This is the level she’s been looking for and it’s great to see her get black type to her name. She’s been the victim of too good a barrier in the past but today it worked out beautifully from the gate and they went quick enough for her to get back and go through her revs.

“Chad got her out in plenty of time and it was good to see her get the job done. The owners are great supporters of the stable and I’m very happy for them.”  

Snowden said he was also thrilled with the performance of the well supported Wollombi ($4.40), who despite being caught wide throughout finished third.

 It was an effortless win by the Godolphin trained Balkans ($2.70) to take out the inaugural running of the $60,000 Super Maiden over 1200m.

Zac Lloyd box seated on the Lonhro colt before angling him to the outside in the final stages steering him to an easy victory.

It was a pickup ride for Lloyd, replacing the injured McDonald.  

Darren Beadman said they had expected the three-year-old colt to race well. 

“He’s a lovely horse, a big scoping horse and we expected him to get around Wyong pretty well. He had no luck at Canterbury on debut, but it taught him to race and laid a nice foundation for this race.”

Clarry Conners Peace Officer ($3.50) was a dominant winner of the 1300m Da Vinci 3&4YO BM64, but all eyes were on champion jockey James McDonald who fell at the start. 

Godolphin’s $1.70 favorite Razors appeared to blunder after jumping, sending McDonald into the turf, the champion jockey suffering a foot injury and being stood down for the rest of the meeting. 

Kris Lees looked to have another race in the bag when Memoria ($5) kicked in the straight, but Nash Rawiller had other ideas, coming from behind to run down the winner and post an easy win on the line. 

The four-year-old is putting together a strong resume with two wins and three placings from his nine starts. 

Lees had started the day well with a quinella in the first, Blackcomb ($4.20) overhauling stable mate and $3 favorite Oakfield Prince on the line in the 1600m BM64.

The five-year-old daughter of Vancouver, having her first start for the stable, came from behind in the straight in a well-timed ride by Dylan Gibbons, the first leg of a winning double.

It was no surprise for trainer Brett Lazzarini when his gelding Bonus Tempus beat some of the more favored runners in the 1350m 4YO & Up Maiden.

The Impending four-year-old appreciated a step up in distance and Lazzarini believes there’s more improvement to come. 

“He still wants more ground, but I thought he could be there when the whips were cracking today,” he said. 

Brad Widdup was thrilled with the win of his consistent mare Jedibeel ($2.80fav) who was given a super, rails run by Jean Van Overmeire to win the 1100m Class 1.  

Widdup said Van Overmeire had defied his one instruction. 

“I told him not to go to the fence and he did,” Widdup laughed. “It worked out that way and he had too, but he got the job done. She’s still learning. 

“She’s run against a couple smart horses where she’s done a lot wrong. Today she did a lot right and it was a terrific effort.”

Runner up The King ($4) will have plenty of improvement to come, while Los Padres ($16) put in an eye-catching run for third. 

Keagan Latham brought up a double in the last riding Michael Freedman’s $2.10 favorite Flying Destiny to victory. 

Darby Racing’s Flying Artie four-year-old made it back-to-back wins after a last start victory at Hawkesbury. 

A third placing to Tyler Schiller saw him draw equal with Adam Hyeronimus to tie for the Nathan Berry Shield. Tommy Berry and his family were on track to present the prestigious shield.