TRIFECTA OF WINS FOR WYONG 

TRIFECTA OF WINS FOR WYONG  1

Wyong trainers enjoyed a successful day on the home track with Kristen Buchanan, Tracey Bartley and Kim Waugh all posting wins.

In a super start to the nine-race program, locals claimed three of the first four races. 

Kristen Buchanan was the first to taste success with her Spieth colt Chevron.

She was full of confidence heading into the race and that confidence was rewarded with the three-year-old winning the 1350m HMA INSTRUMENTATION MIDWAY BM68. 

The win brought up back-to-back victories for Chevron, who broke through for his maiden on the Kensingon track over 1300m on March 27.

Koby Jennings gave him a squeeze out of the gates and led from pillar to post. 

“I’m really happy,” Buchanan said. “Everyone has been patient with him, so it’s nice to see him string a couple together in softer company.”

Buchanan has always had big opinion of Chevron, who was placed fourth on debut at Group 3 level and was a close up eighth in the Group 2 Sires Produce at Eagle Farm last May, just two lengths behind the winner. 

“He’s run in some very strong races and acquitted himself well. He’s such a beautiful horse and we’ll keep him going through the grades now.”

It was a welcome return to the winner’s circle for Tracey Bartley with 

Magicon breaking through in the 1350m HMA POWER GENERATION PROVINCIAL MAIDEN. 

The Prized Icon three-year-old was having his second start, and despite being well beaten at Newcastle on debut, Bartley went into the race with a degree of confidence. 

“He was left in front at Newcastle and that made it tough,” he said. “I was happy to follow Kim’s horse today (Jared). As it turned out they were both rated in front, and we got the edge on the line.”

Magicon ($44) ridden by Lee Magorrian, had to survive a protest to claim his win.

Kim Waugh also has a big opinion of her winner Bellenth who was way too dominant for his rivals in the 1350m HMA MATERIALS HANDLING SUPER MAIDEN. 

“I love him,” Waugh said. “He’s a beautiful horse with a nice future. We had a lot of trouble with him early and it took quite a while get him to the barriers. 

“He’s got the trick now and his last two runs have been fantastic. He has a beautiful turn of foot and he’s going places.” 

Jay Ford partnered the son of Hellbent to his first win at start two. 

Icebreaker made it an easy watch for favourite backers in the HMA GROUP MAIDEN, with the $1.60 pop bringing up his first win over 2100m by more than two lengths.

Dylan Gibbons gave the Pariah three-year-old a well-timed ride, sitting toward the rear throughout before hitting the front on straightening and drawing away over the final stages. 

Describing trainer David Payne as the “master of stayers,” Gibbons said Icebreaker had been very well placed and would take plenty of confidence from the win.

Michael Freedman’s Parisian Rose brought up her second win from just five outings, in the HMA FLOW & INDUSTRIAL CLASS 1 (1350m).

The filly looks to have a bright future with jockey Keagan Latham impressed by the victory. 

“She’s a nice filly and Michael had here prepared perfectly for the race. She’ll get out a bit further as well, to the mile and I think there’s more wins ahead for her.”

Keysborough continued the winning trend for favourites, the I Am Invincible gelding breaking through at start seven in the 1000m HMA GEOTECHNICAL MAIDEN. 

The Hawkes trained four-year-old was sent out $2.50 fav and justified the market confidence with a strong performance..

Winning rider Tyler Schiller said Keysborough had relaxed lovely in the early stages and showed his strength late. 

An exciting three-way finish to the 1100m HMA GTCH CYCLONGES BM64 saw

Bjorn Baker’s progressive filly Time Bandit get the bob on the line, claiming victory by the narrowest margin. 

The Star Turn filly was given a great ride by Josh Parr and brought up her fourth win at start eight, with three minor placings. 

Glen Lobb, representing the stable, said Parr had timed the ride to perfection. 

“She’s got better and better this time in, “he said. “Josh got a nice camp in behind and got there on the line.”

Jake Hull’s consistent four-year Olivia’s Spirit is building an impressive resume, following his latest win in the HMA WEAR SOLUTIONS BM64 ,his fourth in just 11 starts. 

The son of Rubick was resuming from a spell and Gosford based Hull had him primed for a first up victory after a winning trial on the Beaumont track on March 27. 

Keagan Latham, bringing up a winning double, weaved a passage in the straight, storming home to claim victory. 

The Waterhouse/Bott teamed weren’t to be denied rounding out the program with a win in the 1600m HMA CLASS 1. 

Professor Pickles, a Tavistock gelding, appreciated a rise in distance, to bring up his second successive win, with Regan Bayliss in the saddle. 

The three-year-old son of So You Think has had just three career starts, and Bayliss expects him to improve over more ground. 

“He’ll definitely get the mile and a half and should gain even more confidence after this win,” he said. 

WAUGH ON TRACK FOR WINS

WAUGH ON TRACK FOR WINS 2

Kim Waugh could have one of the biggest days of her career if Shadows Of Love can take out Saturday’s $1m Provincial-Midway Championship Final. 

She will be hoping 2024 is her year after having qualified runners in all nine previous finals and being placed five times. 

But the major prize has eluded her, and she’ll be relying on her talented mare to get the job done. 

A long-term plan by Waugh to start the mare in the Gosford Qualifer on March 16 paid off when she outsprinted her rivals in the straight to claim success. 

“She’s been going very good and I’m really happy with her. She’s a tough mare who has gone from strength to strength,” Waugh said. 

Shadows Of Love was Waugh’s last winner and she’ll be hoping a home track victory with stablemate Bellenth (pictured) could set the tone for things to come. 

The well-bred Helbent gelding put in a strong performance on debut at Hawkesbury on March 28 over the 1100m.

He had trialed well leading into his first start, winning both outings including an eye-catching two length victory over the 1000m at Hawkesbury on February 27.

Waugh has opted to step the three-year-old up in distance at Wyong on Thursday in the 1350m Super Maiden.

“The extra distance should suit him really well,” she said. “He missed the start at Hawkesbury and got behind them. He’s done really well since and this looks like a nice race for him.”

Jay Ford will partner the gelding who has drawn well in five. 

Ford also partners Churchill four-year-old Bertie who has his first start for the Waugh stable in the 1350m Provincial Maiden. 

The gelding has trialed twice and steps up to provincial grade, having had all four previous runs in the country.

“He’s been doing really good and working well. I’ve been happy with his trials, and we will see how he measures up in this grade.”

Rounding out the Waugh trio on the nine-race program is Shemran, who resumes in the 1350m Class 1. 

“It’s a good starting point for him and he should be in for a good preparation.”

The So You Think gelding who broke through for his maiden win over 1890m at Muswellbrook last preparation and was runner-up at Wyong over 2100m in his next start on November 23.

The first of nine races gets underway at 12.15pm, with the track currently rated a Soft 7.

SELECTIONS: 

Race 1 – 12.15pm: HMA GROUP MAIDEN (2100m): 1 HONGKONG HARMONY, 2 Pine Valley, 3 Icebreaker, 4 Éclair Dancer.

Race 2 – 12.50pm: HMA INSTRUMENTATION MIDWAY BM68 (1350m): 1 CHEVRON, 2 Pennart, 3 Putt For Dough, 4 Tip Top Timing. 

Race 3 – 1.25pm: HMA POWER GENERATION PROVINCIAL MAIDEN (1350m): 1JUMP IN THE LINE, 2 Black Tiara, 3 More Voltage, 4 Oakfield Hawk.

Race 4 – 2.05pm: HMA MATERIALS HANDLING SUPER MAIDEN (1350m): 1 BELLENTH, 2 One Command, 3 Make A Call, 4 Waverley.

Race 5 – 2.40pm: HMA FLOW & INDUSTRIAL CLASS 1 (1350m): 1 EYE OF THE FIRE, 2 Wembanyama, 3 Bold Julius, 4 Bestower.

Race 6 – 3.20pm: HMA GEOTECHNICAL MAIDEN (1000m): 1 RUM DIARY, 2 Keysborough, 3 Super Zippi, 4 Candy Women.

Race 7 – 3.55pm: HMA GTECH CYCLONES BM64 (1100m): 1 SLINKY, 2 Single Benefactor, 3 Cassiel, 4 Time Bandit.

Race 8 – 4.35pm: HMA WEAR SOLUTIONS BM64 (1100m): 1 CROSS YOUR HEART, 2 Drums Of War, 3 Keep Your Cool, 4 Suprina.

Race 9 – 5.10pm: HMA CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1600m): 1 PROFESSOR PICKLES, 2 Draco’s Fire, 3 Dunedin, 4 Highborn Harry.