Fran

John O’Shea is making the WYONG LEAGUES GROUP WYONG CUP his own, claiming his third feature in just four years. 

Lion’s Roar was the latest of O’Shea’s protégé to claim the prestigious Listed race and the first since linking with training partner Tom Charlton. 

Jason Collett gave the seven-year-old a super ride, getting the gelding into the perfect rhythm in the early stages of the 2100m race, before hitting the front in the straight and holding out his rivals on the line. 

Lion’s Roar showing his supreme staying prowess to take out the $250,000 race, taking his prizemoney to more than $2.3million. 

He has now won six of his 36 starts with 10 minor placings for owners Champion Thoroughbreds, including the G1 Randwick Guineas in 2021.

“It was a really rewarding win for the team,” O’Shea said. “We had a plan to go into the Rowley Mile and come here and got the job done. 

“He was really strong and gallant. He has been a tremendous horse for Champion Thoroughbreds and our stable. 

“He won his first race as a two-year-old and is seven now and it’s not over yet. Where do we find more of them?”

O’Shea was also complimentary of the ride by Collett, who brought up a race to race double with Lion’s Roar.

“He is riding in sensational form. He’s grown a leg, and we are lucky to be associated with him.”

O’Shea’s winning Wyong Cup run began in 2021 with Berdibek, followed by Benaud last year. Chris Waller still holds the record with eight cup wins but the O’Shea/Charlton stable has dominated in the past few years. 

The Cup win brought up a winning double for the O’Shea/Carlton combo, Aunty Rene taking out an earlier race.

Birthday girl Kristen Buchanan got the job done for the locals in the CARLTON DRAUGHT PROVINCIAL BM64 (1600m) with her consistent mare Kervette. 

A daughter of Kermadec, the four-year-old has now had two wins and eight placings from her 14 race starts. 

It was a perfectly timed ride by Jason Collet, coming from the rear of the field to claim victory. Kim Waugh’s Doraskaya finished third. 

Short priced favourite Yoshinobu got the job done in the opening race, READY’S @ THE DOYLO SUPER MAIDEN (1200m) justifying his favouritism.

The Neasham/Archibald colt, a $550,000 Magic Millions yearling, had been impressive in his two trials before resuming. He was ridden by Kerrin McEvoy. 

Carrying the name of former champion Show County, the modern-day namesake claimed his first win in the 1350m WYONG LEAGUES GROUP MIDWAY 4YO&UP MAIDEN.

A son of Showtime, the four-year-old was having his fourth start, with trainer Alexandre Lemarie confident he could win. 

And that he did, beating the short priced favourite Classic Poetry, with Mark Cross’s locally trained Hoo Haa third. Brazilian born Louis Beuzelin the winning rider.

As is often the case the outsider in a small field wins and that’s exactly how it panned out in the CENTRAL COAST COOLROOMS DA VINCE – 3&4YO BM64 over 1300m.

Gary Portelli’s Debello was given a great front running ride by apprentice Mollie Bourke and was able to hold out his fast-finishing rivals to win. 

It was the third win from 18 starts for the son of Deep Field.

Dual acceptor Edited By looked well placed by trainer Michael Freedman in the 1200m BISHOP COLLINS CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS’ SPRINGTIME CONDITIONAL BM64 (1200m).

The Written By gelding had impressed last preparation with back-to-back Newcastle wins and raced well when finishing fourth on resuming at Warwick Farm on August 21. 

He stormed home down the outside with Rory Hutchings in the saddle to bring up his third career win at start nine with two minor placings. 

Aunty Rene held on to win the HUNTER PETROLEUM PRODUCTS F&M BM66 over 1600m in a tough victory. 

The So You Think mare making it back-to-back wins following her last start first at Kembla. She brought up win number three for Andrew Adkins and trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton. 

Wyong trainers filling the minor placings, with Tracey Bartley’s Lady Superspy second over Allan Kehoe’s Moonlight Grace. 

Race favourite Hezdarnhottoo claimed the last, the SENPOS POINT OF SALE CLASS 1 (1100m) for Bjorn Baker and Tommy Berry. 

The Too Darn Hot three-year-old now has two wins and a placing his name from just four starts. 

Josh Parr was the winner of the prestigious Nathan Berry Medal for the most successful jockey over the three-day carnival. Parr finishing on 14 points. 

Jarrod Austin hatched a plan to win the Domeland Mona Lisa several months ago and that plan came to fruition with talented mare Terra Mater getting the job done in impressive style. 

The Wandjini five-year-old gave Austin one of his biggest career wins, a cool ride by champion Nash Rawiller securing victory in the Listed $200,000 race. 

Rawiller was met by a wall of horses when he turned into the straight, pushing through when a gap opened around the 100m mark to win by a head. 

“It was a little hairy at one stage,” an excited Austin said. “I thought Nash would come through but was a bit worried with 150m to go. 

“I knew back on a dry track today her turn of foot would be even better and he showed that. 

“Not often do our plans come off but it did and that’s really satisfying. I wanted to get black type into her and I’m really happy today. 

“We’ll look toward the Tibbie now in a couple of weeks.”

Rawiller said her knew the mare would be there for him when he needed her to be. 

“I knew she’d be there when we finally saw daylight and banked on her turn of foot. 

“There has never been a more deserving black type winner than her and all credit to Jarrod.”

Rawiller was full of praise for Terra Mater.

“You get an association with horses and she has been one of them over the last three years that you know what they can do and what they are made of,” he said.

“When it starts getting a bit tough there, she was there for you.

“I banked on her turn of foot because there was no speed early and they weren’t going to stop.”

John Sargent’s Ningaloo Star was the runner-up over the Neasham/Archibald trained Hell Hath No Furty.

Earlier on the program there was plenty of excitement with Hawkesbury based Jackie Greentree’s Zoum Raider training her first winner in four years in the 1100m #Teamwyong Equimillion Provincial Maiden.

Fellow Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup saddled up short-priced favourite The Act, but when they went hard in front Chad Scofield was able to storm home on Zoum Raider to snatch victory over Sara Ryan’s Koios, with The Act third. 

Zoum Raider was a $2000 online purchase and after being unplaced in his only start last preparation, has resumed a winner. He is one of only two horses in Greentree’s stable. 

It was an effortless win in the opener for the Neasham/Archibald trained Minnehaha Falls, the Sacred Falls mare sent out short, priced favourite and not disappointing. Alysha Collett partnering the four-year-old to her debut win in the Tabcorp Maiden over 1625m. 

Line of Fire led from barrier to post in the Wyong Leagues Group Class 1 (1625m), Josh Parr riding the Dundeel gelding to victory. 

Bjorn Baker’s four-year-old is building a strong resume with two wins and three placings from his seven starts. He was a $200,000 Magic Millions yearling, raced by Darby Syndications. 

It’s rarely a Wyong meeting without Chris Waller tasting success, and this was no exception, $420,000 Magic Millions yearling Useapin taking out the 1000m De Bortoli Wines Maiden. 

The daughter of Yes Yes Yes, having her fourth start, was given a super ride by Tyler Schiller to secure her first win. 

Another favourite went under in the 1200m Sky Channel Maiden with the Maher trained Deconstruction overpowering the short priced Excelindeed on the line. 

The Snitzel colt, a $350,000 yearling trained by Ciaron Maher was resuming off a Rosehill barrier trial win. 

Jason Collett gave the three-year-old a peach of a ride sitting off the favourite before hitting the front in the final stages of the straight to bring up his first win at start two. 

It was a tight finish in the Johnnie Roberts Memorial BM64 (1000m) with Nathan Doyle’s Reigning King holding out the favourite Fire Star.  The victory bringing up a double for Josh Parr.

A four-year-old Snitzel gelding, Reigning King was a $400,000 yearling having his 11^th career start for two wins and five placings.

Etched In Time eased in the betting in the 1350m CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES MDIWAY BM64 (1350m) but still got the job done, with Regan Bayliss in the saddle. 

Richard & Will Freedman’s Written Tycoon four-year-old brought up his third win at start 10, with a minor placing.

The winner, a $160k yearling, is raced by NSW Tycoons.  

WYONG trainer Rodney Bailey spoiled the Domeland “party” at his home track today.

The affable Bailey was confident beforehand that a firmer surface would help lightly-raced Norton Road recapture winning form – and he did exactly that in the inaugural Domeland-sponsored Kulnura Cup (a Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap, 1300m) at $17.

Unfortunately for Domeland, Norton Road’s victory was at the expense of their only runner at the meeting, trainer Sara Ryan’s $2.60 favorite Spicy Hotpot.

Norton Road, a $7500 online buy in 2021 and raced by the trainer’s daughter Bridget, needed time before getting to the races and won his first two starts at Wyong and Newcastle in January and February.

Bailey sent him for a spell, but the Stratum Star gelding had failed to recapture that form in four starts since resuming.

However, his trainer was adamant wet tracks had played a role in that and also rued his decision to put winkers on him, which he quickly changed.

Rider Jenny Duggan had Norton Road smoothly into the box seat outside Global Empire and, after hitting the front in the straight, the now five-year-old kicked strongly to hold out the challenge of Spicy Hotpot, who began awkwardly but nonetheless had every chance.

Third placegetter Killer Kerr ($17) isn’t far off another win after being slow to begin. 

Norton Road’s return to winning form lift his earnings to nearly $67,000 – a tidy return indeed on his purchase price.

Fellow Wyong trainers Kim Waugh and Kristen Buchanan joined Bailey in the winning list, both making an excellent start to the new season.

Waugh followed her Hawkesbury victory last Thursday with stable newcomer Northern Eyes by landing the Limitless Lodge Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) with Doraskaya (Jay Ford).

A $6.50 chance, Doraskaya really surged in the closing stages to overhaul another local, Allan Kehoe’s Dreamdeel ($2.70 favorite), who had made the running and looked home when nicely clear in the straight.

A five-year-old daughter of Russian Revolution, Doraskaya won her third race and is part-owned by the trainer’s husband, Australian cricket legend Mark.

Buchanan followed her Newcastle victory yesterday with favorite Fioprospero ($2.15) by scoring with another punters’ elect – and a heavily backed one at that.

Four-year-old Kermadec mare Kervette had been placed on six occasions from 10 starts, and was backed from $2 to start $1.70 favorite in the Agrana Fruit Australia Provincial Maiden Handicap (1350m).

Gun apprentice Zac Lloyd took bad luck out of the equation, taking off on her approaching the home turn, and she quickly rounded up her rivals.

Kervette won stylishly from Noises ($10) and fellow local, Damien Lane’s Oakfield Blue Bell ($11).

“I expected her to beat hard to beat,” Buchanan said. “She drew well, had Zac (Lloyd) riding her and getting up to 1350m suited.

“We’ve got a lot of nice young horses coming through, so hopefully we’re set for another good season.”

Torie’s Rose ($5.50), racing in blinkers for the first time, was slowly away and did her best work at the end to finish fourth. 

Lloyd, last season’s Wyong apprentice premiership winner, made it a double in consecutive races when successful on his master James Cummings’ Rip Off ($2.70 favorite) in the Milangall Park Maiden Handicap (1100m).

The four-year-old daughter of Ribchester took eight starts to break through after three minor placings.

She finished a shade strongly for a gallant Conchierro ($19), who fought valiantly to hold on in the straight.

Talk about an excellent start to the season! Definitely none better than leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup, who scored with debutante Canny Queen ($8.50) in the Economy Waste Group 3YO Maiden Plate (1200m).

This was his eighth starter in the first four days of the new season – and he has won five races and finished second with the other three.

Owner John Cordina’s Summertime Thoroughbreds, for whom Widdup won with Party Doll at Hawkesbury last Thursday, purchased the three-year-old daughter of Victoria Derby winner Ace High for $20,000 as a yearling in New Zealand last year.

It looks to be a pretty astute decision, given Canny Queen’s dam Quella Finale is a daughter of the great staying influence Zabeel, and here she is winning first-up at 1200m.

Winning rider Tom Sherry had Canny Queen racing smoothly in third last place on the fence, and got a split between runners in time for the filly to pip Forrest Gum ($5.50) in the last few strides.

Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride got punters off to a good start when hotpot Elle Hudson ($1.35) took the Stone Real Estate Wyong Maiden Plate (1600m).

But not before they took a few deep breaths.

Elle Hudson (Regan Bayliss) needed the entire straight to run down Casterly Rock ($8.50) and break through for his first win.

“We bought him in New Zealand and he’s still learning his race craft,” Pride said.

“I’m sure he can win more races.”

Newcastle trainer David Atkins won the Sublime Aluminium & Glass Somersby Bracelet Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m) with Leave Me Some ($4.60).

Jockey Ash Morgan produced a brilliant ride, navigating a path between runners in the straight to deny $2.45 favorite Oceans One victory.

Age certainly isn’t worrying the nine-year-old mare.

This was her 59^th start and her ninth win, and she has also been placed 19 times.

Oceans One was gallant under his 61kg (after apprentice Zac Wadick’s 2kg claim), especially as he conceded the winner 5kg.

Rosehill Gardens trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou didn’t hesitate to take Incarcerated back to Wyong for the Mangrove Mountain Memorial Club Town Plate Class 1 Handicap (1100m) – and he made it two in a row at the track.

Having only his fourth start, four-year-old Incarcerated ($2.80 co-favorite) was clearly too nippy for his rivals and scored by nearly five lengths.

The other joint favorite She’s All It was second after trying to put pressure on the winner on the winner on the home turn.

Incarcerated had won a Super Maiden (1200m) at Wyong on July 20 by two lengths, and he was even more impressive this time.

Kim Waugh was pipped at the post for the Wyong Trainers Premiership with Snowden Racing grabbing the title at the last local meeting of the season. 

The trainers went into the day with 10 winners apiece and three runners each, but while Waugh failed to taste success, the well named Zousain Bolt was a winner for the Snowden’s. 

Waugh doesn’t end the 2023/24 season empty handed, and will take out the her seventh Wyong Premiership, for the most overall winners, next week. 

Tyler Schiller secured the senior Jockey’s title with a winner on the day giving him 11 for the season, while Zac Lloyd claimed the Apprentices Premiership with 11.

Matthew Smith took out the training honours with a double, including Scalextrics who brought up his fourth successive win in the 1600m BM64.

Jaden Lloyd has partnered the So You Think four-year-old to all four wins. 

Smith said a change up in training tactics had seen the gelding turn the corner. 

“He’s a bit of a lazy horse so we changed things up and he’s found very good form.”

Smith’s other win came with Lone Force in the 1300m Super Maiden.

A top Jay Ford ride helped secure victory for Sooboog gelding, 

Ford was able to get on the back of the favourite Spanish Fox throughout, before pulling away in the final stages to hold out his rivals. 

“He’s come back in good shape,” Smith said. “He should get out to seven furlongs and a mile and that will give him more opportunities.”

Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou continued their recent winning run at Wyong with well-bred two-year-old Lone Force taking out the 1300m 3Y0 Maiden.

The stable trained a double last Saturday, Lone Force giving them their third win in five days.

The $180,000 Magic Millions yearling was on debut, having performed well in the latest of his three trials at Rosehill on July 12. 

Tom Sherry partnered the Trapeze Artist colt to victory, with the stable having good expectations of him going forward. 

“It was a nice win,” representative Jason Thompson said. “He did a few things wrong, but that will come with race experience. There was plenty of positives to take out of the win today.”

Snowden Racing’s Zousain Bolt appreciated the drop back to two-year-old grade and was too strong in the second 1300m 2YO Maiden. 

Andrew Adkins, coming off a Wyong treble last Saturday, rode the Zousain colt to victory. 

“He’s starting to switch on that he’s a racehorse,” foreman Matt McCudden said. “It’s good to get the win out of the way and he will continue to improve when he gets over more ground.”

It was a tight three-way finish, with placegetters Cristal Clear and Komodo Dragon not far off a win.

Lonhro filly Waamil is another who looks to have a bright future, the three-year-old winning the 1600m Maiden with Tim Clark in the saddle. 

Waamil joined the Waterhouse Bott stable this preparation and was coming off a fourth at Scone on a heavy 10 track.

“The dry track made the difference today” Neil Paine said. “It was bottomless at Scone, so to come here on a good track over the mile was perfect. She’ll step up to 1900m, 2000m and will improve again.”

The favourite Rampazetto raced greenly in stages and will improve from the run. 

Stephen O’Halloran’s Albe Red is putting together an impressive resume, his latest win in the 1350m Provincial Class 1, his second in just five starts. 
The well-bred son of Autumn Sun was having only his second run for the stable and coming off a second at Goulburn on July 5.

Winning rider Shaun Guymer  is confident there are more wins to come. 

“It was a tough win today. He was wide for the majority of the race and performed exceptionally well. Once he puts it all together he should be able to get a string of wins,” he said.

Godolphin rarely go home from a Wyong meeting without a win and today was no exception, with Equipage too strong in the 1350m Conditional BM68.

Tommy Berry partnered the progressive Lonhro filly to her second career victory from 11 starts, with seven minor placings.

Despite a wide run throughout, Berry was able to get a kick in the straight and run down his rivals to win by a half-length. 

The Pride stable was confident about the chances of Global Empire in the 1200m BM64 and the four-year-old didn’t disappoint with a strong win. 

The son of I Am Invincible hit the front in the straight and was able to hold out fast finishing duo Trapeze Pleasure and Drama Dodger. 

Brave Pride said they were hopeful the win would give the gelding the confidence to win a few more races. 

There was plenty of late support for Global Empire, who started $3 favourite with Regan Bayliss in the saddle.