John Cooper saddles up half of his small team at Thursday’s Wyong meeting, the owner/trainer confident at least one of the three is a winning chance.
Cooper believes last start winner Arabolini can make it back-to-back victories when he starts up in the 2100m BM64.
The six-year-old German import has been a great money spinner for Cooper, with almost $175,000 in prizemoney from his six wins and 10 placings.
He brought up win number six at Scone on March 22 over the 2200m, at a Provincial meeting transferred from Gosford.
He lines up in the same class over a similar distance on Thursday and Cooper is quietly confident.
“He’s won at Wyong before and he’s in good form,” he said. “He pulled up well from the Scone and has had a two-week break leading into this.
“I’m quietly confident about his chances. There is no reason why he can’t win again. He seems to like the tighter tracks and it won’t worry him if it is rain affected.”
Cooper said apprentice Ellen Hennessy will continue her association with Arabolini, having previously partnered him in two of his wins.
“She’s got a good relationship with him and will claim two kilos and that all helps.”
Spill The Beans four-year-old Alastor resumes in the 1300m BM64 after a successful first preparation with the stable.
The gelding has had four wins and six placings from 18 starts, his latest victory over 2100m at Wyong in January this year.
Jess Taylor, who partnered him in the win, rides him again on Thursday.
While Cooper does consider the 1300m a bit short, he wouldn’t be surprised to see the gelding race well first up.
“I didn’t trial him, but he’s been going well and is hopefully in for a good preparation. He has filled out more and grown up in the head.
“Now he just has to put it all together on the track.”
Cooper is hoping for an improved performance by his third runner, recent stable addition Bergkamp in the 1200m 3YO Maiden.
The Written Tycoon three-year-old was disappointing on debut at Newcastle over 900m on March 22.
“I hope to see an improvement on that performance and a bit more ground should help,” he said. “There were no excuses for his run, but I think the penny hasn’t dropped for him yet.
“He will take a lot education wise out of his first start and I’ve got a good strong jockey in Grant Buckley, which will also help.
“He’s a nice big striding horse but he’s a work in progress and I expect he may get over more ground later on.”
Ben Hill trained his first winner in almost two years courtesy of Allthehills who relished the heavy 10 track at Wyong to take out the 1350m Great NorthernProvincial and Country Maiden.
The Love Conquers All gelding has been a handful for Wyong based Hill who now seems to have found the key and his hopeful there will be more wins to come.
With heavy rain falling throughout the day the meeting was postponed after the first four races due to poor visibility.
But fortunately for Hill his gelding took out the third race after running down Kim Waugh’s $1.40 favourite Oxford Vision on the line.
It was a patient ride by local apprentice Pat Scorse, who settled the four-year-old just worse than midfield before peeling out around the turn and coming home strong to win by a long neck.
Hill had been unsure how Allthehills would get through the heavy track but the four-year-old had no issues.
“We missed a run at Newcastle over 1800m and I scratched him on a heavy track. I thought we’ll come here today and give him a nice sound hit out on the heavy and see how we go, and he obviously got through it,” Hill said.
“Callum Bailey rides him in his work – he’s a bit hot headed for me. Cal has done a great job with him. He’s been a handful of a horse so hopefully he can go on with it now.
“This will hopefully give him the confidence he needs. He was a very hot horse early on and we’ve had a few issues on the ground, no injuries at all, but hopefully the penny is starting to drop.”
Scorse said he believed Allthehills would get over more ground.
“I know Benny wants to get him over more ground and I don’t think he’ll have any trouble with that,” he said.
“We did have a nice run through today. I thought speed was quite a genuine tempo for a heavy rack and I got a nice trail a few pairs back.
“He really switched on and get through ground good and when I ask him to improve, he gave me everything he had and finish the race off nicely.”
Allthehillis ($12) is raced by Hill and family members and was having his 10th race start.
It was an all-Wyong trifecta, with Wayne Seelin’s Supreme Play ($51) third.
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Sam Clipperton rode two of the four winners, taking out the 1350m Canadian ClubMaiden on Mirra View for the Snowdens and the Vale Cam McBrienMaiden over 1000m on Prefer To Be Ready for Jay Hopkins.
More Than Ready filly Mirra View was coming off a third at Newcastle on a slow track on March 17 and earned the confidence of punters, being sent out $1.30 favourite.
She didn’t disappoint scoring by almost a length after Clipperton started his run around the 600m mark, circling the field and leading down the straight.
Runner-up Roccaforte ($4) trained by Richard Litt, was strong late with a win not far off.
Raging Climax ($15) trained by Kristen Buchanan, was third.
Clipperton had partnered Mirra View in her previous start and had been confident coming into the race.
“Her first up run was sound, and she went into that with only one trial,” he said. “She’s only a light filly and took plenty of improvement from that.
“She looked the better horse in the race today, but she still had to get out there and do it.
“I thought being by More Than Ready she should handle the ground and she did.”
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Clipperton had also been confident about the chances of Prefer To Be Ready ($4.40) with the filly having previously been placed on a heavy track.
Raced by a syndicate including Hopkins wife Hannah, the three-year-old had been runner in her two previous starts last preparation at Gosford and Tuncurry.
Clipperton settled her just off the speed in the early stages and was able to get the best out of her in the straight, drawing away to win by a length and a half.
“She’d had a good second on a heavy nine, so I thought she’d get through the ground. Jay had given her a good trial over 1000m, so I knew she’d be well primed for today.”
Brett Partelle’s Arion Story ($14) put in a nice run to finish second, over Kristen Buchanan’s debutant Tikitiboo ($5.50).
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Mark Newnham’s race favourite Sonic The Hedgehog was able to outstay his rivals in the 2000m TAB.COM.AU Maiden.
The American Pharoah gelding was having his fourth race start, after finishing third at Goulbourn on March 18 over the 2100m.
It was a race in two in the final stages with Sonic The Hedgehog getting the better of John Sargent’s Essential Sky ($3.70) to win by a length.
Josh Par was the winning rider, with the three-year-old gelding having no problems getting through the heavy 10 conditions.
On the back of a successful trip north, Kristen Buchanan is hoping for continued luck when she saddles up two runners on her home track this Thursday.
Buchanan made the long haul to Brisbane on Saturday but returned a winner after Delexo proved too strong in the 1000m Class 6 Plate at Eagle Farm.
She was chasing drying tracks in Queensland and would prefer the same surface for both her Wyong runners.
“It was great to get the winner at Eagle Farm. It had been on my mind for a while to head up there because Delexo doesn’t handle the heavy tracks,” she said.
“I had to scratch him three or four times which isn’t ideal, so we made the decision to race up there.
“Even then there was uncertainty because with all the rain we didn’t know until Thursday night if we could get through.”
Buchanan returned to Wyong on Sunday and hopes the predicted rain holds off on Thursday for her fillies Tikitiboo and Raging Climax.
She is keen to finally get to the track with Starspangledbanner filly Tikitiboo, who has looked impressive in her two recent trials.
The three-year-old debuts in the 1000m Maiden and will be ridden by stable apprentice Maddi Derrick.
“She has had lots of trials but the main reason for that is the timing just hasn’t been right, and I’ve been trying to dodge the wet tracks.
“I think she’s a really nice filly. She’s hot to trot and ready to get on with it. I don’t know if she’s a 1000m horse, but it will be a lovely starting point for her.
“Educationally she does everything right, so she’s definitely ready to go to the races and I give her a chance although the wide barrier isn’t great.
“Her trials have been good and while 1000m is an ideal starting point for her, it’s not where she’ll end up.”
Buchanan is also keen to see Tosen Stardom two-year-old Raging Climax get over more ground in the 1350m Maiden.
She had her first start at Newcastle on March 17 over 1200m with Buchanan describing her effort as “lack lustre.”
“She’s still a baby and just got lost that day. I think eventually she’ll be a 2000m horse, but she’ll have a run over the 1350m.
‘I think she’s a really nice filly, but her first start was a little underwhelming, so I’ll be hoping for improvement.”
Kim Waugh also heads into the meeting with two chances in previous Midway winner Different Strokes and three-year-old Oxford Vision.
Different Strokes starts in the 1350m BM68 after coming off an unplaced run in a Newcastle heat of the Provincial Midway Championship, while Oxford Vision will be aiming to break through at his third start in the 1350 Provincial and Country Maiden.
The first of eight races gets underway at 12.55pm.
SELECTIONS:
Race 1 – 12.555pm: CANADIAN CLUB MAIDEN (1350m): 1 SHOHEI, 2 Definitely Maybe, 3 Mirra View, 4 Gwan So
Race 2 – 1.35pm: GREAT NORTHERN PROV & CTRY MAIDEN (1350m): 1 OXFORD VISION, 2 Isla, 3 Fromdustwemust, 4 Pep
Race 3 – 2.10pm: VALE CAM McBRIEN MAIDEN (1000m): 1 PREFER TO BE READY, 2 Tempestas, 3 Dona Antonia, 4 Tikitiboo.
Race 4 – 2.50pm: TAB.COM.AU MAIDEN (2000m): 1 SKY ACE, 2 Sonic The Hedgehog, 3 Aphroditti, 4 Essential Sky
Race 5 – 3.25pm: COCA-COLA CLASS 1 (1600m): PUBLICIST, 2 Thousand Years, 3 Champions League, 4 Vanilla Sky
Race 6 – 4.05pm: GO ELECTRICAL CLASS 1 (1350m): 1 BRILLAR, 2 Decadent Tale, 3 Spats Pav Bowie, 4 Every Effort
Race 7 – 4.40pm: WYONG’S NEXT RACE MEETING THURSDAY APRIL 14 CONDITIONAL BM68 (1350m): 1 DIFFERENT STROKES, 2 Ticket To Anywhere, 3 Never Cry, 4 Visceral
Race 8 – 5.15pm: CARLTON DRAUGHT BM64 (1100m): 1 COAL CRUSHER, 2 Way To The Stars, 3 Cassy’s Sister, 4 Velorum.
A last-minute decision to run Barossa Rosa paid dividends for Tracey Bartley, the mare taking out the $150,000 Wyong Polytrack Provincial-Midway Qualifier.
Consistent heavy rain caused the meeting to be transferred from Wyong to Newcastle, but Bartley had no complaints taking out the feature and the previous race, the 1200m BM68, with Sebrenco.
Barossa Rosa is now the second of Bartley’s small team to qualify for the $500,000 final at Randwick on April 9, joining stablemate Kiss Sum.
There was a great deal of uncertainty about the four-year-old making the final qualifier at Newcastle, after she suffered a stone bruise earlier in the week.
Bartley and his team worked day and night to ensure she was fit for her shot at the rich series.
“She trod on something and came out with a big stone bruise, and we worked morning and night to get her there,” Bartley said.
“I was expecting to scratch her the morning of the race, but we trotted her up and she was fine.”
The rest as they say is history, but things didn’t quite to plan to plan, giving Bartley a few nervous moments during the race.
Normally a front running mare, jockey Jeff Penza landed toward the rear, unable to cross from the wide barrier.
He had to come from last on the turn, but courtesy of a great rails hugging ride, was able to pull away to score by more than a length.
“I’ve never seen this mare last in her life, so I was a bit worried,” Bartley conceded. “But she cut the corner and I think he saved six lengths.
“All credit to Jeff and I hope he comes and rides her in the final.
“We’ve got two in the final now and it’s a great effort for stable with just 20 horses in work and a credit to our staff.
“We’ve got some nice horses in work, and we look after them.”
Penza said that when things didn’t go to plan at the start, he opted to take a sit.
“I had to take what we had, so I slipped over to the fence, and she really sprinted when I wanted her to. Once she got into clear running she hit the line well.”
Grande Rumore from the Lees stable was second, giving the powerful stable five runners in the final.
Kristen Buchanan’s Pandora Blue was brave in defeat finishing fourth, after leading for most of the race.
The Waugh, Buchanan, Lane, Farley, Bartley and Munce stables all have horses nominated for the final shot at the series, the Wildcard at Newcastle this coming Thursday.
With a strong hand in Saturday’s home track qualifier Wyong trainers are confident they can add to the two local runners already through to the Polytrack Provincial-Midway Final.
Locally trained horses make up half of Saturday’s field of 16, with Kim Waugh saddling up French Bonnet and Different Strokes in the $150,000 race, while Barossa Rosa and Mabel represent Tracey Bartley.
Oakfield Arrow, Pandora Blue and Fumiko complete a trio for Kristen Buchanan, while Zorocat lines up for Damien Lane.
Victorella trained by Louise Munce and Bartley’s Sebrenco are among the four emergencies.
Waugh and Bartley have already qualified Great News and Kiss Sum, respectively for the $500,000 final on April 9, both among the top five chances in early betting.
French Bonnet resumes in the 1350m Qualifier and Waugh is pleased with her form leading into the race.
“Her two trials have been really good and I’m very pleased with her. She’s absolutely flying,” she said.
French Bonnet has put together four wins and a placing from her 10 starts, including a Warwick Farm victory over 1400m last preparation.
The stables other runner, Different Strokes also resumes after two trials.
He has three wins and three placings from just seven starts, including a Midway win over 1400m on October 9 before being unplaced in the Four Pillars.
“His trials have been very good as well,” Waugh said. “I’m very happy with both of them.”
Bartley is equally enthused with his duo Barossa Rosa, a Midway winner who finished a close fourth in the Four Pillars and progressive filly Mabel.
“Barossa Rosa’s barrier trial was good the other day and she makes her own luck up on the speed. She’s probably the better of my two only because she has a bit more maturity than the filly at this stage, but Mabel’s been working really well this week.”
The Buchanan stable saddles up two previous Midway winners in Oakfield Arrow (pictured) and Pandora Blue, with the trainer believing both are good chances.
“I’ve been really pleased with Pandora and her first up run this prep was good. My only concern is she could be a bit vulnerable over the 1350m,” she said.
“Oakfield Arrow’s last run in the Newcastle Qualifier looked plain on paper but she came back with irregular blood work after the race. She’s a lovely free-rolling mare, who can handle the wet if the rain comes, and she gets her chance.”
Buchanan said she “couldn’t be happier” with Fumiko, who backs up from the Newcastle Qualifier on March 5.
Lane’s Zorocat ran without luck in the Gosford Qualifier on March 12 and will put in an improved performance off a more favourable barrier.
The first of eight races gets underway at 1.10pm.
SELECTIONS:
Race 1 – 1.10pm: TWIN LAKES AIR PTY OLTD 3YO MAIDEN (1000m): 1 SELHURST PARK, 2 Ottilie, 3 Ultra, 4 Adelinda.
Another super provincial meeting at Wyong for our BJ Howes Race Day, showcasing some progressive horses.
Joe Pride is plotting an Oaks path with Lekvarte, while Stephen Jones’ Una Grew Roses was impressive on debut.
It wasn’t the ideal start to William Pike’s NSW stint, the legendary WA hoop unsuccessful in a protest in the 1100m 3YO Maiden.
Pike attempted a rails run in the straight and was bumped by Fielding, ridden by Digger McLellan, the pair finishing second and third.
They fought it out in the steward’s room with the appeal eventually dismissed.
Allan Kehoe struck a blow for locals with his tough gelding Lord Heron continuing a great first up record.
There was plenty of praise for the track from both trainers and jockeys, the hard work of Phil Robinson and his team paying off.
Race 1 – STRAMIT 2YO MAIDEN (1300m):
Annabel Neasham pulled the right rein with Bessmati, the Fastnet Rock filly breaking through for her first win in impressive style. Neasham had originally nominated two fillies for the race, Bessmati and Mumbai Jewel.
She opted to run the latter at Randwick on Saturday and got the job done, leaving the stablemate to claim the honours at Wyong.
Chad Schofield gave Bessmati a great ride just behind the leader, hitting the front on straightening and holding out the race favourite Victorine on the line.
Bessmati ($3.70) was having her third career start, coming off an unplaced run in the 1000m Listed Lohnro Stakes at Randwick on February 5.
Schofield, who partnered her that day, she said appreciated the extra distance at Wyong.
“She drew a little awkward but jumped really well today. There was very little tempo, so I was able to cruise across. She relaxed well and was strong to the line.
“She hit the front early in the straight and when she felt the other horse challenging her, she had something to give.”
The well supported Godolphin $1.90 favourite Victorine finished a length behind the winner, with Really Motivated ($41) trained by Warren Gavenlock, was more than four lengths behind in third.
Race 2 – INSURANCE HOUSE 4YO&UP MAIDEN (1100m):
Speedy Scone mare Una Grew Roses put paid to her opposition in an impressive debut win.
Trainer Stephen Jones had been very confident leading into the race, after the four-year-old by Swiss Ace was dominant in her two trials.
“I thought she’d be hard to beat and that’s how it went,” Jones said. “She’s big and fresh and will improve off that, she goes good.”
Jones said Una Grew Roses would be an ideal Highway candidate.
“She’s a big strong filly and I think she’s a Highway type horse and might go on from there.”
Raced by Gerry Harvey, Una Grew Roses was a lucky pick-up ride for Alysha Collett, replacing Rachel King.
“She’s got a beautiful action and it was a lovely win,” Collett said.
The winner was sent out at $6 and beat the Craig Carmody trained Latin Lyric ($2.05fav), who grew wings in the final stages to come from the rear of the field and won’t be far off a win.
Eezee Boomer ($41) trained by Jeremy Sylvester, was third.
Race 3 – KLINGSPOR 3YO MAIDEN (1100m):
A great training performance by James Cummings with Camino Real a dominant winner after a year off the scene.
The Shamardal filly has been a work in progress for the trainer, after first stepping out at Randwick in October 2020.
She resumed from a spell in February last year and was placed fourth at Provincial and Metro starts, before issues forced her back to the paddock.
Darren Beadman representing the stable, paid tribute to the vets.
“The vets at Osborne Park have done a great job bringing this filly back to form and racing style,” he said. “She’s had a lot of issues with temperatures and a foot abscess, and they were able to get on top of all that.
“She’s always shown good natural ability but structurally and mentally she wasn’t there. She was very impressive today and has blossomed into a nice filly.”
The $2.40 favourite Camino Real, was coming off two strong trials at Rosehill and Hawkesbury.
It was an interesting Wyong debut for William Pike, the former WA hoop lodging a protest against the second placed Fielding ($3.40), after he finished third on the Snowden trained Choix De La Mer ($6.50).
Damien Lane’s gelding and Pike’s mount bumped as he was attempting a split along the rails in the straight. The protest was dismissed.
Race 4 – PRO ALI MAIDEN (1350m):
Gary Moore’s Sing A Love Song could be headed for a stakes race over the Sydney carnival after breaking through at start 10.
The Your Song colt had the best form going into the race and Keagan Latham gave him a gun ride that helped secure his first win.
The $220,000 Magic Millions yearling had been placed on four occasions in his previous nine starts including a second in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes, the latest a second on the Kensington track on February 2.
He had finished not far behind the winner in the $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden on the Gold Coast in January, strong form that saw him sent out $2.60 favourite.
Moore was ecstatic with the win.
“Hopefully he can go on to something a bit better after this and we can look for a stakes race at the back end of the carnival. He was too good for his opposition today and a deserved winner. “
Latham had settled the colt midfield early, one off the fence, before sprinting around the field on the turn and pulling away in the straight.
He beat the Waller trained Ultimate Pride ($6) who isn’t far off a win, with Wolfburn ($8) from the Baker stable third.
Race 5 –KINCROME F&M BM64 (1350m):
Lekvarte is giving her trainer every confidence to head towards the ATC Oaks after an eye-catching Wyong win.
The NZ bred daughter of Reliable Man put paid to her opposition in impressive style, with Jay Ford coming from last on the turn to hit the front on straightening and drawing away in the final stages.
She put more than three lengths on Travelling Kate ($8) from the Widdup yard, with Snowden’s Miskha Magic ($12) third.
“That’s the way they’ve got to win if you’re heading toward a race like the Oaks,” Pride said. “I’ve always had a good opinion of her. The win over the mile at Newcastle before the spell gave her confidence and it’s exciting to see her do that today.
“She’s a beautiful filly and I’m looking forward to setting her on the Oaks path. She’s very exciting.”
A $210,000 Karaka purchase, Lekvarte was sent out $3.20 second favourite.
Race 6 –INFRABUILD CLASS 1 (1000m):
The Snowden trained Native Rock defied a significant betting drift to bring up his second win at start 10.
The four-year-old by Wandjina was sent out at $8.50 after the Godolphin trained Translation firmed into $3.70 favourite.
A $55,000 Inglis yearling, Native Rock appreciated both the track conditions and distance at Wyong, with a good ride by Tommy Berry another contributing factor.
“We learned something new the other day that he doesn’t like any give in the ground and the track suited him perfectly today,” stable representative Colm McCulloch said. “He had a good draw and Tommy gave him a good cart into the race. He relaxed well behind the speed and when Tommy popped off their backs, he put them to bed well.
“He’s filled out into a lovely animal and Peter and Paul have done a great job with him.”
Berry said there was still improvement in Native Rock, who would be ideally suited to 1000m races around the Provincials.
Allan Kehoe’s Barney Rabble ($9) put in another good performance finishing second, while Translation appeared to have every chance and could be looking for further.
Race 7 –COREGAS CG&E BM64 (1350m):
Local galloper Lord Heron maintained his terrific first up record upsetting some of the more favourite runners to bring up his sixth career win.
The Allan Kehoe trained seven-year-old was coming off a strong Newcastle trial win on January 24 over Kristen Buchanan’s Delexo but was friendless with punters.
He was given a super ride by Jason Collett who positioned him just outside the leader.
Lord Heron ($15) hit the front on straightening and was able to hold out the fast-finishing Rumpshaker ($7.50), with the rank outsider Spin Bowles ($41) third.
“He’s got terrific first up form and makes my job easy when he puts himself up on the speed and has a decent fight,” Collett said.
“He did a bit of work early and put a bit of pressure on the leader. I used this to his benefit, and it paid off. Nice win.”
Raced by Kehoe and his partner Kim, Lord Heron was having his 24th career start. He has had three wins and a placing from six first up starts.
Race 8 – BJ HOWES METALAND CLASS 1 HANDICAP – RISING STAR (1200m):
Tom Sherry claims top points in the Rising Star Series riding Amortal to victory in the Wyong heat of the apprentice’s series.
Mark Newnham’s Written Tycoon four-year-old looks to have a bright future, the Wyong win his second from just three starts.
Sherry rated Amortal well, settling him behind the early leader First Peoples. The pair battled in the early part of the straight before Amortal kicked away to score by two lengths.
“It was a very good win and he’s on the way to better races,” Aaron Day, representing the stable said. “He put them away easy today and had a bit in hand.”
Amortal ($2.70fav) beat Sam Kavanagh’s First People ($5), with the Messara trained Silver City ($4.60) making up plenty of lengths in the straight to finish third.
Click here for today’s race book. On a day when William Pike will dominate the limelight at Wyong, Jeff Englebrecht is confident The Crimson Idol can steal a bit of his thunder.
The Wizard from the west has relocated to Sydney and his two rides on Tuesday will be his first in NSW since the move.
Pike kicks off his local campaign on Choix De La Mer for the Snowden’s in race three and Heavenly Prophet for Hawkes racing in the fourth.
There’s little doubt Pike will be a great drawcard for the meeting, the 35-year-old a fan favourite, with 2889 wins to his name including 15 Group 1’s.
Strict vaccine mandates in WA are thought to be behind Pike’s move, but he will be a well-received addition to the already strong jockey ranks.
Local trainer Englebrecht will rely on apprentice Pat Scorse to guide his mare in the 1350m F&M Benchmark 64 but would have no qualms engaging Pike in the future.
“He’s a very good rider and adds another talented jockey to an already strong pool,” Englebrecht said.
“In saying that I’m hoping Pat can get the job done for me on Tuesday. The mare has to carry 61.5kg so his three-kilo claim will be a big advantage.”
The Crimson Idol has been a consistent earner for the stable and connections, with six wins and nine placings from 38 starts.
She lines up on her home track coming into the race with a hard luck tale at her most recent outing.
“Last run she drew the outside and got way back which is not her normal racing position. He was a bit conservative out the gates and he was trapped three and four wide all the way.
“That’s not her. She’s got to be up with the leaders but she ran on late in the straight to her credit. Probably the last furlong was the best part of her race.
“Some of her runs in Sydney have been good, she’s not that far away.
“I see this as a winnable race if she brings her best game.”
Englebrecht said he preferred the mare to either lead of be just off the speed.
“She can drop in behind if there are any speedy ones or lead if there’s not. She seems to be able to do her own thing then.
“She’s got no sprint, so you’ve her got to get her out and get her going and push the leaders into doing it a bit early. Then she can grind way.
“She’s very casual at home and doesn’t need much work so we are better off racing her and keeping her fit that way.”
Tuesday will see a rare appearance at the races for Englebrecht who has been suffering from health issues for several years.
“I’ve had a bad run and haven’t been able to go to the races for a long time. I’ve got some good people helping me out but being just across the road I’ll be there at Wyong.”
A great day’s racing saw some progressive horses greeting the judge and a long-shot local causing an upset.
Jockey Chad Schofield returned a winner on his first Wyong ride following a lengthy stint in Hong Kong.
Garry Frazer’s speedy Rita May looks to have a bright future after bringing up her second win, while the Hawkes trained Petulant impressed her trainers with another dominant win.
John Cooper carried the flag for the locals after Alastor caused an upset in the 2100m BM64, outstaying his rivals to win by almost three lengths.
Race 1 – CANADIAN CLUB CLASS 1 (1100m):
An easy watch in the first race with the Hawkes trained Petulant justifying her short price with a dominant win.
The Starspangledbanner three-year-old was coming off a last start Wyong victory over 1000m on December 9.
She was sent out $1.40 favourite and taken straight to the lead by Chad Schofield, who dictated terms throughout, easing her down in the line to win by almost three lengths.
“I told Chad she should jump well and that I wanted him to lead, stack them up, give them the slip on the corner and hit the line solid. That’s what she did,” Michael Hawkes said.
“We’ve always liked the filly and from what we’ve seen to date she’s doing everything right. You can’t make excuses for winners. She’s done everything right and will improve again next preparation.”
Schofield, having his first ride at Wyong since returning from a stint in Hong Kong, was complimentary of the filly.
“She jumped straight to the front, towed me along and was never going to lose,” he said. “She won quite effortlessly, and I can see her going on to better things.”
Damien Lane’s Princess Amira ($15), having her first start for the stable, was runner up over the Matthew Smith trained Per Ivy ($4.20).
Race 2 – TAB.COM.AU 4YO & MAIDEN (1100m):
Debutant Amortal ($3.40) was too strong in the final stages snatching a narrow win over the race favourite Legend Rules.
The Darby Syndications four-year-old, trained by Mark Newnham and ridden by Tyler Schiller, had been successful in two previous trials, the latest a Warwick Farm victory over 796m on January 10.
The son of Written Tycoon had been the early favourite but drifted in the market after Les Bridge’s Legend Rules earned strong late support to start $2.60.
The winner, a $340,000 Magic Millions yearling, pinged the gates but was headed by Legend Rules early in the race, with the pair going head-to-head down the straight.
Robyn Fowler, representing the Newnham stable, said she had been concerned when Amortal raced a little greenly in the straight.
“I was thinking don’t throw it away, but he got on with it and knew where the line was. He had trialled really well and came here today with fitness on his side. He’s quite a relaxed horse but has just taken a while to mature.
“Tyler knows him very well having ridden him in the trials and in his work, so it’s good for him to get the win.”
Cross The Rubicon ($12) from the Brad Widdup stable, was third.
Race 3 – CARLTON DRAUGHT MAIDEN (1600m):
A super training effort by the Waterhouse/Bott team with Gulf Of Saros winning first up from a 12 month break.
The Snitzel colt debuted at Rosehill on January 16 last year before a lengthy spell.
He had three trials leading into the Wyong race, the latest an open trial over 1200m at Gosford on January 6.
Stable representative Neil Paine said they had been confident the three-year-old would run a nice race.
“They got him nice and fit for this race with the three trials. They knew he had ability, he just needed time to thicken out,” he said.
“First up over a mile is a big effort and I think he will be a good stayer in time. It’s great to see our long-time clients Sun Bloodstock with a nice horse coming on.”
Winona Costin took Gulf Of Saros to an early lead, maintaining the front throughout. He looked the winner a long way from home and despite a late challenge from short priced favourite Regal Pom, scored by a length and a half.
The winner was sent out at $12, with a plunge coming for the Neasham trained Regal Pom, who started at $1.20. The Waller trained Campeao ($4.80) was third.
Race 4 – WYONG RACE CLUB FUNCTION CENTRE MAIDEN (1350m):
The was a quite air of confidence from the Cummings stable about the chances of first starter Rosovo ($9) and the son of Animal Kingdom didn’t disappoint.
The three-year-old came from the rear of the field on the turn, putting in a sustained run to snatch victory on the line, courtesy of a super Josh Parr ride.
Stable representative Tina Rogers said things seemed to have clicked into gear for the gelding following his last trial.
“It was like he realised what he had to do,” she said. “It’s taken him a long time to learn but we like to let them go through their paces in their own time.
“He’s shown us a something in his last couple of gallops and we came here with some confidence. It was a great ride by Josh.”
There were no excuses for the $3.70 Waller favourite Dresden, who looked to have the race won before Rosovo’s flashed home to win by a nose. Starstruck Barbie ($4.40) trained by Marc Conners, was third.
Race 5 – GREAT NORTHERN BM64 (1000m):
The speedy Rita May is building a nice resume bringing up her second win in just her fourth career start in a smart time.
The three-year-old looks to have a bright future with trainer Garry Frazer tipping she will win plenty of races if she can stretch out to the 1200m.
Punters sent plenty of late support her way, with the Xtravagant filly starting $2.50 favourite.
She hit the ground running, taking the lead early in the race, and maintaining it throughout to score by almost two lengths.
Frazer had applied blinkers to Rita May and was happy with the result.
“She didn’t fire up with them on and I actually think she relaxed better,” he said. “She gave a good kick which was great to see. It was a very satisfying win and I’ll give her a month off now.
“We’ll treat her a bit lightly and see where she ends up but if she can run 1200m I think she’ll win plenty of races.”
Ridden by Reece Jones, Rita May was coming off a sixth at Wyong on December 15, beaten just over two lengths, having won her maiden over 900m at Newcastle the previous start.
The filly carries the colours made famous by the White family, with Frazer having trained their Group 1 winner Spright.
Wyong specialist Dual Escape ($6), trained by Denim Wynen, ran her normal honest race to finish second, ahead of Shocking Force ($13) from the Clarry Connors stable.
Race 6 – GO ELECTRICAL BM64 (2100m):
A home track win for John Cooper with Alastor upsetting the more favoured runners to bring up his fourth career victory.
The Spill The Beans gelding was the rank outsider of the field, the win returning $61.
Jess Taylor rated the four-year-old beautifully in front throughout, with Alastor kicking on the turn and drawing away to win by almost three lengths.
Alastor was a $36,000 Magic Millions yearling, previously trained by Kris Lees.
He was purchased by Cooper and is raced by his family, with the Wyong win his first since transferring to the new stable.
He had been unplaced in four starts since Cooper took over the training in December last year, his latest effort a sixth at Wyong over 2100m on January 8, when he led but tired in the final stages.
Cooper had him fit and ready to win with the upgraded track and distance ideal.
He beat the well supported favourite Atonement ($3.70) from the Matthew Smith yard, who had every chance, with Godolphin’s Sandastan ($5.50), third.
Race 7 – WYONG’S NEXT RACE MEETING FEBRUARY 15 BM64 (1600m):
A great rails hugging ride by Grant Buckley secured victory for country visitor Mandalong Tapit.
The Tapit six-year-old, trained at Tamworth by Sue Grills, was third throughout, with Buckley sticking to the rails and getting a great run in the final stages to claim victory.
“It was a great ride by Grant, he deserves all the credit,” Grills said. “I was a bit worried he might get held up, but the gap opened, and it was fantastic. I’m very happy.
“I’ll probably look for a 1900m at Canterbury because he likes the softer tracks down this way.”
Gary Moore’s last start Wyong winner Prefect Match ($5.50) was second, after sitting just off the leader throughout, with the $3.90 favourite Twice On Sunday, trained by Bjorn Baker, looking to have every chance in third.
Click here for today’s racebook. Horror barrier draws haven’t dented the confidence of Gary Moore for his three runners at Wyong’s meeting this Sunday.
Kalahari Heart and last start winner Perfect Match have drawn one off the outer barrier, while Harapan will start from the extreme outside.
“It’s been the trend over the past month drawing bad barriers, we’ve had no luck from the draws, but we’ve been able to overcome it,” Moore said.
The outside barrier didn’t affect the chances of blueblood Chief Conductor, who was impressive breaking through for his debut win for the stable at Wyong on Tuesday, and Moore hopes the luck continues.
He considers Perfect Match, who won his last outing at Wyong on January 8, the best of his trio.
The Brazen Beau three-year-old has had a win and placing from four starts, the placing coming at Wyong over the 1600m on December 9, when Moore said he had no luck.
He starts from barrier 11 in the BM64 on Sunday over the same distance.
“He drew wide when he won his maiden at Wyong, so he should be able to cope with that and he’s probably the best of my three,” he said.
“I like to take them back to Wyong if they handle the track. The day he ran third there he got interfered with around the 400m, bounced off the rail and lost his stride but finished on nicely and that set him up for the win the other day.
“He looks well. His gallop on Tuesday over six furlongs was very good and I expect him to go close to winning.”
Moore is expecting improvement from Dissident gelding Harapan, who lines up in the 1600m Maiden. The four-year-old finished toward the rear in his last start, a Wyong maiden over 1350m on January 8, having previously been placed over the same track and distance on December 15.
“I do expect a better performance than last start. The jockey came back and said he found it too short and couldn’t get near the lead.
“He handles soft ground, and the mile won’t be problem. He’s very fit, working well and I’ve been waiting to get him fit to be able to step up from the 1350m to the mile.
“He’s had plenty of grounding for this, has good gate speed so should be able to cross them and lead.”
Show A Heart mare, Kalahari Heart rounds off Moore’s trio, starting in the 1350m Maiden.
She debuted with a seventh at Canterbury over 1100m On January 7 and the trainer believes she will need more ground.
“She looks really well. Whatever she does on Sunday she will improve on. She’s bred to get over ground but the 1350m is a good steppingstone to get her up to a mile third up.”
Keagan Latham will partner all three Moore runners. The first of seven races gets underway at 1.15pm.
SELECTIONS:
Race 1 – 1.15pm: CANADIAN CLUB CLASS 1 (1100m): 1 PETULANT, 2 Per Ivy, 3 She’s Contrary, 4 Ilzoomya.
Tommy Berry and Jason Collett shared the riding honours bagging a double each on another great day of racing at Wyong.
Berry combined with the in-form Annabel Neasham winning on Rejoiced and took out the last on Flucuate for the Freedmans.
Collett’s wins came on Sirius Girl for Hawkes Racing and Confessed for Kris Lees.
There were some impressive winners, including Gary Moore’s $600,000 yearling buy Chief Conductor who is headed to the Autumn carnival and Rejoiced, who made it three wins from four starts.
There was plenty of praise for the track, courtesy of track manager Phil Robinson and his staff, from senior jockeys and trainers.
Race 1 – ALLAN KEHOE RACING F&M MAIDEN (1100m):
Gun sire Deep Field looks to have produced another nice filly in Sirius Girl.
The three-year-old brought up her debut win in impressive fashion, leading from start to finish over the 1100m.
Jason Collett pinged the gates on the Hawkes trained filly and had a soft lead throughout, drawing away in the final stages to win by a length.
“She was nicely educated,” Collett said. “She had good speed from the gate and made use of it.
“She was still a touch awkward in the middle stages, but the small track helped her skip away from them.”
Sirius Girl was resuming after two starts in her first preparation. She put in with an eye-catching trial at Rosehill on January 4 when she finished second.
Punters sent the Darby Racing filly out $3.70 favourite and weren’t disappointed. She beat Godolphin’s equal favourite Arbitration, who made up plenty of ground in straight, with Icing On The Cake ($4.80) from the Snowden yard, finishing third.
Race 2 – TRACEY BARTLEY RACING CG&E MAIDEN (1100m):
Chief Conductor and Tim Clark
Impeccably bred colt Chief Conductor is heading towards stakes racing following his strong maiden win.
Trainer Gary Moore has a big opinion of the I Am Invincible three-year-old, out of Snitzerland, who was a $600,000 Inglis yearling.
Chief Conductor ($5.50) was having his first start for the stable, after being previously trained in Melbourne for his debut run, where he was unplaced at Geelong over 1140m in November.
He was transferred to the Moore stable and looked the goods when he took out a trial at Rosehill on January 4 by more than two lengths.
Moore said he had been very confident heading into the Wyong race.
“He’s a classy colt and I think there are better things to come for him,” he said.
“He was a little playful today and lacks race experience, but he will come on leaps and bounds from that. The stable is on a high, I’ll give him one more run in a Class 1 or BM64 and then look for something better.
“Tim rode him brilliantly. We’ll be looking for a stakes race over the carnival.”
Clark gave Chief Conductor a gun ride, sitting just off the leader before drawing away around the 100m mark. Joe Pride’s Just A Tiff ($6) stormed home to finish second, with a win not far away, while the Snowden trained favourite Hamaki looked to have every chance finishing third.
Race 3 – DAMIEN LANE 4YO & UP MAIDEN (1600m):
A great training performance by Warwick Farm based Robert Quinn, with Handsome King winning over 1600m in his first start for the stable.
The Hinchinbrook four-year-old had been with another trainer for his only previous outing in July last year, before owner Bill Tsang opted to transfer him to Quinn following a spell.
He trialled twice leading into the Wyong race, his latest a third at Warwick Farm over 1207m on December 30.
Quinn, a former jumps jockey, opted to have him resume over the 1600m and called on fellow Irishman Tom Sherry for the riding duties.
Sherry came from a rear position before the turn, circling the field and coming with a sustained run to snatch victory on the line.
He denied the locally trained Finnman ($6.50) from the Wayne Seelin stable his first win, after he looked the winner in the final stages.
Quinn said Handsome King ($9.50) had kept improving since joining his stable.
“He’s a gorgeous horse and he keeps getting better in his work. He trialled super coming into this and I thought he would go well.”
Sherry congratulated Quinn on the good job with the horse.
“It’s not easy to get a four-year-old fit and up to the mile first up. The horse is still green and has plenty of upside. He went to the line well.”
Vegas Law ($18) from the Sara Ryan yard, was third.
Race 4 – 3.40pm: HAPPY RETIRMENT LES TILLEY AND EVAN HOLLAND (REV) CG&E BM64 (1350m):
Tommy Berry and Rejoiced
Annabel Neasham’s Rejoiced looked to be the best horse in the race and proved to be just that, with another victory to his name.
The Redoute’s Choice colt is racking up an impressive record, with three wins from just four starts and continues a super run for Neasham.
His only failure came at Gosford over 1600m on December 29, with the stable convinced the three-year-old didn’t handle the rise in distance.
Neasham dropped him back to the 1350m and under the cool hands of Tommy Berry, he had no trouble putting away his opposition.
“I thought he was the best horse in the race and gave him a nice easy time mid-race,” Berry said.
“I put the pressure on the corner, and he responded. He’s still learning his craft and will be a much better horse next preparation. It was a great training performance by Annabel to drop him back to the 1350m.
“I rode him knowing he was the fittest horse in the race, and he prevailed.”
Raced by Kia Ora Stud and Encompass Bloodstock, Rejoiced was sent out $2.60 favourite.
There seemed to be no excuses for the beaten brigade, Kim Waugh’s Fenech ($3.40) who was second, over Acoustix ($4.20) from the Tas Morton yard.
Race 5 – KRISTEN BUCHANAN RACING F&M BM64 (1350m):
A well-timed ride by Jason Collett secured win number three for Kris Lees consistent mare Confessed.
Collett conceded there was luck involved in bringing up his second winner of the day.
“I needed luck and I got it,” Collett said. “I was banking on it and once the favourite rolled off the fence, she had enough turn of foot to get through.”
Collett was able to angle Confessed through a narrow gap after being briefly held up for a run, the mare driving through to win by half a length.
Danny Greer, from the Lees stable, said Confessed had been a dual acceptor, the decision to run at Wyong proving to be a winning won.
“Kris opted to come here today, and it worked out. She appeared to be in a tricky spot in the straight but when the spilt came she was travelling well and was able to dash through and get the job done,” he said.
“She’s very versatile and continues to please. She’ll go through her grades.”
Confessed, a Press Statement mare, brought up win three at start 10, with four minor placings.
Runner-up Tanzimat ($8) from the Godolphin stable was doing her best work on the line, with Damien Lane’s A Fortunate Lass ($9.50) putting in an improved performance to finish third.
Race 6 – KIM WAUGH RACING F&M BM64 (1100m):
Riva Del Sol and Koby Jennings
Con Karakatsanis made it three wins from three starts with his progressive filly Riva Del Sol.
The Press Statement three-year-old took the step up to provincial grade, racing in an unaccustomed position just off the speed.
“It didn’t really go to plan because I wanted her to lead and set the tempo, but it still worked out,” Karakatsanis said.
“It’s the first time she’s had to sit behind and push out and she did that well. She’s tough and it’s good to see her stepping up and getting the job done. She’s been a work in progress and I’m very proud of her.”
Winning rider Koby Jennings was also full of praise for the filly.
“Her heart is her biggest asset,” he said. “She’s not a very big horse and is still green. She had to improve a little to put this field away and that’s what she did.”
Jennings partnered Riva Del Sol to her previous win over 1000m at Nowra on December 31. She had debuted with a victory at Taree, on August 17 while under the care of Matthew Smith.
Riva Del Sol, starting at $5.50, got the better of the Mark Newnham trained $4.40 favourite Stormborn, with another great run by Stephen Schofield’s Mosht Up ($9.50) to finish a close third.
Race 7 – WYONG’S NEXT MEETING JANUARY 23 CLASS 1 (1200m):
A slow start didn’t spoil the chances of short priced favourite Flucuate who made it back-to-back wins from just two starts.
Trained by the Freedman brothers, the Not A Single Doubt gelding, gave Tommy Berry a winning double and the jockey’s challenge, but it wasn’t clear sailing.
“He knuckled at the start and that fired him up,” Berry said. “He wanted to charge a little bit, so I was surprised he gave me as much as he did at the end.
“He’s got plenty of ability but just has to iron out those kinks. He’s in the right stable to do that.”
It was a good ride by Berry who pinched runs along the rails after the slow start. He chased down the earlier leader Apex, pulling away on the line to win by more than two lengths.
Flucuate was coming off a debut win over 1000m at Gosford on December 31.
John Cooper’s locally trained gelding Apex ($31) was brave in defeat, with Nathan Doyle’s Starboreta ($4.20) third.
