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Owner breeder Nick Vass has had nine Group 1 victories in the past but classes the victory of Carzoff in the $160,000 Listed CARLTON DRAUGHT WYONG GOLD CUP as up with his best racing moments.

Vass was a four-time placegetter in the prestigious Cup when he had runners trained by Neville McBurney but shrugged off the bridesmaid’s tag with a great win by the six-year-old Zoffany gelding.

“To win a Cup, any sort of cup is exciting, it doesn’t matter where it is,” an excited Vass said.

“I own 20 percent and he races in my colours. I haven’t had a good win for the last two or three years so this is very special.”

Vass previous winners include champion mare Sweet Idea, Cheeky Choice and Electronic.

From the powerful Waller stable, Carzoff was the sixth Wyong Cup victory for the trainer since 2010.

It also capped off a great day for jockey Kerrin McEvoy, bringing up a winning treble and securing the highly sought-after Nathan Berry Shield.

McEvoy put in a pearl of a ride to secure victory, coming from the rear in the straight and weaving a passage through runners before pulling away to secure a length win.

Glen Barnes, representing the Waller stable described it as a “masterful ride.”

“Kerrin got the break just when he needed it and the horse did the rest, “he said.

“He’s been such an honest little horse and races consistently all the time. It’s good ot see him get a very nice race under his belt.

“He doesn’t mind the sting out of the track and he ran right up to his best today

“It’s good fun winning races like this. The owners will be very happy.”

McEvoy said early tactics had seen him further back in the field then he had planned.

“There was a bit of jockeying going on early and I had to sit back right behind them to get some cover.

“Past the mile I thought I’m well back here and I’m going to need some luck.

“Once the race was starting to develop I was able to funnel up in between them. “My horse gained a lot of confidence and was ready to go once I asked him. It was a nice effort by the Waller team and a great effort by the horse.

“He’s an honest horse who has been around the mark and his last run was good. “Today with 54kg on his back looked like a nice race for him to be competitive in and the rain sort of helped him and he was able to bring his best today.”

Carzoff, who recorded his fourth career win from 22 starts, beat the Waterhouse trained Dark Eyes ($9), with Taree Cup winner Shalmaneser ($21), trained by Richard Freedman, a half-length behind in third.

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Godolphin galloper Savatiano will push forward to the spring full of confidence after resuming with a convincing win in the 1350m WINNING COMMERCIAL MONA LISA STAKES.

Both stable representative Darren Beadman and jockey Kerrin McEvoy were pleased with the filly’s performance, her fifth win from 12 starts.

“It’s not an easy task 1350m first up especially on a rain affected track but she trialled extremely well this time through and was as forward as James could get her leading into this race,” Beadman said.

“We said to Kerrin if you can be one, one or three pairs with cover it would be ideal, but the pace wasn’t that strong and Kerrin being the horseman that he is and good judge he is, he kept her rhythm happening and it was a very solid effort.

“It’s nice for this filly to get some black type beside her name. She deserves it.

“She’s got some pretty handy form and won very well at Randwick with last time in. There are bigger fish to fry for her in the spring.”

Beadman said there were plenty of options for trainer James Cummings to consider going forward.

“We will see how she pulls up from here and then decide where to take her, but we will try and stick with the fillies and mares races.”

The win brought up a double on the day for McEvoy, who said the Street Cry filly had done a good job to tough it out.

“It was a funny run race. Sometimes there are no rules. She wasn’t switching off and I didn’t have much cover, so I decided I better work with her and slide forward,” he said.

“They weren’t going as fast as I thought they would, but it paid to be on the speed.

“She didn’t switch off but did a good job to tough it out and win the race today.”

Shumookh ($5.50) from the Waterhouse stable was second, ahead of the Bjorn Baker trained Irithea ($4.20).

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Smart Melody did nothing to dent her spring campaign expectations with a dominant win on resuming over the 1200m.

Carrying the famous Gooree colours, the Smart Missile filly brought up her third win from three starts in the BISHOP COLLINS ACCOUNTANTS CLASS 2.

Smart Melody ($1.40) was held up for a run in the straight before jockey Kerrin McEvoy steered her along the rails and onto a length and a half victory.

Trainer Kris Lees admitted he had a few nervous moments as they headed into the straight.

“Just on the corner when she was held up I was a bit nervous,” he said.

“But Kerrin made the right decision and switched her onto the rails and she was able to go on with it.

“I like the way she relaxed today. I’d like to think she will get to a mile. We are a long way off that, but she was good late.

“Any horse that shows you a bit over the winter you are a little anxious when they return in the spring and she’s a three-year-old filly taking on older horses.

“It wasn’t ideal, and the plan was to get off the fence but Kerrin’s hand was forced to go back to the rails. I think there were a lot of positives to the win.

“She does have a wet track profile so is one that can get through it, but she was on the worst part of the track and she was good through the line which is what you want going forward.

“There are some smart three-year-olds going around but I think she’s one of them.”

Lees said Smart Melody’s next start would be the Heritage Stakes at Randwick on September 15 or the Group 2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington on the same day.

McEvoy said Smart Melody was a “very smart filly” who was going to have a good spring.

Americana Magic ($12) trained by Grant Allard was second, with Ridicule ($4.40) from the Widdup stable three lengths behind in third.

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Paul Messara’s impressive filly Panzerfaust is headed for the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes on the back of her dominant win the HC GROUP BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP.

The Redoute’s Choice filly, a full sister to dual Group 1 winner Panzer Division, scored a two and a half-length victory over the 1600m and always looked the winner courtesy of a great Tim Clark ride.

While Spring Champion Stakes is the next assignment for Panzerfaust, the Group 1 Kennedy Oaks at Flemington is a strong possibility.

“If she continues improving and racing well the Oaks is the goal, “ Messara’s stable representative Leah Gauranich said.

Clark settled the $1.55 favourite toward the rear in the early stages of the race, before circling the field on the turn for a sustained run in the straight.

“It was comfortable to watch and a comfortable win,’ Gauranich said.

“I thought it was an excellent ride by Tim Clark. She always travelled like the winner but Tim got her going early, swooped around them and put her into the race.

“Obviously with a potential Oaks prospect that’s what we want to see, to put them away like that.”

Gauranich said the filly would definitely head to the Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick on October 6.

The Waller trained Flower Of Love ($5.50) was second, with Cinderconi ($31) trained by Jason Attard, a half head behind in third.

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Prophet’s Thumb will head for black type following her impressive win on debut in the 1200m BIOCHEM WATER F&M MAIDEN PLATE.

David Pfieffer has the Listed Heritage Stakes at Randwick on September 15 as the next start for the I Am Invincible filly, before a likely trip to Melbourne.

Corey Brown settled the $2.20 favourite mid-field, sweeping to the outside on the turn to hit the front before drawing away in the final stages for a length and a half win.

The Pfieffer stable had a good opinion of the filly coming into the race.

“She’s always shown us a bit of talent at home, but we’ve just had to be patient with her, not physically but mentally, stable representative James Ferguson said.

“It was a good ride by Corey and a nice educational day out for her. We are very pleased to see her win when we know what she’s been doing at home.”

Ferguson said if the filly pulled up well they would head to the Heritage Stakes.

Brown was also full of praise for the filly.

“She’s had a few problems and the ear muffs were on her today to keep her calm.” Brown said.

“She went well today and was in the perfect condition. She knew where the post was today and got the job done.

“She’s a nice filly.”

The O’Shea trained Lucky Helmet ($8) finished second, with Veranes ($3), from the Waller stable a close third.

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A well-deserved win by the Gerald Ryan trained Rectitude who had put together a string of placings before breaking through in the 1200m SENPOS CG&E MAIDEN PLATE.

The Sepoy gelding had notched up a second and two third placings in his first preparation.

Tye Angland settled Rectitude just off the lead in a middling run race, with taking him to the front in the straight, where he held off contenders to score a half-length win.

The short-priced favourite Shinju ($2), from the Snowden stable had no luck in the straight, kept in a pocket in the concluding stages of the race and finishing third.

Ryan said Rectitude ($3.70) had been racing well.

“He’s only a little fellow and has run three placings prior to the race so it was good to see him break through.

“He was tough today and had race fitness on his side and that told in the end.

“He has done a great job this preparation. It is great for Sun Bloodstock because they’ve been getting a few placings lately, so it’s good for them to get a win.”

Ryan said it had been a good first preparation for the three-year-old, who was now likely to spell.

“He’s struck some smart horses and been in pretty good maidens, but he’s held his own.

“He had been sold to Hong Kong but he failed the height test so he’ll stay here now.

“I’ll probably put him out and hopefully he can grow a bit.”

Rock ($4.60) from the Hawkes stable was a half-length behind in third.

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Inanup ($8.50) upset some of the more favoured runners to take out the 1600m

HC GROUP BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP in a close three way finish.

The Jarrod Austin trained gelding brought up a race to race double for jockey Tim Clark.

Resuming from a spell, the Bon Hoffa gelding scored his second win from just five starts, both at the Wyong track.

Brian Austin, representing his son Jarrod, said the key to the five-year-old was keeping him fresh.

“He’s very good first up. He’s been working well and he won first up last prep,” Austin said.

“He’s a good first upper, you’ve just got to keep him fresh. That’s the key to him.”

Austin was also complimentary of the ride by Clark.

“It was a very, very good ride. He can really lift them to the line. When it comes to it he can really push them out.

“Jarrod will probably put him away for a month now and then have a look at another similar race. He’s the sort of horse you just have to keep fresh.”

He said the father of one of the owners, David Andrews, wasn’t well and the win would be a real lift.

“He’s been with Jarrod from the day he started so it’s good to get a win for good owners.”

Inanup beat The Patrician ($12) trained by Robert Pearse, by a neck with Lady Of Shallot ($10) from the Lees stable third.
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Joe Pride believes Destiny’s Kiss is primed to become the first horse to win back to back Wyong Gold Cups.

The veteran stayer will carry the number one saddlecloth when he lines up on Friday in a field of nine for the $160,000 Carlton Draught Wyong Gold Cup.

Destiny’s Kiss, a renowned Cup specialist, added to his impressive haul in 2017 with a victory in the Wyong Gold Cup, his eighth feature win.

He has since gone on to record subsequent black type victories in the City Tattersals Club Cup and McKell Cup.

Pride has given the gelding a similar lead-up to last year’s Wyong Gold Cup and is confident he can get the job done.

“I don’t know if horses have ever gone back to back in the Cup but I’m sure he’s a very good chance of doing that,” he said.

“He’s in really good order and I’m looking forward to Friday. A shower on the day would be even better for his chances, so we will see what happens.”

Jay Ford will partner Destiny’s Kiss, who will start from barrier eight, and carry 61 kilos.

Neither the weight nor barrier have Pride overly concerned.

“He’s carried big weights before. It’s not ideal but in saying that it’s his grade, he’s won a lot of races carrying big weights and I see him as a great chance on Friday.

“I’m sure he won’t let me down.”

Destiny’s Kiss will face strong opposition from likely favourites Morton’s Fork, a last start winner from the Godolphin stable, whose past victories include the 2016 Sandown Guineas and the Gerald Ryan trained Harper’s Choice, who won the Listed Winter Cup over 2400m in June and Premiers Cup Prelude in August 4.

Chris Waller has two runners, Black On Gold or Carzoff, with a victory giving him his sixth Wyong Gold Cup.

The stable claimed five cups from 2010 to 2015 but victory has eluded them since.

Another of the ‘older brigade’ could give the race a shake, with Richard Freedman considering Shamaneser a good chance.

The eight-year-old gained automatic entry to the Cup with an eye-catching win in the Taree Cup on August 19.

Freedman believes the gelding is recapturing his best form but concedes he will need things to go in his favour.

“Old horses like him need plenty going for them. I’ve booked Corey Brown to ride him and he’s drawn reasonably well,” he said.

“He’s always been a very capable horse, but he’s just had some issues that needed to be sorted out.

“He’s going in the right direction now.”

The other feature race of the day, the $125,000 Winning Commercial Mona Lisa Stakes has attracted a strong field of 16.

Multiple New Zealand Group winner I Am Coldplay, having her second start for the Waller stable, along with the Lees trained Princess Posh and Irithea, shooting for three straight wins from the Bjorn Baker stable, are the likely favourites.

All eyes will be on another Lees runner Smart Melody, touted to be a star filly in the spring, when she kicks off her campaign in the 1100m $40,000 Doylo Springtime Benchmark 74.

The first of eight races gets underway at 12.50pm.

 

 

SELECTIONS:

 

 

 

Race 1 – 12.50pm: SENPOS CG&E MAIDEN PLATE (1200m): 1 RECTITUDE, 2 Shinju, 3 Rock, 4 Alcatran.

Race 2 – 1.25pm: BICOHEM WATER F&M MAIDEN PLATE (120m): 1 ALISON OF TUFFY, 2 Enfilade, 3 Fine Behind, 4 Yulong Jupiter.

Race 3 – HC GROUP BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1600m): 1 PANZERFAUST, 2 Flower Of Love, 3 Marabel, 4 Velocano.

Race 4 – 2.40pm: BISHOP COLLINS ACCOUNTANTS CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1200m): 1 LADY OF SHALOT, 2 Mighty Marmalade, 3 Emaan, 4 Inanup.

Race 5 – 3.20pm: THE DOYLO SPRINGTIME BENCHMARK 74 HANDICAP (1100m): 1 SMART MELODY, 2 Americana Magic, 3 Nosey, 4 Shalama.

Race 6 – 3.55pm: WINNING COMMERCIAL MONA LISA STAKES (1350m): 1 Princess Posh, 2 Irithea, 3 I Am Coldplay, 4 Reiby Rampart.

Race 7 – 4.35pm: 2018 CARLTON DRAUGHT WYONG GOLD CUP (2100m): 1 MORTONS FORK, 2 Harper’s Choice, 3 Destiny’s Kiss, 4 Testashadow.

Race 8 – 5.15pm: HUNTER PETROLEUM PRODUCTS DA VINCI 3&4YO BENCHMARK 66 HANDICAP (1300m): 1 Kaapfever, 2 Algaffaal, 3 I’m So Sweet, 4 Nai’a.

Last year’s Wyong Gold Cup winner Destiny’s Kiss heads a strong line-up of nominations for the 2018 race to be run on Friday.

Trainer Joe Pride has given the 10-year-old gelding a similar preparation to 2017, running him in Saturday’s Group 3 Premier’s Cup, following a short let-up.

The renowned Cup specialist showed he can still match it in good company, taking out the Listed McKell Cup at Randwick on May 18 and running placings in Stayers and Winter Cups before spelling.

He finished second behind Harper’s Choice in the 2400m Winter Cup, with the Gerald Ryan trained gelding also nominated at Wyong.

Harper’s Choice was impressive taking out the Premier’s Cup Prelude at Rosehill on August 11 and will be one of the main contenders.

Testashadow, from the Portelli stable, is also among the 18 nominations, and is coming off a third in Saturday’s Premier’s Cup

Darren Weir could have his first Wyong Cup runner, with Mongolian Wolf a likely starter.

Raced by Australian Bloodstock, the five-year-old is a proven stayer claiming the Group 3 Frank Packer Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in April, with a win and two placings over 2000m and further since resuming.

James Cummings has nominated last start Mooney Valley winner Morton’s Fork, while the Waller stable has five horses nominated including Quick Defence, who was a last start winner at Rosehill over the 2000m.

Shalmaneser, trained by Richard Freedman, gained automatic entry following his impressive Taree Cup win, while Kim Waugh with Goathland and Damien Lane with All But Gone, will be keen to take out their home town Cup.

Kris Lees has decided not to start Sunday’s Cup Prelude winner Dubaiiinstyle, but will have another of his headline fillies Smart Melody resuming in the 1100m Benchmark 74.

The Listed Mona Lisa Stakes has also attracted strong nominations including the Waller trained Egg Tart, a last start Group 2 winner and multiple group winner Foxplay.

Full nominations for the meeting: https://racing.racingnsw.com.au/FreeFields/Nominations.aspx?Key=2018Aug31,NSW,Wyong

 

 

Phillip Pollicina is hoping for a chance to claim his second Wyong Gold Cup if Dubaiinstyle backs up in the $160,000 race on Friday.

The six-year-old earned a spot in the prestigious race with a dominant win in the 2100m TRAVEL ASSOCIATES ERINA WYONG CUP PRELUDE – CLASS 4 HCP.

Pollicina was an owner of Beyond Thankful, who claimed the Wyong Gold Cup in 2015, and is hoping trainer Kris Lees will start Dubaiinstyle in next Friday’s Cup.

“It would be great to have another runner and chance to win,” Pollicina said.

“I was part of a big syndicate when Beyond Thankful won but this time it’s a smaller group and even more exciting.”

Dubaiinstyle was never threatened with jockey Andrew Gibbons taking him to an early lead and dictating terms, before drawing away in the straight for a dominant three length win.

Lees stable foreman Cameron Swan said they would see how the horse pulled up before deciding on a run in the Cup.

“That will be up to Kris but he went well today backing up from Taree a week ago, so he’s tough,” he said.

“Gibbo rated him beautifully in front. I was concerned that he might not settle but Gibbo, after riding him the other day, got a bit of confidence out of him and was keen to go forward. It worked out well.

“There was no cause to panic at any stage of the race. He seemed to have them all covered.”

Gibbons, who is having a career best start to a season with 14 wins, said Lees had left it up to him how to ride Dubaiinstyle.

“He said ride him for feel and he’s the sort of horse that can go a touch keen. Ideally I would of liked to have ridden him with cover but they were looking for a leader so I thought I’m on the best horse I’ll take it up.

“I got an easy time. He’s tough and I think if he went to the Wyong Cup he’d be the sort of horse who would race better in good company, with more genuine speed.

“He wouldn’t have to do the donkey work and he’s up to that grade.”

It was a Lees quinella with stablemate Go Benny ($4) finishing second, two lengths ahead of Mr Smartee ($12) trained by Tas Morton.

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The John Sargent trained Come Along ($6) upset the short-priced race favourite to score a narrow victory in the 1350m REMEMBERING MURRAY DOYLE 3YO MAIDEN PLATE.

It was fitting that former AJC Chairman David Hall is a part owner of the winner, in a race honouring former Wyong Race Club Chairman, the late Murray Doyle.

Hall said he hadn’t been to Wyong for many years and it was great to see how the club had progressed.

The $230,000 yearling purchase, sporting the colours made famous by Think Big, appreciated the step up in distance to 1400m, with the stable confident his best form will come over more ground.

Campbell Ashby, representing the stable, said there is plenty of improvement still to come for the three-year-old gelding.

“It was a great ride by Jeff and I think you will see the best of this horse when gets up to the mile and more,” Ashby said.

“We put the nose roll on today because he can run around a bit for some reason and it made a difference.

“It kept his head down and focused and it was a good win.”

Ashby said they would see how the horse pulled up before deciding to either spell him or step him up over more ground.

Come Along beat Le Lude ($1.80) from the Thompson stable by a neck, with the Hawkes trained Rivalry ($5.50), third.

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James Innes Jnr claimed his first Group victory on Saturday at Rosehill taking out the Ming Dynasty and continued the form with a win on the short-priced Omar ($1.80).

Trained by Gerald Ryan, the Snitzel gelding held off a challenge by the Damien Lane trained Rastafarian ($9.50, to grab a narrow win in the THE ROYAL HOTEL WYONG BENCHMARK 64 over 1000m.

Having his third start, the gelding is owned by prominent breeder George Altomonte from Corumbene Stud.

Blake Ryan, representing his father, said he felt the soft track had taken a bit of speed out of Omar.

“It was good. James is riding with a lot of confidence and he came out and summed the race up well,” Ryan said.

“With the sting out of the track today it dulled his sharpness a little bit. He’s a fast horse, who has been able to go straight from a maiden to a benchmark race. Mr Altomonte will be happy, dad will be happy and it’s good for the horse.

“I reckon he’ll run 1100m with a bit less pressure in the race as well. It was good to see him put two together. He’s going the right way.”

Innes said he had concerns during the race.

“I was thinking how far on the point of the turn but off the bridle with a bit of cut out of the track there was a bit of a question mark.

“He definitely zips off a hot tempo on a good track, but I had my heart in my mouth for a little bit today.”

Second Island ($9.50), trained by Greg McFarlane, was a half-length behind in third.

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Allan Kehoe looks to have bagged a real bargain with Tikkitala after the gelding’s impressive three length win in the 1100m CARLTON DRAUGHT WYONG GOLD CUP FRIDAY AUGUST 31 4YO&UP MAIDEN.

The five-year-old was having only his second start, coming off two trials wins at Newcastle.

Kehoe owns the gelding with David Ruttley from Glenthorne Park.

He was given the horse by its previous owner after it was discovered he had wind issues.

“The owner didn’t want to go on with him, so she gave him to David and I,” Kehoe said.

“He had the wind operation and had a good break at David’s place.

“He hasn’t looked back since. You wouldn’t know there had ever been a problem the way he is now.”

Kehoe said he had been confident going into the race.

“He trialled well both times and has been working good on the track.

“We thought he’d win today, and he didn’t let us down.

“I’ve got a pretty good opinion of him, so hopefully he can go on a win a few more races.”

Tikkitala ($16), ridden by Rory Hutchings, beat the $2.25 favourite Infinitely Pretty, trained by David Pfieffer, with Neruda ($7.50) from the Buchanan stable third.

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A well-deserved win by the consistent Spring Creek Star ($2.70) to break through for his second win in the 1350m STAR 104.5 BENCHMARK 64.

The Jarrod Austin trained Dubleo gelding has put together a string of placings and hard luck stories since last tasting success in March 2017.

He has been placed three times at Wyong this preparation and finally proved too strong for his opposition.

A relieved Austin said it was great for the horse and owners, who had been very patient.

“It was a good win and he’s very deserving,” Austin said.

“I was happy to see the favourite come out this morning and I knew we had a good chance.

“He races well around this track and there have been excuses for his last few placings, so it’s great to see him finally break through.

“Rachel rode him really well today. We’ve had a bit of success together.”

Austin said he would see how the horse pulled up but was reluctant to send him out for a spell.

“He’s been up for a while but is racing so well at the moment. I’ll probably look for a class 2 somewhere and take it from there.”

The win brought up a double for Rachel King, scoring earlier on the program on Elaborate.

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Ben Smith considers Elaborate ($3.50) has the makings of a good horse after his breakthrough win in the FRESH-R CLASS 1 HANDICAP over 1600m.

The Excelebration three-year-old, having his third start for the stable, was given a great ride by Rachel King, sitting just off the leader and race favourite Homework ($1.65).

Smith said the plan had been to pressure the favourite and take advantage of a pull in the weights.

“The decision to scratch from the maiden to the class 1 gave him a big difference in the weight and we thought we could roll forward and put a bit of pressure on the top weight,” Smith said.

“Hopefully that weight difference was the telling factor in the end and it was a good ride by Rachel today.

“He’s a really nice progressive horse but it’s just taken him a little while to put it all together race day. He’s shown plenty at home so hopefully he can keep taking the next step and keep improving and we will have a nice horse.

“I think he might even get a bit further later on, once he develops a bit more. He’s just turned three so there is plenty of scope there for him.”

King also considered the plan to pressure the favourite a winning one.

“We wanted to keep a lot of pressure on the favourite. We had a lot less weight, he’s a very fit horse and we were confident the mile today was definitely going to help him,” she said.

“He’s still got a bit to learn but he’s getting there.”

Raced by Dynamic Syndications, Elaborate scored a half length win over Homework, with the Kim Waugh trained Joy For Us ($6.50), a close in third.

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Short priced favourite Madame Markievicz ($1.24) greeted the judge by a narrow margin courtesy of a well-rated, front running ride by Christian Reith.

The O’Reilly mare held off the Kim Waugh trained Seeingisbelieving ($5.50) to take out the 1600m WYONG PRODUCE AND FARM SUPPLIES MAIDEN PLATE by a short half head.

Trained by Anthony and Edward Cummings, the four-year-old was coming off a narrow defeat over 1400m at Newcastle on August 11.

Stable representative Steve Oliver described her a “nice mare,” who would get better next preparation.

“She’s only a little thing but she stuck on well today and will take plenty out of that win.”

Christian Reith said he had benefitted from some easy sectionals during the race.

“I know the margin was only close, but she accelerated nicely from the 300m,” he said.

“The second horse gave her a good challenge but to her credit she toughed it out.”

Reith said the plan had been to lead and a good start had helped.

“I spoke to Anthony and Edward this morning and I said to them if we ride her positively we will take all the bad luck out of it.

“She was best horse in the race and we rode her forward and were able to get away with the win.”

Select Royal ($12) from the David Payne stable was almost three lengths behind in third.

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The John Sargent trained Come Along ($6) upset the short-priced race favourite to score a narrow victory in the 1350m REMEMBERING MURRAY DOYLE 3YO MAIDEN PLATE.

It was fitting that former AJC Chairman David Hall is a part owner of the winner, in a race honouring former Wyong Race Club Chairman, the late Murray Doyle.

Hall said he hadn’t been to Wyong for many years and it was great to see how the club had progressed.

The $230,000 yearling purchase, sporting the colours made famous by Think Big, appreciated the step up in distance to 1400m, with the stable confident his best form will come over more ground.

Campbell Ashby, representing the stable, said there is plenty of improvement still to come for the three-year-old gelding.

“It was a great ride by Jeff and I think you will see the best of this horse when gets up to the mile and more,” Ashby said.

“We put the nose roll on today because he can run around a bit for some reason and it made a difference.

“It kept his head down and focused and it was a good win.”

Ashby said they would see how the horse pulled up before deciding to either spell him or step him up over more ground.

Come Along beat Le Lude ($1.80) from the Thompson stable by a neck, with the Hawkes trained Rivalry ($5.50), third.

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Jeff Englebrecht is happy to concede his mare Villarrica is stepping up in grade in Sunday’s 2100m Wyong Cup Prelude but believes a significant weight advantage will help her cause.

The Smart Missile mare is one of 10 acceptors for the Travel Associates Erina Class 4 Prelude, with the winner gaining a start in the $160,000 Listed Wyong Gold Cup, to be run on August 31.

Englebrecht is under no illusions Villarrica faces a tough task and is hoping predicted rain will further her chances.

“She is an each way chance. She’s only going to carry 51kg because I’ve decided to claim on her and if the forecast rain comes that will help,” he said.

“Alena Skerrit will ride her. She has ridden her in work and that’s an advantage.”

He said the mare’s last start at Taree over the 2000m on August 17 was good.

“Distance won’t be a problem for her. She ran on well at Taree after getting back a long way.

“She jumped the crossing going out of the straight and that put her back to nearly fourth last when she should have been up on the speed.

“The plan will be to have her up in the first four or five on Sunday. She’s drawn barrier nine but I think it will be better for her out there because she can work her way across rather than having to hunt her up too early.”

He said Villarrica had two wins on a soft track and if the rain did come she would appreciate the going.

“That would be better for her but they’ve been putting a bit of water on the track, so it won’t be rock hard by any means.

“There are a few up there that are higher up in class than her but she’s going to meet them with no weight on her back.”

He said if Villarrica won on Sunday he would consider pushing on to the Cup.

“She’d only be a Class 3 horse, so it would be a bit jump but we will see what happens.”

The mare is having her sixth start for the stable, having previously been trained by Laurie Wray and Michael Moroney in Victoria.

“We’ve won a race already, so the owner is happy, and we’ll see if she can take the next step come Sunday.”

The David Payne trained Momentum To Win looks the hardest to beat, coming off a fourth at Wyong last start over 1600m.

The Animal Kingdom gelding won over the 2100m at Gosford and 2000m at Hawkesbury last preparation.

Dubaiinstyle from the Kris Lees stable is another contender, following a good performance in last Sunday’s Taree Cup, finishing third behind Shalmaneser.

Bjorn Baker is undecided if Allez Bien will start at Wyong or Rosehill on Saturday.

A large crowd is expected for the seven race program, with Ladies Day Out one of the most popular days on the club’s racing calendar.

 

 

 

SELECTIONS:

Race 1 – 12.45pm: FRESH-R CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1600m): 1 HOMEWORK, 2 Joy For Us, 3 Elaborate, 4 Son Of A Fox.

Race 2 – 1.20pm: WYONG PRODUCE AND FARM SUPPLIES MAIDEN PLATE (1600m): 1 MADAME MARKIEVICZ, 2 Select Royal, Elaborate, 4 Take Time To Chill.

Race 3 – 1.55pm: REMEMBERING MURRAY DOYLE 3YO MAIDEN PLATE (1350m): 1 COME ALONG, 2 Rivalry, 3 Wishbone, 4 Shuffle Up.

Race 4 – 2.30pm: TRAVEL ASSOCIATES ERINA WYONG CUP PRELUDE – CLASS 2 (2100m): 1 MOMENTUM TO WIN, 2 Go Benny, 3 Meiner Freccia, 4 Allez Bien.

Race 5 – 3.05pm: THE ROYAL HOTEL WYONG BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1000m): 1 OMAR, 2 Rastafarian, 3 Second Island, 4 Red Chandelier.

Race 6 – 3.40pm: STAR 104.5 BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1350m): 1SPRING CREEK STAR, 2 Home Made, 3 Scatter Blast, 4 Lady I Am.

Race 7 – 4.15pm: CARLTON DRAUGHT WYONG GOLD CUP FRIDAY AUGUST 31 4YO&UP MAIDEN HANDICAP (1100m): 1 PRETTY SONG, 2 Oxford Gem, 3 Fine Behind, 4 Neruda.

 

Rejuvenated gelding Shalmaneser could step up to the $160,000 Carlton Draught Wyong Gold Cup on Friday week after a bold front-running win in Sunday’s Taree Gold Cup over 2000m.

The eight-year-old Shalmaneser has found a new lease of life under his new trainer Richard Freedman, who had a day to remember on his first visit to a Taree race meeting.

Rosehill-based Freedman took three horses to the Taree Cup Showcase meeting and came away with two wins after Triple Choice, another horse he inherited from former trainers, won his Benchmark race over 1600m.

It could have been three wins for Freedman as his strongly fancied filly Unguarded was denied a start in the first race after she was a late scratching at the barrier after failing a vet examination.

“The day didn’t start as we hoped but it’s been a happy ending,” said Rosehill-based Freedman, who became the first metropolitan trainer to win a Taree Cup since 1998.

It was a homecoming of sorts for Shalmaneser as the 8YO started his racing career with Taree trainer Andrew McDonald in 2014 and was placed in two of his first four starts before he was transferred to Hawkesbury trainer Scott Singleton.

Shalmaneser recorded five wins and seven placings in 42 starts for Singleton before he joined the Freedman stable four months ago. The Taree Cup was just his third start for Freedman and his first success since he won over 1800m at Randwick in 2016.

Ridden by Andrew Adkins, Shalmaneser defied all attempts to run him down after taking up the lead from the start. He defied the pattern of the day as he was the only leader to win on the eight-race program, a strong head wind from the 1200m to the home turn taking its toll on pacemakers.

After being perfectly rated in front by Adkins , Shalmaneser gave a strong kick off the home turn to win by a clear cut 1.5 lengths from Allzin, a Wauchope-trained gelding who ran boldly for a horse taking on the 2000m of the Taree Cup at his first start since April.

Dubaiinstyle, one of three Kris Lees-trained runners, finished third.

Taree Cup winners and placegetters have an excellent record in the Listed Wyong Cup (2100m). Freedman said the rich prize money on Friday week made it an obvious target for Shalmaneser at his next start.

“We will see how he comes through this win as he is now an 8YO but the owners are keen to have a crack at the big prize money at Wyong and it does look a nice race for him,” Freedman said.

Freedman’s Taree Cup win adds to his growing success since he returned to training at Hawkesbury in 2016 with the intention of running a small stable as an aside to his media work.

He has since moved to Rosehill and has a team of 30 horses in work.

“Things have grown quickly. It’s more than I anticipated but I am really enjoying it,” Freedman said.

All four Freedman brothers are now training successfully in their own right with family leader Lee based in Singapore, Anthony running a big stable in Victoria and youngest brother Michael training in Hong Kong.

 

Harper’s Choice will line up in the $160,000 Carlton Draught Wyong Gold Cup at the end of the month following his strong win at Rosehill on Saturday.

Gerald Ryan confirmed the Street Cry gelding had pulled up well following his victory in the 1800m Premier’s Cup Prelude.

“At this stage, all being well, Wyong will be his next start,” Ryan said.

“We won’t do a lot with him between now and then. The race fits in really well with his program and we will likely head to the Newcastle Cup after that.”

Harper’s Choice made it back to back wins last Saturday, having previously taken out the 2400m Winter Cup at Rosehill on June 30.

Ryan then freshened the five-year-old up, trialling him prior to Saturday’s run.

He believes the gelding, who was runner-up to Jon Snow in last year’s Group 1 ATC Derby, will have no problems with the Wyong track.

“He hasn’t been there before but he’s won around Canterbury, so I couldn’t picture the track being a problem for him.

“It’s great to see this horse in such good form and the Wyong Cup looks ideal.”

Jason Collett, who partnered Harper’s Choice to his latest victory, will be the likely rider.

The Listed Carlton Draught Wyong Gold Cup will be run on August 31 and is the highlight to Club’s 120^th anniversary of their major Racing carnival of the year.

 

 

A home track victory with his first runner of the new season has Tracey Bartley hopeful he can better last season’s tally of 22 winners.

So Bizarre started $1.30 favourite in the NORTHROP CONSULTING ENGINEERS 4YO&UP MAIDEN over 1100m and while tested in the straight, scored a good debut win at his fifth start.

Bartley said it was a great way to start the new season and hopefully a sign of things to come.

“We had 22 winners the first season I moved over from Mudgee in 2011/2102 but I came with a team of horses.

“We’d been a bit quieter for a few years but last season we got the 22 wins again.

“I’ve got some really nice horses in the stable at present, so hopefully we can do better than that this season.

“It’s a good way to start.”

Bartley is confident So Bizarre, who finished third at Rosehill last preparation, will go on to win more races.

“He’s a lovely big horse and that was just a barrier trial for him today,” he said.

“I knew he needed the run and he showed that on the line but it was a very promising win.

“We will step him up in distance now. I’ll find him another provincial race and then take him to town.

“We’ve given him 10 months between runs because he just needed to strengthen up.

“He’s a lovely horse and I think he will turn out to be a good stayer.”

Winning jockey Jason Collett described it as a “good win” but said it was obvious the horse would be better over more ground.

So Bizarre, a $110,000 Dream Ahead gelding, beat Find Behind ($6) from the Seelin stable by half a length, with Pretty Song ($15), trained by Jason Attard, a short half head behind in third.

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Tye Angland made a big impression on only his third day back in the saddle after a break, taking out four of the eight races at the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Charity Race Day.

Angland returned to riding at Warwick Farm on Wednesday after a three week holiday and wasted no time making an impression, with the four Wyong wins.

He was beaten narrowly in two races at Hawkesbury on Thursday but turned the tables in a big way the following day.

Angland rode a personal best 140 winners last season and is striving to better that in 2018/2019.

“I can’t remember the last time I rode four, so it’s been good,” he said.

“I’m just back from holidays so it’s a great way to get back into it.”

Angland brought up his fourth winner on the David Pfeiffer trained Love Shack Baby ($1.85) who was a dominant two and a half length winner in the 1600m BONYTHON TOWER CLASS 2 HANDICAP.

The four-year-old All Too Hard gelding, was second up after resuming with a fourth at Wyong on July 14.

Sue O’Keefe, representing the Pfeiffer stable, said Angland had ridden him a “treat.”

“He needs to lead especially around this track. That was the plan and Tye rode him exactly who Tye told him,” she said.

“He is consistent and will hopefully keep going the way he’s going.

“I’d say David will probably step up and go to a mid-week at Warwick Farm or Canterbury. He was very dominant today.”

Velocano ($6.50) from the Marc Connors stable was second, with the Waller trained McMahon ($4), third.

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Angland brought up his treble on the John Thomspon trained Golden Hits ($4.20), his second win for the stable.

It was another cool ride by Angland on the four-year-old who came from behind in a slowly run race, to score an impressive three length win in the 1350m YOUR LOCAL CLUB BENCHMARK 65.

The Your Song gelding was disappointing at his last start at Gosford over 1100m, coming off a won at Hawkesbury on July 5.

“I think he appreciated the extra ground today,” stable representative Danielle Podlewski said.

“He was flat at Gosford but he certainly made up for that.

“It was a very strong win today and another great ride by Tye. He had a bit of pressure on him midway down the straight but he responded well.”

She said it was likely Thompson would step up Golden Hits to a metropolitan race.

Shadow Flight ($9) trained by Jamie Thomsen was second, with the $2.80 favourite Spring Creek Star, third.

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A quick back-up was the key to Jeff Englebrecht’s veteran galloper Shalama winning the WIDELINE WINDOWS AND DOORS BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP.

The nine-year-old brought up his fourth career win, coming off a fifth at Newcastle three days earlier.

Englebrecht said it was always the plan to back-up Shalama, after the Cessnock meeting was transferred to Newcastle.

“It was to be 1100m at Cessnock and that is his pet distance,” he said. “They ran it over 1200m at Newcastle and it just found him out a bit.

“I looked at the noms for here and there were only four so I thought I’d accept and see what happens.

“Then I thought I’d use Alena (Skerritt) and take more weight off his back.”

Englebrecht praised the ride of the apprentice, who kept a cool head with a rails hugging ride.

“I haven’t used Alena a lot but once she started travelling out west she started riding heaps of winners.

“She got her confidence up and showed that toady.

“This bloke probably should of won more races but he’s just a bugger to ride.

“I told Alena not to let him go because he’d charge and she did a really good job on him.”

Nosey ($5) from the Les Tilley stale was a close second, with Radiologist ($7.50), trained by Cheryl Lantry, third.

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A dominant ride by Tye Angland secured a narrow victory for the well-bred Republic ($2.50fav), taking out the 1350m HALEKULANI 3YO MAIDEN by a half neck and kicking off a winning day for Angland.

The Snitzel gelding had to survive a protest from runner-up Nuclear Burst ($2.60) from the Waugh stable.

Republic was coming off a 10^th at Warwick Farm last start but trainer John Thompson believes the Wyong win will give him confidence for another shot at a Metropolitan race.

“John will have a look for a suitable race back in town now,” stable representative Danielle Podlewski said.

“He will take a lot out of this win. He ran really well through the line, so we would expect him to step up over more ground.

“Blinkers on today really switched him on and Tye rode him perfectly.

“It’s good to see this horse really run up to his potential today.”

Angland said things had gone well in the early stages of the race and while he had felt the pinch, second up over the 1350m, he got the job done.

“It was a good win and hopefully he takes a lot of confidence out of it.

“He’s a nice big, strong horse and if he continues to improve, which he should now since he’s been gelded, he should just keep winning.”

Regal Capital ($13) from the Robert Pearse stable, finished a close third.

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A strong win by Sun And Heir in the BISHOP COLLINS CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS 4YO & UP MAIDEN put paid to trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith’s fears the horse would retire a maiden.

Having his 19^th career start, the five-year-old by Haradasun, looked in trouble at the turn but responded to vigorous riding by jockey Tye Angland, to record a convincing two and a quarter length win over the 1350m.

Angland had settled the gelding in a perfect position just off the speed, before getting a split at the top of the straight and storming home for a convincing victory.

Mayfield-Smith attributed the addition of blinkers and a strong ride by Angland, as the contributing factors.

“Having the blinkers on today helped, made him focus a bit, tuned him up and got him going,” he said.

“Chad rode him well. He looked like he was in a bit of trouble near the turn but he was pretty aggressive and got him going again.

“It was great to see him go on with it today.”

Sun And Heir, who started $3.50 second favourite, was coming off a second at Wyong last start.

He beat the Robert Pearse trained, One Of The Kind ($12), with the $1.95 race favourite Helsonic, from the Freedman stable, a long neck behind in third.

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Waiheke showed his class and pointers towards a bright future with an impressive win in the 1600m PATTY KENNEDY’S BOYS METRO & PROV MAIDEN.

The $120,000 yearling, by Ocean Park, has been a work in progress for trainer Chris Waller, who has taken his time bringing the four-year-old gelding to the races.

Having only his second race start, and coming off a second at Wyong on July 14, punters took a shine to Waiheke, who started $1.85 short priced favourite.

Jockey Tye Angland brought up a race to race double with another good ride, bringing praise from the Waller stable.

He settled the favourite one out and one back for much of the race, quickening up in the straight before drawing away for a three length win.

Stable foreman Glen Barnes described it as a “very impressive” win.

“Tye gave him every chance today. It was a beautiful ride,” Barnes said.

“You’d think this horse would go on from this and win some better races.

“Chris has taken his time with him this far, so I imagine he will take along through the grades.”

The Clarry Connors trained Stage Pass ($3.80) was second, with Rotoiti ($26)     trained by Pat O’Grady, a length and three quarters behind in third.

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An excited group of owners cheered apprentice Louise Day when she returned to scale on Yeoman ($19) after taking out the WESTPAC RESCUE HELICOPTER SERVICE CLASS 1 over 1200m.

The Fastnet Rock gelding was having his second start for Newcastle trainer Jeremy Smith, having previously been trained by Paul Perry.

He finished fifth at Muswellbrook on July 6 over 1000m and appreciated the step up in distance at Wyong.

The five-year-old was fractious in the barriers and slow away but despite Day being caught wide in the middle stages of the race, he stormed home to score a narrow win on the line.

“It is good for us and good for the owners,” an excited Smith said after the win.

“Some of them are first time owners so they are pretty excited.

“I got this horse off Paul Perry in great condition and I’ve just changed a couple of things.

“Louise rides him all his works and knows him well, so it’s a great result for her as well.”

The win was the second for Yeoman from twelve starts and Smith said he would take him slowly through his grades.

The Damien Lane trained Scatter Blast ($13) was second, with Patron Black ($4.60), from the Portelli stable, a short half head behind in third.

 

Kim Waugh is hoping to continue her success of the 2017-2018 season with two good chances at her home track meeting on Friday.

Waugh, who took out the title of leading Wyong trainer with 46 wins, saddles up Joy For Us and Nuclear Burst at Friday’s Westpac Rescue Helicopter Charity Race Day.

It was a record breaking season for Waugh, who surpassed her previous best season by 11 wins.

It was the first time she has claimed the title as Wyong’s leading trainer, with Allan Denham having trained the most winners for the previous five years.

“I don’t put a lot of emphasis on premierships, but they do mean you are getting results and earning prizemoney for owners and that is the most important thing for me,” Waugh said.

“It was a great season and it would be good to get a win or two at Wyong to get the ball rolling.”

Waugh saddles up Lonhro mare, Joy For Us, in the 1200m Class 1 Handicap.

A recent addition to the stable, the four-year-old is aiming for back to back wins.

She scored her maiden victory in her first start for Waugh at Gosford on July 19, making up ground in the straight to score a narrow win.

Waugh is confident Joy For Us can make it two in a row.

“I took her because I have got other horses for the owners and they wanted to move her on from Bjorn Bakers,” she said.

“We were pretty full up but they are great clients, so I agreed to take her and it worked out really well.

“She trialled well leading into that race and they were over the moon when she won.”

Waugh has kept the mare over the same distance and with the suspension of Blake Shinn, has engaged Jason Collett.

“I think it’s a nice race for her and she has drawn well in three.

“I’m really happy with her. She has done really well since the Gosford win, eating well and working well.

“I’ll keep her around this distance and see how she progresses.”

Waugh’s other runner Nuclear Burst is yet to taste success, but the Smart Missile colt has been knocking on the door, finishing second at his two race starts.

He was runner-up on debut over the 1100m at Gosford on July 3, before being narrowly beaten at the same track over 1200m on July 19.

Shinn had partnered the three-year-old in both starts, with Andrew Atkins taking the reins in the 1350m 3YO Maiden Plate.

Waugh is confident from the good barrier draw, Nuclear Burst will go close again.

“He just keeps improving and is a nice horse,” she said.

“I think the 1350m should suit him, particularly on his home track.

“It would be nice to start the season at home with a win.”

The first of eight races gets underway at 12.15pm.

 

 

SELECTIONS:

 

Race 1- 12.15pm: HALEKULANI 3YO MAIDEN PLATE (1350m): 1 NUCLEAR BURST, 2 Everard, 3 Regal Capital, 4 Republic.

Race 2 – 12.50pm: BISHOP COLLINS CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS 4YO & UP MAIDEN HANDICAP (1350m): 1 SUN AND HEIR, 2 Helsonic, 3 Act Of Bravery, 4 Stunned.

Race 3 – 1.25pm: PATTY KENNEDY’S BOYS METRO & PROV MAIDEN HANDICAP (1600m): 1 WAIKEKE, 2 In Lighten Me, 3 Zourhea, 4 Stage Pass.

Race 4 – 2.05pm: NORTHROP CONSULTING ENGINEERS 4YO & UP MAIDEN PLATE (1100m): 1 PRETTY SONG, 2 So Bizarre, 3 Fine Behind, 4 Rosie’s Miracle.

Race 5 – 2.40pm: WIDELINE WINDOWS AND DOORS BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1100m): 1 NOSEY, 2 Texas Tycoon, 3 Mr Grumpy, 4 Magic Arli.

Race 6 – 3.20pm: YOUR LOCAL CLUB BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP (1350m): 1 SPARKLY STAR, 2 Golden Hits, 3 Nai’a, 4 Shadow Flight.

Race 7 – 3.55pm: BONYTHON TOWER CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1600m): 1 MCMAHON, 2 Love Shack Baby, 3 Californiafirebird, 4 Velocano.

Race 8 – 4.35pm: WESTPAC RESCUE HELICOPTER SERVICE CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1200m): 1 JOY FOR US, 2 The Drake, 3 Sparkly Star, 4 Bell Serenade.