It’s been a harrowing few months for Brett Partelle with his Central
Coast property hit hard by fires and flood.
Smoke and ash from fires plagued his property for several months and
then floods forced everything into lockdown for more than 10 days.
He saddles up six runners at Wyong on Tuesday and is hoping for a
much-needed change of luck.
“It’s been a pretty tough time. We’ve been hammered,” Partelle said. “We
had to back off the horses for weeks because of smoke and ash falling
everywhere. We had them ready to go again and a few of them raced well at Scone
and then we were hit hard by the floods.
“The horses didn’t have a saddle on them for 10 days because the flood
water was lapping at our door. It’s been four months of absolute misery.”
Partelle said due to his circumstances Wyong had allowed him a private
trial and he was confident the horses were all ready to go.
“I expect them all to race well but Aytobe would be the best of them,”
he said. “Whatever they do on Tuesday there will be improvement to come.”
Aytobe lines up in the Provincial and Country Maiden over 1200m.
“I like this horse. He has a lot of ability and I think he’s the one to
beat. He should have won last start clearly. He is the most forward of them all
and if he gets around Wyong, he’s the horse to beat.
“He ran third in town last year and I think he’s in for a good
preparation. We will knock his maiden off and then assess where to go from
there.”
Pierro gelding, Commander Bell starts in the 1200m Class 2 and Partelle
expects a good performance.
“He went well at Scone on January 30 but is basically first up again
here because of the let-up. I’m looking forward to getting him over more ground
because that’s when we will see the best of him.”
Stablemate Bring Glory, a last start Scone winner, is in the same race.
“His win was full of merit. It was his first start for us, and I think
he will make a nice 1400m horse. He is a nice enough, progressive horse.”
Partelle saddles up Sacred Sword and Hard Reality in the 1000m Class 1.
“Sacred Sword has only had the two starts for us and won impressively first
up. Then at Gosford he pulled up a bit tight over his back area, so he went for
a break.
“He’s a nice progressive horse, who’s got good first up form and is in
for a good campaign.
“Hard Reality improves with a run under his belt. He’s one who will
definitely take improvement out of it and then will be placed back into similar
company around Scone and I think that’s where he can knock off a race and move
forward from there.”
Completing Partelle’s runners is Rifles in the 1000m Maiden.
“He is a horse with really nice ability. He’s been gelded and that will
make a huge difference to him. It’s a bit of look and see after being gelded
but if he holds his head right, I think he’s also in for a good campaign.
“There’s been no positivity for us or the owners so it will be so good
to get them back to the track and racing.”
SELECTIONS:
Race 1 – 1.15pm: ICL SIERRAFORM GT MAIDEN (1000m): 1 BUCKIN’ RIPPA, 2
Rifles, 3 At The Helm, 4 Phoenician Queen.
Local trainer Kristen Buchanan has a potential Provincial Championships qualifier in her stable after Jeff Penza delivered a textbook ride on Designated – a 3yo son of Rubick in Race 7 101.3’s Top Koala-T Aussie Race Day Benchmark 64 Handicap 1600m.
The
win was a second under the class record time set back on 12 December 2018 by
Classic Princess (1:37.32).
Heavily
backed, Designated took a clear lead at the 100m mark and had three lengths on
the field at the winning post.
A
delighted Buchanan and an equally happy owner Alex Illes couldn’t contain their
excitement as their horse returned to scale.
“This
is fantastic, just fantastic!” Mr Illes said.
Buchanan said the
horsehad been screamingout for the 1600m.
“He
went very well for Serg [Lisny] when fresh over 1000m. Since then he has been a
little bit tardy away and building into his races and today was an experiment,
but I was very confident that he would get it and I like being right,” she
said.
Buchanan
said Designated had come to be in her care after running amiss in Queensland.
“Alex
is his breeder and he and his wife Deidre send us a few horses and they are
lovely people to train for.”
Second
in the race was Nordic Lover (Glyn Schofield), third was Frenzied (Tommy Berry)
and fourth was Parry Sound (Billy Owen). Race time was 1:36.29 (last 600m in
34.18). Official margins were 2& 3/4 lengths x 1/2 head.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jason
Coyle and Mikayla Weir combined to take out the 1100m You’ll Love It! By The
Halekulani Bowling Club 4YO & Up Maiden Plate with Freefica.
The
four-year-old daughter of Benfica broke from the barriers with early speed and
maintained the pressure for t 1100m, the remainder of the field simply running
out of room to catch her.
Coyle
said the mare had done it at both ends and had done ‘a good job of it.
“She
will now work her way through her classes. She has a similar racing pattern to
her sister who is stakes placed but whether she has what is required to get to
that level is yet to be seen,” Coyle said.
Weir
said of her mount: “when she got to the front she had a good look around. She
travelled well but was a bit raw.”
Patrina
(Chris O’Brien) tried desperately to close the gap in the final stages without
success. Race favourite Shadow Colour finished third (Tom Marquand) and Pure
Faith (Tommy Berry) was fourth.
Race
time was 1:02.98 (last 600m in 34.24). Official margins were 3/4 length x 3.5
lengths. Track rating is a Good 4. Rail position is true.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Travis
Wolfgram piloted the well-bred Lady Legend to her first win in class record
time in The Jett’s Fitness @San Remo Aussie Day Hoseplay Maiden Plate over 1600m.
The
$300,000 daughter of Redoute’s Choice, trained by Les Bridge, had been winless
in her previous six starts but made amends over the 1600m with winning jockey Travis
Wolfgram saying the victory gave him every indication she could appreciate even
further ground.
Stable
representative Carmel Size said the filly was the first she had bought for
owner Mr Ho and had always been a horse that needed strengthening.
“I
gave her another four months off at the end of last preparation and I think we
are going to reap the rewards of that this preparation,” Size said.
“She
is a very special filly to me and is by Redoute’s Choice so that is going to
hold her in good stead.
“I
certainly think she will go on to city class.”
Wolgram
said that Lady Legend jumped well and showed good early speed and was on the
back of the right horses coming to the turn.
“It
was a good tough win,” he said.
Space
is Deep (Tommy Berry) made up good ground to take 2nd, Sebourg (Robbie Dolan)
hung on for 3rd and Startalk (Tom Sherry) was 4th.
Lady
Legend won in a time of 1.37.22 (last 600m 34.22). Official margins were 3/4
length x a head.
A
protest 2nd (Space Is Deep) against 1st (Lady Legend) was dismissed.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Darkening
skies and a threatening storm put the races back by one come by the third race,
the Capital One Real Estates Aussie, Aussie, Aussie … Run … Run … Run Maiden
Handicap over 1350m.
Race
favourite Atherton (Jay Ford) led from the start and Capri of Tuffy (Cejay
Graham) took a sit behind.
Just
after the turn, following a slight wobble, the three-year-old filly found her
balance and let down, easily sprinting past the opposition to secure the win.
“We
elected to come here and claim 2kg off her back and put Cejay on her and ride
her on the speed,” trainer Peter Robl said.
“Those
tactics proved correct. Every so often you get it right. I may have asked too
much of her last preparation.
“She’s
a very genuine filly and she can certainly win a metropolitan race – a mid-week
at Canterbury or similar.
“The
owner Richard Tuffy also owns the mare and bred this filly so he’ll be over the
moon.
“It’s
great for everyone involved.”
Another
class record fell in this race, the previous record of 1:18.72 set by Absolute
on January 28, 2018.
Amica
(Travis Wolfgram) finished second and Charles Seven (Tommy Berry) was third
with Atherton (Jay Ford) fourth after making up some late ground. Race time was
1:18.68 (final 600m in 35.37). Official margins were 3/4 length x 1.25 length.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The
Alloom Beauty Aussie Day Dash Class 1 Handicap over 1100m was pitched as a galloping lesson and it
panned out as exactly that … or did it?
The
Godolphin owned and trained Acumen, whose pedigree page sports Group 1 winners
and sires such as Helmet and Epaulette, jumped from the starting gates at odds
of $1.30.
The
royal blue Godolphin silks gave every indicator of leading from pillar to post
and Jason Collet made it look like a morning at track work.
Keagan
Latham had other ideas and as the horses powered into the final 100m, the Jason
Attard & Lucy Keegan-Attard trained Reiby’s Regent (at odds of $26)
suddenly loomed as a major threat, reducing Acumen’s lead with every stride.
In
horse racing though you just have to win, even if just by a neck but punters
who took the $1.30 would of been having heart palpitations.
“He
didn’t overdo it early,” Godolphin’s assistant trainer Darren Beadman said
post-race.
“It’s
always nice to see them back up and go from a maiden to a Class 1, particularly
to win a fast race like this one.
“He
was still in control of things and strong on the line. They broke 11 seconds
for nearly every furlong that they ran today and that’s not an easy task so he’s
a horse with a good future.
“He’s
now had two Provincial wins so James [Cummings] will try and find a nice mid-week
city race for him now, just go through the grades and see what he has to offer.
“He
is only a lightly framed horse, so I think there is quite a lot of upside to
him.”
Reiby’s
Regent looks a horse to follow after today’s effort. Hyannis Point (Jay Ford)
was third and Circus (Robbie Dolan) was fourth. Race time was 1:03.06 (last
600m 33.39). Official margins were a neck x 1.75 lengths.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Horses
that put money in your bank account every time they step foot out are always an
owner’s best friend and Merlinite gave her owners more reasons to love her
today taking out the Event Cinemas Gold Class Gallop Benchmark 64 Handicap over
2100m.
The
John O’Shea trained four-year-old mare, ridden by Tom Sherry, didn’t have the
easiest of runs for the first half of the race given the muddling pace and her
position against the fence.
Making
her move at the 500m mark, Merlinite came wide and took the lead from Sea
Spirit (Keagan Latham) at the 150m mark and was strong late to post back to
back wins.
“She
really hit the line strong,” Sherry said.
“It
was a massive run. She travelled well throughout and I just wanted to get her
to the outside so she could get the run.”
“She
will be off to town now,” stable representative Tom Charlton said.
“She
is now at a rating of about 64. She is also at the bracket of about 2400m and
needs a wider track. The barrier seems to be a bit of an issue for her.
“She
is jumping a bit slow. Whether she is just very relaxed it’s hard to say. She
needs more room to best show her assets.”
Highjacker
(Travis Wolfram) was second, Sea Spirt (Keagan Latham) was third and Elleofadeel
(Rory Hutchings) was fourth. Race time was 2:10.32 (last 600m 34.04). Official
margins were 1.5 lengths x a nose.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
By
the same sire as Everest winner Yes Yes Yes, Turnstyle showed she has plenty of
potential when she showed the opposition a clean set of heels in the Freddy’s Fishing.com.au Benchmark
64 Handicap over 1000m.
The
three-year-old filly has now won her last two starts and placed second in her
only other race. Her latest win was in class record time; the previous record
being set by Tough Larry on 27 November 2019 (a time of 57.10).
Turnstyle
is raced by a well-known group of owners who include three brothers, the
Hendersons, who owned and raced Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente, Champion two-year-old
colt/Gr 1 Golden Slipper winner Sebring, Magic Millions two-year-old winner and
Gr 1 Galaxy H winner Sweet Idea and Caulfield Cup winner Descarado. Turnstyle.
They
may well be their next star in the making.
“She’s
always shown us promise but we have had setback after setback, and it has
always held back the preparation. Nothing major but enough to hold things
back,” David Henderson said after the race.
“She
has never done too much wrong.
“We
have always thought she was going to be Saturday city class if not better so we
thought we would come here today and hopefully she would win.
“It
was a tough race, but she was comfortable, and she won it well, so we’re really
pleased.
“She
has a bit of that X factor about her and that keeps coming out as we go along
with the preparation.”
Jason
Collett was the successful jockey, the win bringing up a winning double for
him.
Second
was Tikkitala (Louise Day), third was Moccasin Miss (Tom Sherry) and fourth was
My Fire Phoenix (Tommy Berry). Race time was 57.07 (last 600m in 33.17).
Official margins were 1.5 lengths x 1.25 lengths.
After four days on the road Damien Lane is hoping his home track on
Sunday will bring out the best in his runners.
Wyong’s Australia Day HIT 101.3 FAMILY DAY meeting ends a busy
period for Lane, with five consecutive meetings at Canterbury, Tamworth, Port
Macquarie and Newcastle in the preceding days.
“You don’t often get a run like that, but you have to take the horses
where they are best suited.
“I have a capacity 35 in work now and you have to travel them.
“It will be good to race at home and it should suit the horses we’ve got
in.”
Lane is hopeful three of the four runners could figure in the finish.
Mr McBat returns to his ideal distance in the BM64 over the 1600m and
Lane said he should run well.
The seven-year-old was side-lined with a tendon injury for 18 months and
returned on the Beaumont track on December 21 where he finished fourth over
1150m.
“I thought his first up run was good, but he was a bit plain second up
at Warwick Farm.
“It was a decent enough race in town and I just thought he might be
looking for further straight away this time, so he’s up to the mile. That is
his best distance so he should race well.”
Mr McBat won both the South Grafton and Wingham Cups over the 1600m in
2017.
Lane expects Lavish Rose to return to her best form in the 2100m BM64,
after a failing in city class last run.
The four-year-old Domesday mare won over the 2200m on the Beaumont Track
on Boxing Day and Lane believes she is more suited to Provincial grade.
“She won well two starts ago and then I tried her in a Saturday Sydney
grade over the 2400m.
“It was a pretty strong race and she’s probably not quite up to that.
“She looks pretty well placed in this race and back at the Provincials.
I think she will be much better suited back at this level.”
Lane believes a softer track on Sunday will also suit Oakfield Gettem,
who previously tasted success over the 1100m at Wyong in June last year.
She starts in the 1100m Class 1, which according to Lane should be
ideal.
“She went really well first up and was then a bit plain second up at
Wyong. It was probably one of the hardest tracks we’ve raced on that day and
she just jarred up a bit.
“I think with some rain about the moisture in the track will suit her
better on Sunday.
“I would of preferred a soft draw because if you’ve got to use her early
she tends to go on with the job and not relax but she will start from 10.
“My other runner Oakfield Cheyenne hasn’t shown a lot to date and I
think if she is going to show us something it will be when she gets to a mile
and beyond. Sunday will be just more a fitness run for her.”
SELECTIONS:
Race 1 – 1.30pm: YOU’LL LOVE IT! BY THE HALEKULANI BOWLING CLUB 4YO
& MAIDEN PLATE (1100m): 1 SHADOW COLOUR, 2 Monstrosity, 3 Freeifica, 4 Pure
Faith.
Race 2 – 2.05pm: THE JETT’S FITNESS @SAN REMO AUSSIE DAY HORSEPLAY
MAIDEN PLATE (1600m): 1 LADY LEGEND, 2 Luvoir, 3 Sebourg, 4 Haunting Spirit.
Race 3 – 2.40pm: CAPITAL ONE REAL ESTATE AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE,
RUN…RUN…RUN MAIDEN HANDICAP (1350m): 1 CAPRI OF TUFFY, 2 Gogol, 3 Enchantingly,
4 Atherton.
Race 4 – 3.15pm: THE ALLOOM BEAUTY AUSSIE DAY DASH CLASS 1 HANDICAP
(1100m): 1 ACUMEN, 2 Hyannis Port, 3 Mandirigma, 4 Circus.
Grant Buckley continued a winning run with a treble at Wyong, his second in just eight days.
The in-form
rider rode a double for Godolphin with Canzonet and Rebukes, and booted home
Opinions for Paul Perry.
Buckley had a
standout season in 2018/2019 with 104 winners but looks set to surpass that
figure with 57 to date.
His Wyong
treble giving him nine winners in the past eight days.
Buckley’s
first win came on well-bred Godolphin gelding Canzonet, who may have earned a
reprieve from the sales ring after his impressive win in the WWW.TAB.COM.AU 4YO
& UP MAIDEN over 1200m.
The Exceed
And Excel gelding was the first leg of a winning double for jockey Grant
Buckley.
Darren
Beadman, representing Godolphin, said he felt they might now reconsider the
sale.
“The way he
won there I’d think they could have second thoughts,” he said.
“He really put
them away. It’s only his sixth start and he’s been placed three times.
“Bucko had a
few options coming into the turn, but he opted to go wide and got the job
done.”
Buckley, gave
Canzonet a nice trail just off the pace, hooking to the outside on straightening,
and drawing away on the line to win by more than three lengths.
Monstrosity
($6) from the Joe Pride stable was second, from the Pat Webster trained Lake
Marion ($18).
The winner
was sent out $1.24 short priced favourite on the strength of his last run, when
he was narrowly defeated over 1100m at Hawkesbury.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A great front
running saw Buckley secured his second victory on the Paul Perry trained
Opinions ($6.50) in the CANADIAN CLUB CLASS 2 over 1600m.
A $220,000 So
You Can Think gelding, Opinions ($6.50) brought up his second career win at
start 17.
He was able
to hold off the fast finishing Doctor Manhattan ($2.80fav) on the line to score
a narrow victory.
Buckley
considers there is further improvement to come in the four-year-old.
“It was a
nice win today. I was able to dictate terms and quicken when I wanted to
quicken and that won me the race,” he said.
“From the
500m I was able to get going on my bike and with no weight on his back, he did
a great job.
“He’s got
improvement in him. He will be a better horse on a bigger track and probably
over a little bit further.”
Judicator
($3.30) from the Gerald Ryan stable was third.
The Sepoy
mare proved too strong for her opposition on the line, scoring a one and a
quarter length win over $4.80 equal favourites Nines Enough, trained by
Gabrielle Englebrecht, with Money Heist ($5.50) from the Waterhouse/Bott
stable, third.
Darren Beadman was full of praise for the ride by Buckley.
“He
rode her really well. He had options again on the turn and took the right one,”
he said.
“Obviously
she’s stepping up in distance a little bit but being by Sepoy, they tend to get
better as they get older.
“She
will go through her grades and I’m sure James will find a nice race for her
somewhere.
“She’s
480kg, a big girl, and she could make a nice horse.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Irish jockey
Oison Orr added to his tally of Wyong winners with a double for the Waller
stable.
Orr, who
arrived in Sydney in late November, has had four rides at Wyong for three wins.
His latest
double came on Sayl, who broke through for his debut win in the 1600m maiden,
and Duneagle, who took out the 1350m maiden.
Orr is a
two-time champion Irish apprentice, spending three months with the Waller
stable.
He has more
than 120 winners to his name, five of those since arriving in Sydney.
“It’s been
lucky enough here for me and I like the track,” Orr said. “I’m really enjoying
my stint in Sydney.”
Relocating
from Victoria proved the key for Sayl who broke through for his first win in
the 1600m CENTRAL COAST BUILDING MAIDEN.
The
four-year-old Great Britain import was having his 13th career start,
and first in NSW, having been placed on three prior occasions in France and
once at Moonee Valley.
“Chris likes
to move them around if he thinks they have improvement in them, if they are
getting bored or need more confidence and it worked a treat for this bloke today,”
stable foreman Craig Ritchie said.
“He is still
learning and is a horse that doesn’t have a lot of confidence, and does a lot
wrong, so it was great to see him get a win today.
“He will
continue to improve and should take plenty away from the win today.
“Oison (Orr)
gave him the run of the race and that certainly helped. He is riding really
well.”
Orr settled
the gelding midfield, hitting the lead on straightening and drawing away to win
by almost two lengths.
It was the
second Wyong win for Orr, who claimed several Irish apprenticeships before
coming to Australia in December.
Sayl ($7)
beat Keen On Gold ($4) trained by Jason Coyle, with the race favourite Flying
Mojo ($3.20) from the Anthony Cummings stable, third.
Ritchie
considers Duneagle has a bright future following his victory in the 1350m RYAN’S
METAL AND ROOFING MAIDEN.
The Dissident
three-year-old, a $215,000 yearling, was gelded following his debut run at
Canterbury on August 7.
“He did a
fair bit wrong in his first start but seems to have come back a much better
horse this time in,” Ritchie said.
“The owners
have a smart horse on their hands.”
Orr said
Duneagle still had plenty to learn.
“Once I got
in behind the horse he switched off and was perfect, but early on he was a bit
keen.
“He finished off well.”
Duneagle ($15) beat the Les Bridge trained Lady Legend ($13), with
another Waller runner, Space Is Deep ($12) third.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Stable
favourite Carluca ($5.50) put a smile on the face of trainer Jarrod Austin,
defying a previous ordinary first up record to win the JIM BEAM CG&E
BENCHMARK 64 over 1350m.
The
eight-year-old gelding proved too strong for his opposition, holding out the
fast finishing runners-up, to win by a short half head,
“He’s a
stable favourite and it’s great to see him win today, particularly first up,”
Austin said.
“He’s been
working well, and his trial was good. He’s never showed us much first up, but
he did today.
“He’s a horse
that looks after himself in track work but he’s tough. His class showed through
today.”
Austin said
he would likely find a metropolitan race for Carluca.
“He’ll go
back to town now, where he belongs. It’s a great way to start the new year.”
Ridden by
apprentice Tom Sherry, Carluca brought up his eighth career win from 54 starts.
He beat the
Craig Carmody trained Buzz ($31), with Salsa Man ($4.80) from the Perry stable,
third.
The
three-year-old gelding, trained by Bjorn Baker, was having his third race start,
after tasting success at Nowra on December 8 over the same distance.
Bell settled
him just off the pace throughout, before taking him wide on straightening and
finishing strongly to run down the leaders on the line.
He was happy
with the performance of The Factor gelding.
“He’s come
from a maiden at Nowra back to provincial grade, so it’s a good result,” Bell
said.
“He felt good
going through the line and is improving. He feels like a potential 1400m horse,
so they have a few options.”
Bushido ($6),
beat the Gwenda Markwell trained Philanthropist ($21), with Mandirigma ($5)
from the Lees stable, third.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Saturday looms as a big day for Wayne Seelin with the
Wyong based trainer saddling up more than half his stable at two venues.
His consistent galloper Cliff’s Choice and maiden
Doin’ Shots will be racing on their home track, while veteran Isorich and
speedy mare Invincible Kiss line up at the Kensington meeting.
“It will be a
busy day and be great to see them all run well,” Seelin said.
“We have been enjoying a nice little patch at the
moment with a few winners, so it would be good if that can continue.
“I’m training about seven horses at present and happy
with that number. I do them all myself so don’t want to get much bigger and
I’ve got a good bunch of owners at the moment.”
Seelin believes Cliff’s Choice, coming off a fifth at
Wyong last start, should run well over his ideal distance.
He lines up from barrier seven in the 1350m BM64, with
Winona Costin in the saddle.
“He jarred up a bit last run and I would have liked to
have seen a bit of rain but unfortunately that didn’t happen. We’ve been doing
a bit with him but he’s going alright now.
“His best distance is anywhere between 1200m to 1400m
and he goes well around Wyong.
“I’d probably like to see him just off the speed, in
the first five or six, that’s when he seems to finish off well.”
Seelin said if Cliff’s Choice continued to improve, he
would consider a metropolitan start.
“They all get their turn if they deserve it, but they
have to earn the right to go. “He’s doing everything right at this stage.”
Seelin isn’t as upbeat about the chances of his maiden
runner Doin’ Shots, a Shooting To Win gelding who has been unplaced in eight
starts.
“He’s a big horse and it’s taking a bit to get him
fit,” he said. “He’s been struggling in his races, but he is bred to stay.
“He’s over the 1600m on Saturday and I’ll continue
stepping him up but if he doesn’t show us something, he might have a limited future.”
At Kensington, Seelin considers both his runners’
chances.
“Isorich has drawn the outside gate again but I’m not
too worried. He will push forward and be a chance.
“The other little one is flying at the minute and with
no weight and barrier one, she will be a sneaky chance too.”
Wyong’s Summer Festival Of Racing, continues with a
seven race meeting, getting underway at 12.59pm.
SELECTIONS:
Race 1 –
12.59pm: WWW.TAB.COM.AU 4YO & UP MAIDEN (1200m): 1 CANZONET, 2 Monstrosity, 3 Lake Marion, 4
Supra Marnium.
Race 2 – 1.34pm: HIT 101.3 FAMILY RACE DAY JANUARY 26
CLASS 1 (1100m): 1 MANDIRIGMA, 2 Deepfield’s Raine, 3 Bushido, 4 Belle
Of Clonmel.
Race 3 – 2.09pm: CENTRAL COAST BUILDING MAIDEN
(1600m): 1MCGRAW, 2 Sayl, 3 Completed, 4 Keen On Gold.
Race 4 – 2.44pm: RYAN’S METAL ROOFING MAIDEN (1350m): 1
CHANTING, 2 First Crown, 3 California August, 4 Lady Legend.
Race 5 – 3.16pm: CANADIAN CLUB CLASS 2 (1600m): 1
FAIRY ME HOME, 2 Highjacker, 3 Judicator, 4 Mowanjum.
While Kristen Buchanan took a well-earned break her
consistent galloper Jazzland returned to form to win the SKY RACING SUMMER
PROVINCIAL SERIES – HEAT 5 WYONG in impressive fashion.
And it wasn’t the stable’s only win with new stable addition Ocean Go proving too strong in the 1350mClass 2, bringing up a double for the Buchanan/Parr combination.
It was courtesy of a great front-running ride by
Josh Parr, that saw Jazzland speed away from his rivals on straightening to win
the Provincial Series heat by almost two lengths, eased down on the line.
He will now contest the $150,000 series final at
Gosford on December 27.
“He certainly appreciates the mile, especially
here, “Parr said after the win.
“We went a step further with him last start up to
2000m and it was just too much for him. It was more like him today.
“The team here have done a really good job with him
and he will appreciate the same distance in the final at Gosford.”
Buchanan is currently enjoying a cruise with family
and left her in-form stable in the hands of foreman Shaun Harvey.
“He loves it at Wyong and he and Josh are a good
combination,” he said.
“He just went too quick at Kembla last start over
the 2000m. He can run 11’s here for the sectionals over 1600m and keep going
but not over 2000m.
“We took him back to the trials and gave him a bit
of a break and he was nice and fresh coming here today.
“We will see how he pulls up, but I’d say he will
head for the final.”
Harvey said Jazzland, who has now had 13 starts for
six wins and four minor placings, was a stable favourite.
“He’s just a home bred horse but has put together a
great record and we all love him,” he said.
It was a Wyong quinella in the race, with the Waugh
trained Calabasas ($8.50) second, over Mr Garcia ($3.20) from the Lees stable.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kiwi import Ocean Go was having his second start
for the stable in the TWIN LAKES AIR & SOLAR CLASS 2, after finishing
second at Newcastle on December 1.
The four-year-old had five starts in New Zealand
before his Hong Kong based owners moved him to Buchanan’s stable.
Parr had to chase hard in the final stages of the
race after Quick Finance kicked two lengths clear in the straight.
“I had to ride him really hard into the corner and
considering it is only his second start going this direction, he ran really
well,” he said.
“I was forced to go a bit earlier than I would have
liked, so he had a strong gallop all the way.”
Foreman Shaun Harvey said it was a great win.
“He really hit the line strong after a tough race.
He was good first up, and we knew he would run well here today. He really
appreciated the extra distance and he will be more suited getting out to a mile
or further. He’s a great horse to have in the stable.”
Ocean Go ($3) beat Quick Finance, trained by Kevin
Moses, by half a length, with the $1.95 favourite Brunetta, almost two lengths
behind in third.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Wayne Seelin was full of praise for the ride by
Hugh Bowman after the champion jockey partnered his mare Invincible Kiss
($3.20) to a home track victory in the 1000m WYONG EQUINE CLINIC BENCHMARK 64.
The win brought up a race to race double for
Bowman.
It was the second win from 16 starts for Invincible
Kiss, who was narrowly beaten at Wyong last start over the same distance.
“I had my
heart in my mouth for a little while down the straight when he was held up for
a run and then I remembered I had Hugh on,” Seelin said. “It was a great ride.
“He had to ask her permission when the gap opened
but when he did bang. She’s been going really good for a while and she loves
Wyong.
“She is tough and very consistent. I think it was
just a matter of her growing up but she’s racing so well now.”
Bowman said the five-year-old mare had travelled
well throughout.
“I needed a bit of room and was able to get that
and she let down really well,” he said. “She travelled really sweet in the run.
It is nice riding horses when they want to win like that.”
Invincible Kiss beat the $2.20 race favourite
North, from the Snowden stable, with Thermosa ($7) trained by Rodney Robb,
third.
Rejinsky could chase black type at his next start
after an impressive debut win in the FIGTREE GROUP MAIDEN over 1000m.
The well-bred Redoute’s Choice colt came from the
rear of the field, with jockey Aaron Bullock patiently waiting for a split on
the turn.
When the gap opened the three-year-old sped away to
win by almost half a length.
Relieved trainer Grant Allard said the plan had
been to ride him close but when he was tardy at the start Bullock had opted to
settle him back in the field.
“His two trials were good coming into this, but I
genuinely don’t think he’s a 1000m horse, he’s probably best around 1400m or a
mile but we had to kick off somewhere. He was a touch slow getting away, was
held up in traffic, found the gap and hit the line pretty good,” Allard said.
“I think he is a pretty good horse in the making, a
nice horse with a nice future.
“We’ve ticked one boss ticked here so we’ll see how
he eats up and look at possibly starting him in the Gosford Guineas next
Friday.”
Bullock said he knew Rejinsky was a nice horse
leading into the race.
“I knew he had ability off his trials, but he is a
pretty nice horse,” he said. “They burnt me early, so I just took the sit and I
always had plenty of horse. I was a bit worried coming to the corner whether
I’d get out, but the outside horse just dropped off and he attacked the line
like a nice horse. He’s definitely going to win more races.”
Rejinsky, who was having his first run for the
Allard stable, was sent out $2.90 favourite on the back of his two recent trial
wins.
He beat the Widdup trained Vulpine ($5), with Enamour ($5) from the O’Shea
stable, third.
The Sepoy gelding justified his short-priced
favouritism with an effortless three and three-quarter length win with Hugh
Bowman in the saddle.
Bowman was able to dictate terms, with a great
front-running ride, drawing away in the straight.
“He is a really nice horse and I’m not surprised to
see him win like that,” Pride said.
“He’s a progressive gelding who will make a nice
city class horse, so being a gelding he will just work his way through the
grades.
“He is a very laid by type and they ran a good time
today, while still looking like he had something under the bonnet.”
Bowman agreed the four-year-old could have a
future.
“He felt good today. He was a short-priced
favourite so the result but somewhat expected but it was nice to see him do
it,” Bowman said.
“I feel he is a progressive type. In the start he
was very sluggish in the way he did things but when the gates opened, he was
very relaxed.
“I think he is certainly up to mid-week class.”
Bringing up his debut win at start four, Sea Echo
started $1.18 favourite having been runner up at Wyong in his two previous
starts. He beat Disco Mo ($5.50) trained by Anthony Cummings, with Tony Ball’s Senatorial
($15), third.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A drop back in distance proved to be the key to
Bernson bringing up his second race win in the SM CONCRETE CONSTRUCTIONS KYLE’S
RUN CLASS 1 over a mile.
The Bernardini gelding, had been placed second over
the 1900m and 1800m at his past two starts, with trainer John Thompson deciding
to run him over 1600m.
The move paid off and jockey Rachel King was able
to dictate terms up front, with Bernson ($1.80fav) looking the winner a long
way from home. He drew away in the final stages and was able to record a two-length
victory over the Cymbalic ($4.20) from the Mark Newnham stable, with Mowanjum
($14), trained by Gary Portelli third.
“He seems to be racing a lot more genuinely now,”
King said following the race. “It was a relatively slow pace and that suited
him, and he won well again today.”
Stable representative Danielle Podlewski said the
four-year-old had had a very consistent preparation.
“He’s been racing well. His last couple of starts
he’s run into a few good ones, but it was nice to see him get a win today,” she
said.
“We find he runs the best over the mile and that
showed today. He’s a horse that likes to be kept fresh and happy, so if we can
keep him to the mile, we will do that.
“I think he’s probably done enough this preparation
and will probably head out for a spell.”
A double to Rachel King after the John O’Shea
trained Lillemor ($3.60) proved too strong for her rivals in the ROKBUILT
CLASS 1 over 1200m.
The well-bred filly, made it two wins from two
starts, having scored on debut at Gosford on December 4.
She had no difficulty making the step up to class 1
and King believes the three-year-old has a bright future.
“It will be exciting to see just how far she can
go,” she said.
“She does everything right and is really
straightforward. I wouldn’t mind taking the sit on her as well because she does
get a little bit lost out front, she sort of pricks her ears when she gets
there, but she drew a bad gate today so we had to try and eliminate that by
going forward.
“She’s very genuine, honest and has a really good
attitude. She’s still not 100 percent there yet and is still learning, so it
will be exciting to see how she goes when she learns how to really be a
racehorse.”
Tom Charlton, stable foreman, said the filly does
everything right in her races and is “easy going.”
“She’s an improving filly and it was a great ride
by Rachel,” he said. “She’s very progressive and an easy, uncomplicated filly.”
Lillemor beat Belle Of Clonmel ($11) from the Jason
Coyle stable by a length and a half, with Trengganu ($4.80) trained by Brad
Widdup, third.
Kristen Buchanan concedes Jazzland is a “work in
progress” but is hoping the gelding can return to winning form in Thursday’s
$50,000 heat of the Provincial Series at Wyong.
The race, to be run over 1600m, has attracted a strong
field of nine, with the top three progressing to the $150,000 series final at
Gosford on December 27.
“It looks an ideal race for him, and I think he really
needs to drop back to the 1600m at this stage,” Buchanan said.
“Last start he went too hard in the lead over the
2000m. He was pressured with another horse to lead, and if you look at his
sectional times, he’s run pretty much 11’s throughout and then stopped.
“The horse has taken me a bit by surprise this time
around. He is a lot fresher, is a lot more switched on and has a lot more toe.
That’s why we’ve freshened him up and brought him back to the mile and I won’t
step him up to the 2000m again until he indicates that’s what he needs.
“Last preparation he indicated he needed 2400m, so
I’ve had to reassess.
“He’s a work in progress and is developing more and
getting more switched on. I feel in hindsight I was a bit hasty to step him up
to the 2000m when he didn’t really need to just yet.”
Buchanan said while Jazzland looks well suited in the
race, the Kris Lees trained Mr Garcia would be hard to beat.
“The Class 5 conditions with the set weights means
Kris Lees horse gets in in good order considering his benchmark, but it does
look a nice race for Jazzland, that horse aside. We’d love to get into the
final and have a crack at that as well.
“Josh (Parr) is riding him and knows him so well. He
hasn’t missed a beat on him at Wyong.”
Jazzland has an unblemished record in his three starts
on his home track, with Parr in the saddle for each win.
He will also partner Buchanan’s other runner, Ocean
Go, in the 1350m Class 2.
The Ocean Park gelding has had one start for the
stable, a second at Newcastle over 1200m on December 1, since transferring from
New Zealand.
“He’s a really lovely horse, a beautiful animal and is
showing a lot of promise,” Buchanan said.
“I was very pleased with him first up. He’s definitely
a mile, 2000m horse in the long run, but he was very good over the 1200m at
Newcastle and I think the step up to 1350m will be ideal for him.
“I’ve had a long association with the Hong Kong based
owners and it was my luck they decided to send him my way. He will race very
well.
“It’s been a good season so far and we have a lot of
nice new horses coming through the stable, so it’s looking good.”
The first of seven races, at Wyong’s Christmas At The
Races Day, gets underway at 1.50pm.
SELECTIONS:
Race 1 – 1.50pm: SM CONCRETE CONSTRUCTIONS KYLE’S RUN
CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1600m): 1 CYMBALIC, 2 Satirical Knight, 3 Mowanjum, 4
Bernson.
Race 2 – 2.25pm: DNR AIRCONDITIONING & ELECTRICAL
4YO & UP MAIDEN HANDICAP (1350m): 1 SEA ECHO, 2 Flying Mojo, 3 Lady Legend,
4 Disco Mo.
It was back to back Wyong Magic Million 2YO Classic
wins for the Waterhouse/Bott stable after Farnan handled a step up on class to
take out the $200,000 feature race.
Gai Waterhouse has now claimed the race five times,
the second with co-trainer Adrian Bott, after the pair took out the 2018
version with Unite And Conquer.
In a good training performance, Farnan was taken
from a 2YO Handicap win at Canberra on November 17 to the Wyong race.
The $550,000 yearling purchase was sired by Not A
Single Doubt, who won the first Wyong Magic Millions 2YO in 2003 and sired a
subsequent winner, Karuta Queen in 2010.
Farnan was sent out $2.90 second favourite to the
Mark Newnham trained Every Rose.
Jockey Tim Clark sat just off the leader after
Farnan pinged the gates, hitting the front on straightening to win by a length.
“It’s really exciting,” Bott said after the race.
“He’s a quality individual and it was a big step up
for him from a Canberra maiden to here today. We took a bit of time between his
runs, but his great, professional attitude got him here today.
“He broke brilliantly today and settled well for
Tim (Clark) throughout the run, moved up when he need to and showed a good turn
of foot. All the good attributes that those good two-year-olds have, that’s
what he has got, and it’s taken him a long way.
“We kept him nice and fresh between the two runs
getting him today and it’s great to see him take the next step and exciting for
him.
“He’s a lovely physical type and a nice strong
individual.
“I think he is definitely open to more improvement
off the back of that and he’s on the right path.”
Bott said he would see how the horse pulled up
before deciding if they would run him again before the Gold Coast Classic.
Clark said it was his first ride on the colt and he
was impressed by the way he won.
“He was really impressive. His attitude is great,
and he seems unflappable which is a good attribute to have.
“He began well and got outside the leader no
worries and we controlled the speed from there. He gave a nice kick and I felt
the filly coming at him but he responded for me and was strong to the line.
“He’s done a really good job there, second start in
a race and is progressing nicely.”
Every Rose ($2.35) was second, over the Snowden
trained Remorseless ($13).
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Mark Newnham didn’t go home empty handed with the
Diamond Thunder taking out the $100,000 MAGIC MILLIONS WYONG 3YO & 4YO
STAKES and Exceed The Stars winning the 1000m Class 1.
Both were ridden by Josh Parr giving his locally
based fan squad plenty to cheer about.
Parr had to change tactics after the Dawn Approach
gelding dwelt at the start, opting to settle the three-year-old toward the rear
before making his run on the turn.
Hugh Bowman appeared to have snatched victory,
after switching Hightail to the fence in the final stages, but Diamond Thunder
showed his class to grab a narrow half neck win.
It was fifth win from seven starts for the $135,000
yearling, the victory franking his favouritism for the $2m Magic Millions 3YO
Guineas in January.
“What he did today he showed he will definitely be
better once he gets to 1400m,” Newnham said.
“He came and had a look around Wyong on Saturday
morning, I floated him up here for a gallop, and I think it’s been beneficial
in him getting the result today.
“He was a bit awkward back in the field but
gathered them up really well.
“He started a bit slow, which is unusual for him
but he’s a really versatile horse anyway. He’s led in one, he sits back, he’s
got a good will to win.
“Josh did the right thing and let him gather
himself and balance and got the job done.
“He will now go to the Vo Rogue at Eagle Farm on
December 28 and then on to the Gold Coast for the three-year-old Magic
Millions.”
Parr joked he had to revert to ‘plan c’ after the
slow start.
“I’m not sure what happened today. For the first
time in his career he just dwelt at the start and was a bit hesitant over the
first fifty metres of the race,” he said.
“There is nothing like versatility and that comes
from both horse and jockey and I had to deploy plan c.
“He’s got an unbelievable will to win and is
notching up a really good record. The stable and myself have had a lot of time
for him for a very long time and it’s been interesting and intriguing to see
the process of getting him here today.”
The Snowden stable filled the minor placings with
Hightail ($6.50) runner-up, ahead of Leviathan ($3.60).
It was another good ride by Parr that secured
victory for Exceed The Stars ($3.70) who brought up his second win from seven
starts in the WYONG COAL CLASS 1.
“It was a very good win,” Newnham said. “Once he
got into the right spot you could see he was always going to be hard to beat
because the two leaders had gone at it pretty tough together.
“He had the sitting shot at them but still had to
put them away and it was good to see him do that.
“He trialled behind another horse of mine that won
at Rosehill yesterday, so the trial form was good. He’s been a horse that has
been a bit inconsistent but today, as soon as he jumped well and travelled
strongly you know he would be in the finish.
“It was really good.”
Wyong trainers Wayne Seelin, Invincible Kiss
($8.50) and Kristen Buchanan, Designated ($13), were second and third.
Orr, a dual Irish apprenticeship winner, was having
his eighth ride since moving to Australia in late November.
“It’s great to get a winner, especially for Mr
Waller, and hopefully there will be many more to come,” he said.
Orr, settled the Savabeel gelding toward the rear
of the small field, circling on the turn before hitting the front in the final
stages to score a length and a quarter win.
It was the fourth career start for Kimpembe, a
$240,000 Magic Millions yearling.
Stable representative Adam Ritchie said Orr had given
the three-year-old the “perfect Wyong ride.”
“He had him in an ideal position, that suited the
horse well and he was able to go on with it,” Ritchie said.
McGraw ($3.60), trained by Anthony Cummings, fought
on for second, with race favourite Dinado ($3.20fav), third.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Veteran Wyong trainer Stan Thomas bagged another
home-track win just two weeks after his 83rd birthday.
It was the
second Wyong win for the Love Conquers All six-year-old in just over a month.
Mikayla Weir took a sit on the mare, settling her
toward the rear. She took off just before the turn and was able to run down the
Waller trained Fairy Me Home ($8.50) to win by a length.
“I’m not feeling 83 today,” Thomas laughed after
the win.
“She’s a handy little mare and this little girl
rides her so well. The horse loves Wyong and appreciated the extra distance
today.”
Weir said Ondo Pasa, who she partnered in her last
Wyong win, had been “crying out” for the extra distance.
“We thought she’d appreciate the extra ground and
she certainly did,” Weir said.
“I was able to settle her toward the rear and she
let down really well when we got into the clear running.
“It was a good win and Stan is doing a great job.”
Disgraceful ($21) trained by Dale Riley, was third.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Miss Sure Shot
justified her race favouritism with a strong win in the MAINSTREAM TAXATION
& ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES MAIDEN over 1350m.
The $150,000 Shooting To Win yearling, reaped the
benefits of a well rated, front running ride by Kerrin McEvoy to come away with
her debut win at start four.
Peter Snowden said he believed the filly would
improve further when she could take a sit.
“Kerrin rode her perfectly for the race today but I
don’t think that’s the way to ride her going forward,” he said.
“But you’ve got to get the job done and that was
the only way to do it today and he’s rated her perfectly.
“I’ve always liked her and I’m hoping she can go on
with it.
“I think you’ll see a better filly if she can get
back and you’ll see her turn of foot.”
Miss Sure Foot ($1.55) beat Sea Echo ($4) from the
Pride stable by a length, with the Kristen Buchanan trained My Desire ($21),
third.
The High Chapparal mare looked set for a 2100m race
when she finished fourth over 1900m at Canterbury on November 20.
Cunningham said it was a great ride by Jason
Collett to secure victory for Lady Highly ($3.20) at her fourth race start.
“She’s definitely bred to stay but she’s a bit
quirky,” Cunningham said.
“So it’s been about a bit of education for her and
this was her fourth run this preparation and it was the perfect ride by Jason
for her to get the job done.”
Cunningham said she would see how the horse pulled
up before deciding on her next run.
“We will probably just work her through the grades.
She still has a little bit of learning to go but we’ve found her mark over a
trip.
“Now she’s doing everything right hopefully we will
her along through the grades.”
Collett settled Lady Highly mid-field throughout,
and when the split came in the straight, she showed a good turn of foot in the
final stages to win by two lengths.
The $2.60 race favourite Brilliant Mind, trained by
Gary Moore was second, with Savvy Valentino ($3.80) from the Bjorn Baker stable
third.
Mark Newnham saddles up the favourites in the two feature races at Wyong’s Magic Millions raceday on Thursday and is confident both will be hard to beat.
Every
Rose has been favourite for the $2m Gold Coast Classic since her impressive
debut win in the Gimcrack Stakes in October and continued to please her trainer
with an eye-catching trial win at Randwick on November 26.
Not
surprisingly she is expected to take out the $200,000 Wyong 2YO Classic with
the in-form Rachel King in the saddle, having drawn nicely in barrier
three.
Stablemate
Diamond Thunder will contest the $100,000 MM 3YO and 4YO Stakes and be ridden
by Josh Parr.
“The
Magic Millions has been their specific targets with Wyong part of the journey,”
Newnham said.
“Josh
rode them both work on Saturday. They had a good blow out and I was very happy
with them.”
He
said Every Rose, a $240,000 yearling, had shown good versatility in her race
and trials.
“It is good to have drawn a nice barrier with her but she’s
shown even in her first trial before she raced that she can take a sit and
finish off if need be,” he said.
“When she needed to in the Gimcrack, she led them up. She’s
versatile enough to make do with whatever the conditions are.”
Newnham said Every Rose, is raced by an all-female Darby Racing
syndicate.
They will be eligible for the $250,000 Women’s Bonus if the filly
is one of the first four raced by a female syndicate, to cross the line.
“It is exciting for them being a ladies syndicate with the Gold
Coast becoming a race within a race. It will be good if it comes off.
“She looks an ideal Magic Millions type and being a ladies
syndicate horse there is some incentive there as well.
“There will be a fair few of them coming to Wyong so you might
need to top up the champagne.”
Newnham said while Rachel King will ride the filly at Wyong, Josh
Parr has been booked for the Gold Coast.
“She doesn’t have enough weight for Josh in this race, but he will
take over on the Gold Coast.”
Craig Williams returns to Wyong to partner the Maher/Eustace trained
Rathlin in the race, the Fastnet Rock colt was narrowly beaten in the MM
Classic at Ballarat on November 23.
Newnham’s Diamond Thunder also looks ideally drawn in four, in a
field of eight which includes in-form Godolphin filly Exhilerates.
“Diamond Thunder is just a really tough, consistent horse with
good ability,” he said.
“I just needed to give him that one run in the spring to keep him
ticking over for this otherwise he would have been out too long. He was able to
win that race and this summer was really his target with Thursday, then up to
Queensland in a couple of weeks’ time where he will start on the 28th
and then the Magic Millions 3YO.”
Josh Parr also partners Newnham’s other runner Exceed The Stars,
resuming in the 1000m Class 1.
“He is first up over the 1000m. He might just need one run and
he’s going quite well,” he said.
The first of seven races gets underway at 1.50pm.
SELECTIONS:
RACE 1 – 1.50pm: MAINSTREAM TAXATION & ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES
MAIDEN (1350m): 1 MISS SURE SHOT, 2 Sea Echo, 3 My Desire, 4 Completed.
RACE 2 – 2.25pm: GREAT NORTHERN BREWING CO METRO & PROV MAIDEN
(1600m): 1 DIAMONDS AND RUST, 2 Petrus, 3 Submission, 4 McGraw.
RACE 3 – 3.05pm: MAGIC MILLIONS GOLD COAST IN JANUARY CLASS 1
& MAIDEN (2100m): 1 LADY HIGHLY, 2 Savvy Valentino, 3 Little Arnie, 4 Into
The Oblivion.
Gai
Waterhouse has claimed the most Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic titles since
the inception of the race in 2003.
With
two entries among the 16 nominations for this year’s feature, the now
Waterhouse/Bott stable will be hoping to make it back to back wins following
Unite And Conquer’s victory last year.
The
stable has nominated last start Canberra winner Farnan and Vancouver filly,
Found Our Thrill, who was fourth on debut at Kembla last month.
Mark
Newnham’s filly Every Rose looks the standout, resuming from her dominant win
in the Gimcrack Stakes, with an impressive five length barrier trial win at
Randwick on November 26.
The
Maher/Eustace stable has six two-year-olds nominated including last start
Morphetville winner Unstoppable.
Chris
Munce, who won several Wyong feature races as a jockey, has nominated Kavak, a
$145,000 yearling purchase. The colt is an Eagle Farm winner and was runner up
on the Gold Coast in late November.
The
Newnham stable could also hold the key to the $100,000 Magic
Millions 3YO & 4YO Stakes with exciting three-year-old
Diamond Thunder.
The
Dawn Approach gelding has put together an impressive resume with four wins,
including two Listed races, and a placing from six starts.
Australian
Bloodstock’s Think Free, from the Lees stable, is among the 21 nominations, the
So You Think mare having won five of her ten starts, with two placings.
Acceptances
for Thursday’s meeting close at 9am on Tuesday.