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.
Race 2 – 1.50pm: SYNGENTA POSTERITY 2YO MAIDEN (1200m): 1 STAGECOACH MARY, 2 Cryptogram, 3 Dynamic Impact, 4 Darlene.
Race 3 – 2.25pm: TURFCULTURE THUMPER MITICIDE MAIDEN (1350m): 1 SURF SONIC, 2 Confinement, 3 Mensa Missile, 4 Bottoms Up Babe.
Race 4 – 3.05pm: BAYER IDEMNIFY CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1000m): 1FOX SPIRIT, 2 Sacred Sword, 3 Vinci Lady, 4 For Love.
Race 5 – 3.40pm: FLORATINE FOLIARS PROV & CTRY MAIDEN (1200m): 1UPRISE, 2 Sending Love, 3 Sepplime, 4 Moinda.
Race 6 – 4.15pm: SPORTS TURF SOLUTIONS CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1200m): 1APOLLO PRINCE, 2 Laila De Vega, 3 Screenager, 4 Margie Bee.
Race 7 – 4.50pm: TURFCARE AUSTRALIA CONDITIONAL BENCHMARK 70 (1600m): 1 SUCCENDAM, 2 First Lady, 3 Elaborate, 4 Time Raid.
Race 8 – 5.30pm: ECO BUNKER AUSTRALIA BENCHMARK 64 (1350m): 1 BELLE DE VEGA, 2 Asudem, 3 Singing River, 4 Galahad’s Quest.
