race day preview

Click here for today’s race book. On a day when William Pike will dominate the limelight at Wyong, Jeff Englebrecht is confident The Crimson Idol can steal a bit of his thunder. 

The Wizard from the west has relocated to Sydney and his two rides on Tuesday will be his first in NSW since the move. 

Pike kicks off his local campaign on Choix De La Mer for the Snowden’s in race three and Heavenly Prophet for Hawkes racing in the fourth.

There’s little doubt Pike will be a great drawcard for the meeting, the 35-year-old a fan favourite, with 2889 wins to his name including 15 Group 1’s.

Strict vaccine mandates in WA are thought to be behind Pike’s move, but he will be a well-received addition to the already strong jockey ranks. 

Local trainer Englebrecht will rely on apprentice Pat Scorse to guide his mare in the 1350m F&M Benchmark 64 but would have no qualms engaging Pike in the future.

“He’s a very good rider and adds another talented jockey to an already strong pool,” Englebrecht said. 

“In saying that I’m hoping Pat can get the job done for me on Tuesday. The mare has to carry 61.5kg so his three-kilo claim will be a big advantage.” 

The Crimson Idol has been a consistent earner for the stable and connections, with six wins and nine placings from 38 starts. 

She lines up on her home track coming into the race with a hard luck tale at her most recent outing.

“Last run she drew the outside and got way back which is not her normal racing position. He was a bit conservative out the gates and he was trapped three and four wide all the way. 

“That’s not her. She’s got to be up with the leaders but she ran on late in the straight to her credit. Probably the last furlong was the best part of her race. 

“Some of her runs in Sydney have been good, she’s not that far away. 

“I see this as a winnable race if she brings her best game.”

Englebrecht said he preferred the mare to either lead of be just off the speed. 

“She can drop in behind if there are any speedy ones or lead if there’s not. She seems to be able to do her own thing then. 

“She’s got no sprint, so you’ve her got to get her out and get her going and push the leaders into doing it a bit early. Then she can grind way. 

“She’s very casual at home and doesn’t need much work so we are better off racing her and keeping her fit that way.”

Tuesday will see a rare appearance at the races for Englebrecht who has been suffering from health issues for several years.

“I’ve had a bad run and haven’t been able to go to the races for a long time. I’ve got some good people helping me out but being just across the road I’ll be there at Wyong.”

The first of eight races gets underway at 1.15pm.

SELECTIONS:

Race 1 – 1.15pm: STRAMIT MAIDEN (1300m): 1 VICTORINE, 2 Ever Upward, 3 Mumbai Jewel, 4 Bessmati.

Race 2 – 1.50pm: INSURANCE HOUSE 4YO&UP MAIDEN (1100m): 1 UNA GREW ROSES, 2 Mentalism, 3 Hasalake, 4 Mister Ripley.

Race 3 – 2.25pm: KLINGSPOR 3YO MAIDEN (1100m): 1CHOIX DE LA MER, 2 Why Doubt, 3 Oakfield Storm, 4 Captain George. 

Race 4 – 3.05pm: PRO ALI MAIDEN (1350m): 1 DEFINITELY MAYBE, 2 Sacred Stream, 3 Gwan So, 4 Wolfburn.

Race 5 – 3.40pm: KINCROME F&M BM64 (1350m): 1 PONO KITORO, 2 Alexeyeva, 3 The Crimson Idol, 4 Divine Future. 

Race 6 – 4.15pm: INFRABUILD CLASS 1 (1000m): 1 DARK HERRING, 2 No Statement, 3 Barney Rabble, 4 Prudish.

Race 7 – 4.50pm: COREGAS CG&E BM64 (1350m): 1FENECH, 2 Rebel County, 3 Onehelvason, 4 Rumpshaker.

Race 8 – 5.30pm: BJ HOWES METALAND CLASS 1 HANDICAP – RISING STAR (1200m): 1 FIRST PEOPLES, 2 Amortal, 3 Silver City, 4 Camplin.

Click here for today’s racebook. Horror barrier draws haven’t dented the confidence of Gary Moore for his three runners at Wyong’s meeting this Sunday. 

Kalahari Heart and last start winner Perfect Match have drawn one off the outer barrier, while Harapan will start from the extreme outside. 

“It’s been the trend over the past month drawing bad barriers, we’ve had no luck from the draws, but we’ve been able to overcome it,” Moore said.

The outside barrier didn’t affect the chances of blueblood Chief Conductor, who was impressive breaking through for his debut win for the stable at Wyong on Tuesday, and Moore hopes the luck continues. 

He considers Perfect Match, who won his last outing at Wyong on January 8, the best of his trio. 

The Brazen Beau three-year-old has had a win and placing from four starts, the placing coming at Wyong over the 1600m on December 9, when Moore said he had no luck.

He starts from barrier 11 in the BM64 on Sunday over the same distance.  

“He drew wide when he won his maiden at Wyong, so he should be able to cope with that and he’s probably the best of my three,” he said. 

“I like to take them back to Wyong if they handle the track. The day he ran third there he got interfered with around the 400m, bounced off the rail and lost his stride but finished on nicely and that set him up for the win the other day. 

“He looks well. His gallop on Tuesday over six furlongs was very good and I expect him to go close to winning.”

Moore is expecting improvement from Dissident gelding Harapan, who lines up in the 1600m Maiden. The four-year-old finished toward the rear in his last start, a Wyong maiden over 1350m on January 8, having previously been placed over the same track and distance on December 15.

“I do expect a better performance than last start. The jockey came back and said he found it too short and couldn’t get near the lead. 

“He handles soft ground, and the mile won’t be problem. He’s very fit, working well and I’ve been waiting to get him fit to be able to step up from the 1350m to the mile. 

“He’s had plenty of grounding for this, has good gate speed so should be able to cross them and lead.” 

Show A Heart mare, Kalahari Heart rounds off Moore’s trio, starting in the 1350m Maiden. 

She debuted with a seventh at Canterbury over 1100m On January 7 and the trainer believes she will need more ground. 

“She looks really well. Whatever she does on Sunday she will improve on. She’s bred to get over ground but the 1350m is a good steppingstone to get her up to a mile third up.”

Keagan Latham will partner all three Moore runners. The first of seven races gets underway at 1.15pm. 

SELECTIONS:

Race 1 – 1.15pm: CANADIAN CLUB CLASS 1 (1100m): 1 PETULANT, 2 Per Ivy, 3 She’s Contrary, 4 Ilzoomya.

Race 2 – 1.50pm: TAB.COM.AU 4YO & MAIDEN (1100m): 1 AMORTAL, 2 Legend Rules, 3 Suprina, 4 Fragore.

Race 3 – 2.25pm: CARLTON DRAUGHT MAIDEN (1600m): 1 REGAL POM, 2 Circling, 3 Gulf Of Sidra, 4 Harapan.

Race 4 – 3.00pm: WYONG RACE CLUB FUNCTION CENTRE MAIDEN (1350m): 1 CAPTAIN VLADIMIR, 2 Sky Ace, 3 Dresden, 4 Rosovo.

Race 5 – 3.40pm: GREAT NORTHERN BM64 (1000m): 1RITA MAY, 2 Turning, 3 Clifton Springs, 4 Dual Escape.

Race 6 – 4.16pm: GO ELECTRICAL BM64 (2100m): 1 PRIVATE DETECTIVE, 2 Sandastan, 3 Miss Delia, 4 Schoona The Better.

Race 7 – 5.00pm: WYONG’S NEXT RACE MEETING FEBRUARY 15 BM64 (1600m): 1 TWICE ON SUNDAY, 2 Perfect Match, 3 Tornado Light, 4 Crystal Waters.

Click here for today’s race book. Tracey Bartley’s two runners at Tuesday’s Wyong meeting are certainly the cause of frustration for the trainer. 

Bartley saddles up progressive filly Mabel and four-year-old Higgins at his home track meeting, a day recognising the club’s owners and trainers. 

He expects a good performance from last start winner Mabel (pictured) in the 1100m F&M BM64 but is frustrated by the impost given to her by handicappers. 

“She’s gone to a BM64 after just two country wins,” Bartley said. “I’ve questioned the big rise because it just seems unfair. She will have to lug a fair bit of weight, but I’ve engaged apprentice Jackson Searle to take a bit off her.”

Mabel, a three-year-old Dream Ahead filly, has had two wins and four placings from her seven starts. The only time she was unplaced was at the end of her last preparation when she finished fourth on the Kensington track. 

She resumed with a strong win over 1000m Muswellbrook on January 4, coming from behind with a sustained win to overhaul the leader on the line. 

Bartley believes she’s ready for Provincial grade with the 1100m an ideal distance. 

“She’s a nice filly and I’ve always had an opinion of her. We brought her online and were impressed from the day she showed up. The form around her is good. The horse that beat her in her first start was runner-up in a Listed race.

“We’ll ride her quite on Tuesday and I think the track and distance will suit her. She’s got a bit of wind problem and might need an operation at some stage but she’s holding it together at the moment and will race well.”

Bartley’s frustration with Written Tycoon gelding Higgins, stems from his poor performance first up at Newcastle over 1250m on December 18. 

The four-year-old had a Provincial win and three placings in his first preparation and Bartley had been expecting him to return in good form. 

After his mediocre Newcastle run, the four-year-old was ordered to trial by stewards, finishing third in a Warwick Farm trial on December  

“I was disappointed in the trial to be honest,” Bartley said. “I just don’t know whether he’s come back. I’ve run bloods, I’ve given him ulcer shield, backed him off for a month but I just don’t know. 

“His first preparation was enormous, but he didn’t spell well. He does look a bit better now and I’ve whacked the blinkers on him so and am hoping for a sharp improvement. 

“We are just going to run him and hope with the blinkers on and if he does nothing he’ll be straight out.”

The first of seven races at the club’s Owners and Trainers Race Day, gets underway at 1.50pm. 

SELECTIONS:

Race 1 – 1.50pm: ALLAN KEHOE RACING F&M MAIDEN (1100m): 1 ICING ON THE CAKE, 2 Hollow Dollar, 3 Verzenay, 4 Sirius Girl.

Race 2 – 2.25pm: TRACEY BARTLEY RACING CG&E MAIDEN (1100m): 1 REATEROS, 2 Beatbox, 3 Reach For Gold, 4 Just A Tiff.

Race 3 – 3.05pm: DAMIEN LANE 4YO & UP MAIDEN (1600m): 1 CURRENCY QUEEN, 2 A Real Riot, 3 Belleplaine, 4 Amber One.

Race 4 – 3.40pm: HAPPY RETIRMENT LES TILLEY AND EVAN HOLLAND (REV) CG&E BM64 (1350m): 1 REJOICED, 2 Fenech, 3 Acoustix, 4 Buzz.

Race 5 – 4.15pm: KRISTEN BUCHANAN RACING F&M BM64 (1350m): 1 TANZIMAT, 2 Confessed, 3 Kung Fu Mushu, 4 Hit The High Note.

Race 6 – 4.50pm: KIM WAUGH RACING F&M BM64 (1100m): 1 TELLURIDE, 2 Stormborn, 3 Mabel, 4 Superstasia.

Race 7 – 5.30pm: WYONG’S NEXT MEETING JANUARY 23 CLASS 1 (1200m): 1 FLUCTUATE, 2 Starboreta, 3 Hot Press, 4 Per Ivy. 

Click here for Race Book WYONG trainer Brett Partelle takes two horses to his home track meeting tomorrow – and has made an interesting analogy about the pair.

Previewing their chances in the Ryans Metal Roofing Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200m), he described Rifles as a “noise hater” and Trust Me as an “ornament to the stable”.

Aaron Bullock renews a successful association with Rifles, whilst Winona Costin will partner Trust Me for the first time in his 55-start career.

Partelle has won 11 races with the stablemates. Lightly-raced Rifles has won three and eight-year-old Trust Me has been successful on eight occasions.

The Partelle pair won’t be strangers at the barrier either, having drawn the inside two gates.

Six-year-old Rifles didn’t begin racing until late into his three-year-old season, and Bullock rode him at his first two starts when placed at Scone in June and July, 2019.

He has ridden the Smart Missile gelding only once since, winning a 900m Benchmark 64 Handicap on him with 60kg at Newcastle in May last year.

“Rifles had injured a back foot as a young horse and spent six months locked in a box before he came to me,” Partelle said.

“He hates noise and that probably had much to do with him being in confinement with music playing.

“He is a beautiful horse around the stables at home, and we’ve been training him a bit differently this time by putting ear muffs on him when he goes to the track.

“That has helped settle him in his work as he has been a horse who has liked to rock along.

“Rifles on his day is good enough to win a Saturday race in town, and I’m sure he will be very competitive in an open affair.

“But this race will really bring him to his peak, and he will maintain that for his next three or four runs.

“Rifles ran really well first-up at Gosford with 62kg, and drops 2kg. And he won’t carry much dead weight with Aaron being a heavyweight jockey.”

Trust Me joined Partelle’s team from a Sydney trainer after his first four starts, which included two placings at Hawkesbury as a late two-year-old.

“He has been a real ornament to the stable; a great bread and butter horse,” Partelle said.

“Trust Me has won some nice races, including the Kirby Handicap (1000m) at the Grafton carnival last year.

“He is getting on in years, but wasn’t far away at his last start at Gosford on New Year’s Eve and isn’t without a chance.

“We don’t do a lot with him between races. He trots and canters and swims in the river.”

Like Partelle, fellow Wyong trainer Damien Lane also has two representatives in the one race at the meeting, the 1000m Great Northern On Tap Maiden over 1000m.

Five-year-old Stays On Tour (Bullock) and first starter Fielding (Darryl McLellan) go head to head and their trainer has made gear changes on them.

Stays On Tour, who is yet to win in 11 starts and is a new addition to the Lane stable, will race in a near side bubble cheeker.

Fielding, a three-year-old son of Deep Field, will race in both a lugging bit and stallion chain, and also will wear ear muffs to the barrier, where they will be removed.

Fielding, an $80,000 purchase at the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier yearling sale, beat six rivals in an 845m trial on his home track on December 20.

The rail is in the TRUE position, and an improving “Soft 7” rating was posted this morning.

SELECTIONS:

RACE 1: 1.50PM: TAB.COM.AU CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1350m): TICK TOCK BOOM 1, Bon Vivant 2, Sherringford 3.

RACE 2: 2.25PM: CANADIAN CLUB MAIDEN HANDICAP (1350m): REGAL POM 1, Always Praying 2, Auzstar 3.

RACE 3: 3.00PM: GREAT NORTHERN ON TAP MAIDEN PLATE (1600m): DIJON 1, Just Strolling 2, Fielding 3.

RACE 4: 3.40PM: JARRAD THE MODEL BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (2100m): BARELLAN BANDIT 1, Miss Delia 2, Lava 3.

RACE 5: 4.20PM: MAGIC MILLIONS MAIDEN PLATE (1600m): INUWASHI 1, Turgenev 2, Aurora Florentina 3.

RACE 6: 5.00PM: RYAN’S METAL ROOFING CONDITIONAL BENCHMARK 68 HANDICAP (1200m): MORALIST 1, Two up 2, Rifles 3.

RACE 7: 5.40PM: WYONG’S NEXT RACE MEETING JANUARY 18 F&M CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1350m): BLACK ON BEAUTY 1, Kung Fu Mushu 2, Shameless Miss 3.

Click Here for today’s racebook. The Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic has attracted a strong field with local trainer Damien Lane under no illusions his colt Wealthy Investor will have to bring his A game to claim victory. 

The Waterhouse/Bott stable, who has dominated the race in previous years with five wins, saddle up two runners last start Canberra winner Command Approved and Speak Now, who was second in the same race.

Their last winner came with Farnan in 2019 (pictured), who went on to take out the Golden Slipper the following year.

Annabel Neasham also has a two-pronged attack on Wednesday with debutantes Soaring Ambition and Man In The Mirror, while the Maher/Eustace stable will start Fly Nice, an Impending filly who was unplaced in the Magic Millions Ballarat 2Y0 Classic on November 20. 

Lane’s Wealthy Investor is one of two locals in the field of 14, with Tracey Bartley running first starter Impounded, as they vie to become the first Wyong trainer to win the Classic.

“I think he’s a nice horse and he has improved off his last start at Rosehill,” Lane said. “I’m expecting him to run really well.”

A $75,000 yearling, Wealthy Investor debuted at Rosehill on November 27, finishing third on a very heavy track. 

“I’d only given him one soft trial leading into that race, so he was always going to improve off that. 

“Ideally, I think he would be suited by a bigger track than Wyong and maybe 1200m, but you have to have a go at these sorts of races when you are eligible.

“He has drawn really nicely in three which will help and I’m confident he will run well.”

Lane has engaged Josh Parr to partner Wealthy Investor, while Digger McLellan will ride Impact Star, his runner in the Magic Millions 3YO and 4YO Stakes. 

“It’s good to have runners in both feature races and I expect Impact Star to also go well.

“He hasn’t had a lot of luck in his last couple of runs and I think the small field will suit him.” 

The Star Turn three-year-old, raced by Impact Racing, the same connections as Wealthy Investor, has had nine starts for two wins and two placings. 

He is one of eight acceptances in the field, two of which Empowerment and Compassionate, are from the Bartley stable. 

The Waterhouse/Bott stable has a smart runner in early favourite Snitzonfire, who strung together three successive wins last preparation, while Matthew Dunn’s Head Legislator has had two wins and six minor placing from his 10 starts. 

The first of seven races gets underway at 1.45pm.

SELECTIONS:

Race 1 – 1.45pm: MAINSTREAM FINANCE SERVICES PTY LTD CONDITIONAL BM 68 (1600m): 1 HIGHLY DESIRED, 2 Dodecanese, 3 Alastor, 4 Do This All Day.

Race 2 – 2.20pm: MAINSTREAM TAXATION & ACCOUNTACY SERVICES BM 64 (2100m): 1 VIREN, 2 Apache Belle, 3 Dalgarno, 4 Reposition.

Race 3 – 2.55pm: MAGIC MILLIONS 2022 GOLD COAST YEARLING SALE 11-17 JANUARY 4YO & UP MAIDEN (1350m): 1 HARAPAN, 2 Midnight Oasis, 3 Auzstar, 4 Diorissima.

Race 4 – 3.30pm: MAGIC MILLIONS WYONG 3YO & 4YO STAKES (1200m): 1 SNITZONFIRE, 2 Head Legislator, 2 Tanker, 3 Empowerment.

Race 5 – 4.05pm: EXALTED CONSTRUCTIONS CLASS 1 (1600m): 1 EL PARMY, 2 Rock The Bells, 3 King Of Spades, 4 Bedford Square.

Race 6 – 4.40pm: MAGIC MILLIONS WYONG 2YO CLASSIC (1100m): 1 HELL I AM, 2 Impounded, 3 Miss Hellfire, 4 Gendarmerie.

Race 7 – 5.15pm: WYONG’S NEXT RACE MEETING SATURDAY JANUARY 8 BM64 (1100m): 1 LONGBOTTOM, 2 Toto, 3 Passistas, 4 Rita May. 

Command Approval and Speak Now could continue the Waterhouse/Bott stables dominance of the Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic on Wednesday. 

The pair are among 21 nominations for the $200,000 race, which includes four interstate raiders.

The Waterhouse/Bott stable has five 2YO Classics to its name, the latest Farnan (pictured) in 2019. 

A $170,000 Magic Millions yearling, Command Approval is following the same path as Farnan, who debuted with a Canberra win before claiming the Wyong 2YO feature. 

A Spirit Of Boom colt, Command Approval looked strong taking out the 2YO Maiden over 1000m at Canberra on November 26, beating stablemate Speak Now. 

Mornington trainer Clayton Douglas has Epic Centre nominated, the Starspangledbanner colt coming off a third in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at Ballarat on November 20. Fellow Victorian Archie Alexander has nominated Kumicho, who was fifth in the Listed Merson Stakes at Flemington on November 27.

Gold Coast based Michael Kosta’s Perfect Mission is among the nominations, the filly placed second on debut at the Sunshine Coast on December 3, while Better Golightly, trained at Eagle Farm by Danny Bougoure, looked impressive winning two trials. 

Local trainers could be represented with Tracey Bartley’s Impounded and Damien Lane’s Wealthy Investor, who was third on debut at Rosehill, nominated. 

Lane has Compassionate among the 15 nominations for the $100,000 Magic Millions 3YO & 4YO Stakes, while the Bartley trained Empowerment and Compassionate, Kristen Buchanan’s Oakfield Arrow and Brett Partelle’s Skye Banner, could see a number of local runners in the field. 

Last year’s $2million Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner and Golden Slipper runner-up Away Game, from the Maher/Eustace stable is among those nominated, the Snitzel mare having already amassed over $3m in prizemoney from five wins and seven placings off her 18 starts.

Nominations for several races on the program have been extended, with final fields for the seven-race program on Monday.

Stephen Schofield’s in-form mare Mosht Up is part of a three-pronged attack on his home track this Thursday. 

The Wyong based trainer believes the mare is in career best form and primed for another victory. 

And he is confident apprentice Maddie Derrick, who has ridden the six-year-old in four of her past five starts, has found the key to Mosht Up. 

“She gets on really well with her,” Schofield said. “She rides good, she likes the horse, and they get on really good together. 

“She can get her to relax and as a result she races really well for her. 

“She’s flying at the moment, jumping out of her skin. I couldn’t get her any better and give her a great chance. “

Derrick partnered Mosht Up to her latest win at Newcastle over 1200m on November 23 and has placed on her three other times. 

She lines up in the 1000m BM64 at Wyong in a race Schofield said is ideal. 

“She’s a pretty fizzy at times so not having to float her to the races is a real bonus. 

“She races well at Wyong and likes the wet, the heavier the better for her and more rain his tipped.”

Since transferring to Schofield mid last year, Mosht Up has had two wins and 15 placings from 38 starts.

“She’s earned over $100,000 since I’ve had her. The owners were going to sack her, but a friend convinced them to give her to me and they’re rapt in the results she’s getting.

“I’ve got her worked out now and know what she likes and doesn’t like, so I keep her happy. 

“The key to her is routine. She’s got to be first one on walker, first one on the track, first one home, first one to be fed. Everything’s got to be in a hurry but that keeps her happy.”

Schofield also saddles up Almost Reset in the 1600m Metro and Provincial Maiden and Sonic Hollow in the 1350m Maiden. 

“Almost Reset is a good horse,” Schofield said. “He wants a bit of ground and is going to race really well.”

The Reset gelding finished fifth at his last Wyong start over the same distance on November 25. 

Sonic Hollow, a Shamus Award gelding, has been unplaced from his three starts. 

“He probably wants a little bit further than this race. He’s quite small and does everything right. He’s a lovely horse but needs more ground. 

“I’ve got the whole team in at Wyong so I’m saving on the float fees,” he laughed. 

The first of seven races at the Business Wyong Race Day, gets underway at 1.50pm.

SELECTIONS:

Race 1 – 1.50pm: COMMUNITY BANK WYONG – BENDIGO BANK MAIDEN (1350m): 1 ESTONIA, 2 Stay Wealthy, 3 Wizard Of Oz, 4 Fear The Truth.

Race 2 – 2.25pm: PAUL HILLS – THE AGENCY CLASS 1 & MAIDEN (2100m): 1 IRONIC MISS, 2 Conference, 3 Lady Redwood, 4 On Bail.

Race 3 – 3.05pm: BATTERY WORLD WYONG METRO & PROV MAIDEN (1600m): 1 TAILORING, 2 Aldrin, 3 Chappelli, 4 Single Babe.

Race 4 – 3.40pm: CENTRAL COAST UNITY BANK BM64 (1600m): 1 LORD WINSTON, 2 Bak Da Man, 3 Schoona The Better, 4 Mon Amore.

Race 5 – 4.20pm: WYONG RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB GROUP MAIDEN (1000m): 1 PETULANT, 2 Hamaki, 3 Foolish, 4 One Way Street.

Race 6 – 4.55pm: SIGNARAMA TUGGERAH BM64 (1000m): 1 RIVER MAC, 2 Mosht Up, 3 Sachello, 4 Tudor Music. 

Race 7 – 5.35pm: McDONALD’S FAMILY CHIPS CLASS 1 (1200m): 1 MIDORI BEAUTY, 2 Penopera, 3 Shalstar, 4 Thunderbolt Two.

Click for today’s race book. Port Macquarie trainer Denim Wynen believes her stable star Dual Escape is primed for win number 11 when she lines up in the 1100m BM64 at Wyong on Thursday. 

Wynen’s confidence comes not only from the mare’s strong recent form but also from her reuniting with jockey Serg Lisnyy on one of her favourite tracks.

The Lisnyy and Dual Escape combination has been together for all the eight-year-old wins, four of which have come on the Wyong track.

Lisnyy recently returned from suspension and will be hoping Dual Escape can return him to the winner’s circle. 

“She’s not the easiest horse to ride and Serg seems to have the key to her,” Wynen said. 

“It’s only her pre-race manners that get her in a bit of trouble. She’s thrown Serg in the enclosure a couple of times but once she gets out onto the track, she is fine. 

“She really races well on the Wyong track and can handle any track conditions, so if the rain keeps coming it won’t worry her.

“She’s ready to win again.”

Dual Escape resumed from a spell at Port Macquarie on October 8, a race Wynen considered to be more of a barrier trial. 

“I didn’t expect much from her that day but her two runs since then have been very good.”

The mare was narrowly beaten at Gosford over 1000m on October 28 and was runner-up again at her subsequent start at Wyong over the same distance on November 6, behind Scott Singleton’s promising filly I’m Not Slew.

“I honestly wasn’t expecting her to race as well as she did in her past two starts because Serg wasn’t on her. 

“She surprised me and went really well for both Jenny Duggan and Ashley Morgan. 

“With Serg back on her on Thursday there will be no excuse because he can get the best out of her. 

“I wanted to get her nice and fit for when he came back. 

“She is ready to go and looks the best she has this preparation. There should be no excuses.”

At just 26, and a mother to two young children, Wynen credits Dual Escape and Kristen Buchanan with helping to establish her as a trainer. 

She took out her licence while working for Buchanan at Wyong, who also gave her the opportunity to train Dual Escape. 

“I leased her initially and she bolted in at Wyong only three weeks after I’d taken over the training. It was the best feeling. 

“I brought her last year and she’s won around $70,000 since. She’s a great little pay cheque and a very easy horse to train. 

“I moved to Port Macquarie last year and she has really thrived in this environment. She does better in a smaller stable and my partner Reece Partington rides all her work. 

“She has helped get my name out there as a trainer and I’ve got a few new owners with some nice young horses coming through.

“She’s got a few niggling issues, but we keep on top of them, and I think she’s got a few wins left in her.”

The first of seven races at the club’s Domestic & Family Abuse Awareness Race Day, gets underway at 1.50pm.

SELECTIONS:

Race 1 – 1.50pm: 1800RESPECT MAIDEN (1000m): 1 ROYAL BALLET, 2 Miss Maz, 3 One Way Street, 4 The Leopard’s Tale.

Race 2 – 2.25pm: MOUNTIES GROUP 4YO & UP MAIDEN (1600m): 1 BEDFORD SQUARE, 2 Miss Delia, 3 Tailoring, 4 Under The Pump. 

Race 3 – 3.05pm: #NO EXCUSE FOR ABUSE MAIDEN (1350m): 1 STAY WEALTHY, 2 Rejoiced, 3 Diamond Blush, 4 Too Much Lippy.

Race 4 – 3.40pm: STAND UP AGAINST DOMESTIC AND FAMILY ABUSE CLASS 1(1350m): 1 CUSHY, 2 Niffler, 3 Groover, 4 Zohan.

Race 5 – 4.20pm: WYONG MAGIC MILLIONS WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 15 4YO & UP MAIDEN (1100m): 1 KYALLA, 2 Hypnosis, 3 One Way Street, 4 El Nido.

Race 6 – 4.55pm: DOMESTIC & FAMILY ABUSE AWARENESS BM64 (1100m): 1 DUAL ESCAPE, 2 Discompose, 3 Never Second, 4 Maccomo.

Race 7 – 5.30pm: WYONG’S NEXT MEETING THURSDAY DECEMBER 9 4YO&UP BM64 (1600m): 1 BAK DA MAN, 2 Buba, 3 Carolina Fire, 4 Mon Amore.

Northern Rivers trained Flora is shooting for her fourth successive win when she lines up in the 1000m BM68 at Wyong on Tuesday. 

The Delago Deluxe mare has been in sizzling form this preparation putting together four wins and a placing from five starts. 

Her trainer Norm Rogers is hoping a return to his former training base at Wyong, could see the four-year-old breakthrough for her first Provincial win. 

“She’s been in great form but because of that has been weighted out of races up here,” Rogers said. 

“It was either take her back to the Gold Coast or bring her down to the Provincials, so we decided to go that way.”

Rogers, a licenced real estate agent and hobby trainer, was based out of Wyong for many years before heading north to the Gold Coast. 

He spent a couple of years training there before relocating to the small town of Tabulam, where he prepares the only two horses trained on the track. 

“It’s a good set up and we get to work them on the grass every day,” Rogers said. 

“Flora has been thriving there and the only thing I’m worried about on Tuesday is how she will handle the long trip.”

Rogers will make the seven-hour drive on Sunday and has enlisted the help of old friend Stephen “Beaver” Schofield to house Flora. 

“Beaver has a box for her, and he’ll trot her up on Monday morning for me. 

“Provided she handles the trip I expect her to race really well. 

“She likes to be up on the speed and the Wyong track should really suit her.

“She has done well since her last win at Grafton on October 26, and we’ve got a great jockey in Josh (Parr).”

Rogers has known Parr from more than 30 years and believes he is the perfect rider for Flora.

“He’s a great jockey and rides Wyong as good as anyone, so there will be no issue there.

“His uncle Mark Webb rides him all his work up here.”

Flora has had four wins and a placing from her eight career starts but Rogers believes that record would have been even better if it weren’t for some early setbacks.

“She got a virus on the Gold Coast and after getting over that she got another one. She lost around 40kg, and it really set her back. 

“Once she got over that and we moved to Tabulam she started racing really well and has continued to do so.

“She’s no world beater but is very consistent, so we will see how she handles the step up in grade.”

The first of eight races at the clubs De Bortoli Wines Race Day gets underway at 1.15pm.

SELECTIONS:

Race 1 – 1.15pm: WYONG RACE CLUB FUNCTION CENTRE CLASS 1 & MAIDEN (2100m): 1 OCEANIC FLASH, 2 Tea Leaves, 3 Willinga Stirling, 4 Pirate Bird.

Race 2 – 1.50pm: BUSINESS WYONG RACE DAY DECEMBER 9 BENCHMARK 64 (1600m): 1 FOR VALOUR, 2 Prasiolite, 3 Miss Scalini, 4 Dhakuri.

Race 3 – 2.25pm: TAB.COM.AU MAIDEN (1600m): 1 AL SAHARA, 2 Zoomurudi, 3 Elarski, 4 Sir Savaluca.

Race 4 – 3.05pm: WYONG LEAGUES GROUP MAIDEN (1000m): 1GLAMOUR AND GLORY, 2 Alegna, 3 Joyzel, 4 Lily Elsie.

Race 5 – 3.45pm: GREAT NORTHERN MADIEN (1100m): 1 DERRY GROVE, 2 Bartoselli, 3 Cool Lad, 4 Hard To Excel.

Race 6 – 4.25pm: WYONG MAGIC MILLIONS DECEMBER 15 F&M BENCHMARK 64 (1200m): 1 SWEET RUBY, 2 My Snow Queen, 3 Passistas, 4 Raay Of Dreams.

Race 7 – 5.05pm: DE BORTOLI WINES CG&E BENCHMARK 64 (1200m): 1 FRENCH MARINE, 2 Land Of Valens, 3 Coal Crusher, 4 Ka Bling.

Race 8 – 5.40PM: WYONG’S NEXT RACE MEETING THURSDAY NOVEMBER 25 BENCHMARK 68 (1000m): 1 PICK THE SCORE, 2 Flora, 3 Emilette, 4 Affinity Beyond.