raceday review

By Frances O’Shea, Photos Steve Hart

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.

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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.

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The Godolphin trained Rebukes ($4.80) was the third leg of Buckley’s treble, taking out the 1350m MERCURE KOOINDAH WATERS GOLF & SPA RESORT F&M BENCHMARK 64.

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.”

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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 13^th 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.

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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.

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Mitchell Bell believes Bushido could be headed for a higher grade after making it back to back wins with his victory in 1100m HIT 101.3 FAMILY RACE DAY JANUARY 26 CLASS 1.

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. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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 1350m Class 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Joe Pride believes he has a progressive horse on his hands following Sea Echo’s win in the 1350m DNR AIRCONDITIONING & ELECTRICAL 4YO & UP MAIDEN.

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.

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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.”

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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.