Kristen Buchanan had a dream start to her Saturday taking out the Midway at Randwick and posting a home track victory, all within 20 minutes.
Bruce McKenzie’s Oakfield Waratah scored in the Midway, the consistent four-year-old bringing up his second Midway win and fourth victory from just 10 starts.
Minutes later Gardenzio ($15) was too strong in the Best Wishes On Your Retirement Kevin Miller Maiden, over 1100m with Kody Nestor in the saddle.
The son of Menari was having just his second career start, the addition of blinkers and a great front running ride by Kody Nestor securing his first victory.
Gardenzio had raced greenly on debut at Kembla over 1200m but going back in distance and sporting blinkers gave him plenty of confidence to post his debut win.
Nestor took him to the lead from the start and in a perfectly rated ride, kicked on the turn and drew away in the straight to win by almost three lengths.
The Midway victory was Buchanan’s 10th in the race, earning her the nickname Midway Queen, with her two Saturday wins taking her season tally to 34, equaling last season’s tally with two weeks remaining.
In a great start to the day for local trainers Allan Kehoe made it back-to-back Wyong winners with his consistent gelding Lord Bob ($8) taking out the Germany WWC Welcome To Wyong Maiden.
The Office Bearer gelding had been placed third at Wyong in his two previous starts since resuming from a spell, so there was plenty of confidence from the stable that he could be in the finish.
In another strong front running ride, Grant Buckley took Lord Bob to the lead before drawing away in the straight to post a half-length win.
Former trainer Nicole Hudson is in the ownership of Lord Bob, who has now posted a win and three placings from his six starts.
The Waller trained Gago finished strongly in third and looks like he would be better suited on a bigger track.
“It was a good tough win, and we are really happy with how he’s going,” Kehoe said.
Both the Kris Lees and Jarrod Austin stable trained doubles.
Darryl McLellan lifted Lees first winner Ideel Hero ($4.80) to victory in the1600m Kimberly Burke Celebration Provincial Maiden.
The Dundeel gelding looked certain to be beaten after being headed by Killer Kerr in the final stages, but the veteran jockey was able to lift the three-year-old on the line.
Hellavadancer ($3.50fav) was Lees second winner taking out the Happy 50th Birthday Darin F&M BM64 (1350m), with Andrew Gibbons in the saddle.
Australian Bloodstock’s Hellbent three-year-old brought up her third win from 14 starts with three minor placings.
Stable representative Danny Greer said they had expected the filly to appreciate the race well.
“The drop back in grade suited her and we wanted her to be ridden more positively. She’s a much better filly when she leads, and it was good to get her back to the winner’s circle.”
Jarrod Austin trained a race to race double with Deep Field gelding Vindication ($1.85fav) and Remus ($5.50), who posted his first win in more than two years.
The five-year-old son of Vancouver had last tasted success at Hawkesbury in June 21, with yesterday’s victory in the Drew Chivas Memorial BM64 (1600m) a welcome return to the winner’s circle.
Jess Taylor chased the leaders down in the straight, bursting through on the line for a narrow win.
Four-year-old Vindication completed Austin’s double, justifiying his short price with an impressive two length win in the Go Matildas 2023 – FIFA Women’s World Cup Midway Class 1 (1200m).
The gelding was resuming from a spell following two trials. Keagan Latham took Vindication to the front on straightening and put paid to the opposition with a dominant win.
Godolphin two-year-old Razors ($2.50fav) looked a class above his rivals bringing up his debut win in the Wyong Cup Carnival August 27 & September 1 2YO Maiden (1200m) ridden by Christian Reith.
The son of Sidestep was resuming from a spell and brought up his first win at start five.
A freshen up seemed to do the trick for Bjorn Baker’s Hollywood Hero ($4.40) who was given a great ride by apprentice Jett Stanley to score his second win in the Get Well Soon Gary Harley CG&E BM64 (1350m).
Stanley gave the three-year-old a rails-hugging ride, before taking a gap in the straight and drawing away to win by a length.
There were excuses for the $3.50 favorite Smooth Flight hung in badly in the final stages.
There was plenty of praise for the track, a credit to Phil Robinson and his team.
