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A home track double to Kim Waugh, a double for Bjorn Baker and riding double to Ashley Morgan were the highlights of Wyong’s February 8 race meeting. 

Waugh’s duo River Pat and Selfless Act both causing upsets in their respective races and giving Wyong’s premier trainer four wins in a week and 25 for the current season.

Waugh’s Headwater filly River Pat, who was sent out at the juicy odds of $51, burst through a gap in the straight to win the 1100m MAGIC MILLIONS ADELAIDE YEARLING SALE 18-19 MARCH F&M MAIDEN. 

The three-year-old, raced by Werrett Bloodstock, had been trialled twice leading into her first start. 

She placed in both trials, the latest a second at Wyong on January 31 but received no market support.

Ash Morgan settled River Pat midfield, finding a gap at the top of the straight and storming away to win by a length. 

It was dead heat for the minor placegetters, Cross Your Heart ($4) and Russian Snitzel ($5.50). 

Apprentice Jake Barrett partnered Waugh’s second winner Selfless Act ($10) to victory in the 1350m CENTRAL COAST COOLROOMS MIDWAY BM64.

The consistent Panzer Divison mare, raced by Pepper Tree Bloodstock, brought up her third win at start 13 with four minor placings. 

Barrett came from behind to circle the field on the turn, bursting down the centre of the track to overhaul the $3 favourite Navy Blood in the final stages. 

Barrett, now apprenticed to Barbara Jones, began his riding career as a 15-year-old for the Waugh stable.

It wasn’t all good news for Barrett, who earned the wrath of the stewards and was disqualified for careless riding from February 19 to March 3. 

The closest finish of the day brought up a double for the Bjorn Baker stable, with O’Tycoon ($3fav) getting the nod on the line in the TAB.COM.AU BM64.

The Written Tycoon four-year-old, a $180,000 yearling raced by Australian Bloodstock, brought up his third win at start 15. 

In a perfectly timed ride Dylan Gibbons stormed home in the final stages to snatch victory over The Swooper ($3.70), with Suprina ($8.50), who led for most of the race, holding on for third. 

The first leg of Morgan’s double came via the Maher trained Negotiations ($14) who showed an impressive turn of foot to win the 1000m SKY CHANNEL CLASS 1. 

The impeccably bred son of I Am Invincible, a $750,000 yearling, kept his record intact bringing up his second win from as many starts. 

The four-year-old broke through for his maiden win at Eucha in July last year but had been unimpressive in two recent trials. 

In a slowly run race, Ashley Morgan settled the gelding toward the rear, taking him to the lead on straightening and drawing away to win by a length. 

Godolphin’s Shako ($3.30) finished strongly in second, while the $2.90 favourite Fludway was third, was unsuited by the slow tempo. 

The Snowden trained Densetsu ($10) put his best foot forward at start two taking out the 1100m DE BORTOLI WINES CG&E MAIDEN in impressive style.

The son of Lonhro was coming off a last start failure at Kembla on debut but was suited by the quicker tempo second up. 

“It was a good turnaround of form from last start, “stable representative Colm McCullogh said. “Josh (Parr) rode him well, but the deciding factor was the was speed being on today. He likes to flow into races like that. 

“The horse has definitely got talent. He’s better than a Wyong maiden but it’s good to get the monkey off his back and hopefully he can kick on through his grades.”

Joe Pride’s Bottler ($21) stormed home for an eye catching second, with the $.190 favourite Bo Katan third. 

Lonhro’s progeny scored again in the CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES PROVINCIAL MAIDEN over 1600m, with the Widdup trained Noble Tess a dominant winner. 

Chad Schofield was able to get the best out of the three-year-old filly following a battle with the $1.85 favourite Irish Anthem in the straight. 

Noble Tess, having her sixth career start, was coming off a fifth at Wyong over the same distance on January 18. 

Having her fourth run this preparation she had fitness on her side and was strong to the line. 

Warwick Farm trainer Amanda Turner was all smiles after her stayer, So Sneeky ($9) was able to stave off his opposition to take out the WYONG LEAGUES GROUP BM64 over 2100m. 

It was a breakthrough Wyong win for former New Zealand hoop Andrew Calder, who relocated to New South Wales last year. 

By NZ sire Falkirk, So Sneeky brought up win number five with a super staying performance, putting more than a length on the fast-finishing Doraskaya ($3.90) from the Waugh stable, with the $2.90 favourite Counter, not suited by the slow pace. 

Starmae started as short priced favourite in the 1350m PBL LAW GROUP SUPER MAIDEN and didn’t disappoint with Zac Lloyd giving the filly a perfect front running ride.

The Bjorn Baker stable had been confident the Zoustar filly, who was coming off a second at Gosford, would perform well and the win never looked in doubt. 

“She’s not the biggest filly going around but she makes up for it in speed,” stable representative Luke Hilton. 

“She’s very genuine and I don’t think we’ll see the best of her until a few more months.”

A $325,000 Magic Millions yearling, Starmae ($1.85) brought up her second win at six and was coming off a second at Gosford on January 24. 

She beat Hooligan Tommy, who made up good ground in the straight, with Waller’s Hartman ($7), third. 

The Wyong track earned plenty of praise from jockeys, with kudos 

A large crowd, a win for the locals, a double to talented apprentice Anna Roper and competitive racing paved the way for a super afternoon at Wyong’s final Summerdayz meeting. 

Damien Lane’s Pluckten scored the local win and while he started at longer odds than the more fancied runners, the victory was no surprise to the trainer. 

The three-year-old Pluck gelding was having just his third start in the 1350m SKY CHANNEL PROVINCIAL MAIDEN and Lane expected him to race well. 

“He’s a progressive horse and I was surprised at the odds,” he said. “He has come such a long way and I think the owners have one who will go on with the job. He is still working out what it’s all about and I think he will keep improving after a break and come back a nice horse.”

Lane was full of praise for his apprentice Anna Roper who brought up a winning double on Pluckten ($6.50). 

“Anna got caught three wide early but opted to go forward which proved to be a winning move. She is a big part of our stable now and has a bright future.”

Price Racing’s short priced favourite Fugitiva ($1.70) looked like he would dash clear turning in the straight, but Pluckten held him out on the line to win by a long neck, with the Perry trained Cup Of Ambition ($13) fighting on well for third. 

Roper’s first winner came via an upset in the staying race with Kylie Gavenlock’s Tina’s Rock ($10) too strong in the final stages over the 2100m. 

A great ride by Roper helped secure the Pierro mare’s first victory in the TAB.COM.AU CLASS 1 & MAIDEN, beating Ross McConville’s $2 favourite Tell The Future. 

“It’s just a wonderful win,” Gavenlock said. “This mare had double colic surgery before this preparation, and we thought we’d lose her. Owners Greg and Donna Kolivos stuck their necks out and hung in with her. They deserve this win and so does the mare.

“It was a really good ride by Anna. I thought if we were in touch with them on the turn, we were a good chance.”

There were excuses for Tell The Future who didn’t handle the turn but still fought on gamely. 

Ben Smith’s progressive gelding Outakandy justified his short price with a dominant win in the HUCKEL EXCAVATIONS MIDWAY CLASS 1 over 1600m.

The three-year-old was coming off a last start victory at Kembla and punters were confident he could do it again, backing him into $1.45. 

Zac Lloyd took a sit behind the leader and eventual runner-up Gardenzio, before hitting the front in the straight and drawing away to win by two and a half lengths. 

“I was on the best horse, and he proved himself, “Lloyd said. “He is still a fair bit underdeveloped with a bit of growing and maturing to do. He could step out over further as he progresses.”

Kristen Buchanan’s Gardenzio ($3.80), getting out to the mile for the first time fought on gamely, but may not of appreciated the rise in distance.

It was a nail-biting finish in the 1200m WYONG LEAGUES GROUP F&M MAIDEN with the Waterhouse/Bott trained Koby Girl ($2.50fav) getting the bob on the line denying Kristen Buchanan’s Kervette ($11).

And while the judge went Koby Girl’s way, the Written By filly had to survive a protest before correct weight was declared. 

It had been a race in two in the straight, with winning jockey Regan Bayliss and Lee Magorrian going head-to-head to the line. 

Neil Paine, representing the Waterhouse/Bott stable, said they had taken their time with Koby Girl, who sported the colours made famous by Gai’s father Tommy Smith. 

“They’ve always had an opinion of this filly, but she needed time, and the connections were patient. The stable thinks she will get over further in time, she’s got a lot of improvement to come.”

An excited group of owners cheered on Richard and Will Freedman’s Merchant Empire ($4.20) who caused another boil over winning the 1200m CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES CG&E MAIDEN, by holding out the fast-finishing Edited By ($3.30). 

The Merchant Navy three-year-old bred by John Cornish at Torryburn Stud, was on debut and the stable expected him to need the run. 

But under great riding by Ashley Morgan, he held the lead for most of the race, before being giving a mid-race breather, then fighting on to the line to win by a long neck. 

“I told the owners he would probably get beat by inexperience, but he proved me wrong,” Will Freedman said. “He was inexperienced on the turn and when he gets to a bigger track and learns more he will keep improving.”

There were no excuses for the beaten brigade with Joe Pride’s $2.40 favourite Eastern Front having every opportunity.

Ross McConville made the trip from Kembla to Wyong worthwhile after his promising sprinter South Of India ($7) dominated the BEST WISHES WRC TRAINER STEPHEN “CRUSHER” FARLEY CLASS 1 over 1000m.

The Snowden trained Fire Star ($1.35) was sent out shortest favourite of the day, but Sean Guymer had other ideas leading from barrier to post. 

Fire Star was slightly slow to begin, and Josh Parr had to make a long circling run into the straight, but South Of India was too strong on the line.

The winner, a three-year-old son of Irish sire Churchill, is bred and raced by McConville and was coming off a last start victory at Newcastle over 900m.

“He’s a very nice up and coming horse and I had expected him to race really well,” he said. “I have high expectations for him but want to take him time.”

Rounding off the program was Tyrone Coyle’s injured plagued Prince Aurelius ($16), who dominated the DE BORTOLI WINES BENCHMARK 64 over 1300m.

The Kembla trained seven-year-old had been out of the winner’s circle for almost three years but was able to claim the main prize courtesy of a great ride by apprentice Olivia Chamber. 

“All credit to Olivia,” Coyle said. “She has ridden him from day one since he came back into work. She rode him on Tuesday and said he was back to his old self. She said if he’s right on the day he will win.

“I’m over the moon. He’s a day-to-day proposition but it’s great to get him back.”

Snowden’s $2.60 favourite Mirra Impact, finished two and a half lengths behind in second, but doesn’t look far off a win. 

A bit of homework and plenty of patience paid off for Rodney Bailey yesterday when his promising four-year-old Norton Road was a dominant winner on debut at his home track.

Bailey purchased the son of Stratum Star from an Inglis online sale in March 2021 for the bargain price of $7500. 

He had been impressed with the bloodlines on the mare Ransack’s side, who was sired by Lonhro. 

“I did a fair bit of homework on him when I saw him listed for sale and was impressed with the breeding, particularly on the mare’s side. I knew they had picked a well-bred mare to put to the stallion, to get him going along a bit. He was a good type and definitely a bargain buy,” Bailey said. 

“He was very immature when we got him home and I knew he would take time. Then he kept going shin sore, so we had to give him a few preparations before we got him right.”

Bailey unveiled Norton Road at a trial at Rosehill on December 29, instructing jockey Reece Jones to give him a quite trial. 

“Reece said he jumped out of the barriers and just sped away. I knew he was a speedy type and he really showed it that day.”

Bailey opted to start him in the 1200m DE BORTOLI WINES PROVINCIAL MAIDEN at Wyong and he was sent out $2.45fav on the strength of his eye-catching trial. 

He didn’t disappoint, apprentice Anna Roper taking him to the lead and maintaining it throughout, kicking away in the straight to win by more than two lengths. 

“He’s got a fair bit of ability and hopefully he might go on with it. It was exciting today and I’ll give him three or four weeks off now before deciding where we will go.

“He’s got a high cruising speed and big, long stride, so I’m sure he will get over more ground.”

Norton Road’s win was celebrated by the entire Bailey family, with his daughter Bridget the official owner, in her first foray into horse ownership. 

Favourites dominated the first five races on the program with Lee and Cherie Curtis’ Still Alice ($2.40) setting the tone in the first race, the 1000m PBL LAW GROUP MIDWAY MAIDEN.

Jay Ford gave the Epaulette filly, a $300k yearling, a perfect front running ride to bring up her first win at start two. 

Curtis said he expects the filly to get up to city grade and over more ground, 

“She’s got a bit of class, I think she’s a nice filly and we’ve always thought a lot of her, but she was always a bit behind and needed a bit of time,” he said. “I think she’ll keep improving and get up to at least city grade.”

Another well rated ride saw Up And Comer ($5EF) win the 1600m SKY CHANNEL SUPER MAIDEN for Annabel Neasham and Chad Schofield. 

Up And Comer came from mid-field on the turn, Schofield circling the field and hitting the front on straightening, holding off his rivals to win by a half-length. 

Riley Loy, representing the stable, said they had been confident the Press Statement filly would run a good race. 

“We’d been happy with her work out and pretty confident today she’d run a nice race. She definitely suits a mile and could look to go a bit further.”

The fast-finishing Morton Pier looks like one to follow. 

Joe Pride is excited about the prospects of his filly Cosmanova ($2.70fav), who made it back-to-back wins in the 1100m TABCORP F&M BENCHMARK 64.

“She’s a filly with a stack of improvement to come,” he said. “She’ll head to the paddock now but over time as she gets older, she’ll get better as her pedigree comes through.

“There’s a bit to look forward to, with two wins on the bounce. We’ll give her a little break to strengthen up more and then see her at the end of the season.”

New Zealand bred mare Dawla bucked the favourite trend when she came from behind to win the CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES CLASS 1 over 1200m.

Apprentice Zac Wadick took advantage of the slow tempo, coming from the rear on the turn and storming home to win by three quarters of a lengths. 

It was Wadick’s second win for his boss Brad Widdup, since joining the stable in December. 

Scone visitor Innervoice returned double figure odds ($13), upsetting the more favoured runners in the 1350m GO ELECTRICAL F&M BENCHMARK 64.

The six-year-old Poet’s Voice mare, trained by Lyle Chandler, scored her third career win at start 32. 

Winning rider Mitchell Bell said there were excuses for her last start performance at Scone. 

“We weren’t afforded the runs we needed at Scone, going up the inside didn’t suit her. There was good speed today and from the wide draw we were able to get momentum up around the 600m and keep it. She’s a different horse again once she gets to the outside of them, a lot more confident and she hit the line well.”

Mark Minervini’s Star Impact $5, fought on strongly for second, while there appeared to be no excuses for the Maher/Eustace favorite Lady boss ($3.60) who finished third. 

Another upset in the last with the short priced favourite Katsumoto ($1.55) well beaten by the Con Karakatsanis trained Black Duke ($11).

The Fiorente six-year-old, brought up his fourth win at start 40, with the stable believing the addition of blinkers and 3kg claim for Zac Wadick helped get the job done. 

The dominant victory in the 1350m WYONG LEAGUES GROUP CG&E BENCHMARK 64 bringing up a double for Wadick & the riding honours for the day.

Stewards reporting Katsumoto had pulled up lame in the near-fore fetlock, requiring a vet certificate before resuming racing. 

Damien Lane completed a successful week with a home track victory, Oakfield Mahogany giving him his third win in just seven days and 19^th for the current season. 
Lane is enjoying one of his best runs in recent years and it was fitting the latest win came from one of his biggest supporters Bruce McKenzie.

The Capitalist gelding was second up from a spell and while Lane gave him a chance of breaking through for win number four, he felt he may have needed another run. 

He preferred the chances of stablemate Wealthy Investor in the 1200m DE BORTOLI WINES PROVINCIAL BM68 but Oakfield Mahogany ($9) and jockey Andrew Atkins had other ideas. 

Atkins let the speed go out of the race, popping off the fence on the turn and racing away in the straight to win by over a length. Stablemate Wealthy Investor ($3.80) finishing fourth.

“He’s a big gross boy and I thought me might need another run, but he proved me wrong,” Lane said. 

“He resumed on a wet track at Gosford and knocked up over 1100m. It was great to see him get the job done today.”

Super ($12) looked sharp storming home to finish second, also appreciating the better ground, while the $2.35 favorite Extreme Cat appeared to have every chance, finishing third. 

It was an Irishman stole the show in the riding ranks with Darragh Keenan bagging a double and bringing up his 200^thcareer win. 

Keenan was having only his second ride at Wyong when he lifted Dunbelievin’($3.60) to victory in the SKY CHANNEL SUPER MAIDEN (1600m).

And it didn’t stop there, the 23-year-old bringing up a double on another Maher runner, Cape Byron ($3.40fav) in the last. 

Keenan relocated to Australia from the UK in early December linking with the Maher stable.  

He had posted two wins since relocating before Saturday, Dunbelievin’ the first at Wyong. It wasn’t an easy task, the well-bred Dundeel three-year-old beating Beach Party in the smallest of margins. 

The judge found it difficult to split the two after Keenan lifted the gelding on the line, with the result eventually going his way. 

Keenan came from behind again in the last, running down the leaders to win the 1300m SENPOS MAIDEN HCP on the well supported Cape Byron.

The Capitalist gelding resuming from a spell to bring up his first win at start three.

It wasn’t all celebrations with Keenan earning the wrath of the stewards for his ride on Cape Byron, copping a four-day suspension for careless riding.  

Tim Martin was very confident heading into the 1300m CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES F&M CLASS 1, and that confidence was rewarded with Give Me Joy ($2.20) bringing up her second career win. 

It was back-to-back victories on the Wyong track, with the four-year-old daughter of Caravaggio having broken her maiden with a five length win on December 23. 

She took up where she left off, with apprentice Hannah Williams piloting her to a front running victory. 

The race wasn’t without controversy, Andrew Gibbons, riding the Lees trained second favorite Imposant protesting alleging interference in the final stages. 

The protest was dismissed with a relieved Martin, a co-owner of Give Me Joy, banking the winner’s cheque.

“I thought she should win and that’s how it panned out,” Martin said. “She’s a big, scopey mare and when she starts putting things together, she should be pretty good.”

At a subsequent inquiry, Williams pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding and was suspended for four days. 

Class prevailed in the TABCORP BM 64 HCP with John’s Thompson’s well bred mare California Grass ($2.35fav) returning to the winner’s circle after a run of placings. 

Keegan Latham put in a well-timed ride to chase down the leader Supertrail and score a half length win. 

A lightly raced Al Maher mare, California Grass was coming off a second at Warwick Farm on December 23. 

She was given a great run off the speed in the early stages, Latham circling the field before the turn and going head-to-head with Supertrail in the straight, getting the better of the Brett Cavanough trained second favorite, Supertrail on the line. 

There was an eventful finish to the 1000m MERCURE KOOINDAH WATERS RESORT MIDWAY MAIDEN with the short priced favorite Russian Snitzel running off on the turn after looking the winner. 

The Russian Revolution filly was sent out a $1.90 on the strength of two impressive  trial wins, but things didn’t go according to plan when she ran off the track, taking second favorite Ballet D’Esprit ($3.70) with her. 

This enabled Maddie Owen on Parmenio ($15) to rail through and kick away in the straight, holding out the fast-finishing Battlefield to win by a half head. 

Trained by Anthony Cummings, the winner was resuming from a spell having been gelded. 

“He has come back this time in as a gelding and I think that has made a big difference to him,” Cummings said.

Ballet D’Esprit was impressive, storming home to finish third, while stewards sent Russian Snitzel back to the trials. 

The Snowden trained Kadall ($4.40) was given a great ride by Alysha Collett to bring up his second win in just five starts in the 1300m DIMENSION ONE GLASS FENCING CG&E CLASS 1.

Collett sat just behind the leader throughout, drawing clear in the straight and holding out the fast-finishing Canadian Ruler ($7) to win by a long neck. 

An $80,000 yearling, Kadall raced by Triple Crown Syndications, was coming off a second at Hawkesbury in the same grade. 

Stephen Farley’s $3.90 favorite Lease was ridden toward the rear and failed to make up ground in the straight. 

With Christmas fast approaching Wyong’s Denim Wynen would love to celebrate with a home track win or two. 

The young trainer, and mother to two, has three good chances heading into the club’s Saturday meeting.

“I’m probably most excited to see Emphatic Bel back at the track,” Wynen said. 

“She had an operation to remove chips from her knees after her Wyong win in June and she seems to have come back a lot stronger.”

The Belardo mare starts in the Class 1over 1000m, coming off an impressive trial at Wyong on December 15. She blitzed her opposition by more than five lengths in good time. 

“I expected her to trial well but not as well as she did and against pretty good opposition. She’s a funny sort of horse and see’s ghosts when she’s working on her own, shying at nothing.

“Put her with a mate or in a race and she really gets her mind on the job.”

Wynen said she would step Emphatic Bel up to 1350m this preparation. 

“When she was with David Payne, they were trying to get her to stay but she likes to go forward, and I think she’s more of a sprinter. 

“She has a high cruising speed but if we can get her to settle, she will hopefully run up to 1350m. 

“Anna Roper has been riding her work and she will ride her on Saturday.”

Roper is also aboard Obvious Step, raced by the same ownership group. 

The six-year-old daughter of Sidestep drops back in grade, lining up in the 1600m Provincial BM64. 

“She got smashed at Warwick Farm last start, but it was still a pretty good run. That was over 1400m, and I think she will appreciate getting over more ground. 

“She has won over a mile before she came to me and the way she worked on Tuesday I think she’s in for a good run.”

And while Wynen’s owners will be on track on Saturday, she probably feels the most pressure from her third runner Magic Stella.

“She’s owned by my partner Reece Partington,” Wynen said. “If she can win it will be a nice Christmas present for us.

“She is up to 1350m on Saturday, and I can’t wait to see her over more ground. We will hold her up and hopefully she can find the line. The sting out of the ground will also help.”

The three-year-old Grunt filly will be ridden by Lee McGorrian in the 1350m Class 1. 

“It’s been flat out lately with the kids, Eli 10 and Indi, seven on holidays, along with the horses and Christmas. It will be all worthwhile if we can get a winner.”

The first of seven races gets underway at 1.25pm.

SELECTIONS: 

Race 1 –  1.25pm: WYONG EQUINE CLINIC CONDITIONAL BM68 (1200m): 1 THE KING, 2 Akaka Falls, 3 Don Pedro, 4 Surfers Royale.

Race 2 – 2.00pm:  DE BORTOLI WINES PROVINCIAL BM64 (1600m): 1 BOOMINARTIE, 2 Bak Da Man, 3 Socrates, 4 Dresden.

Race 3 – 2.35pm: CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES 4YO & UP MIADEN (1300m): 1 GIVE ME JOY, 2 Beach Party, 3 Bobby’s Fling, 4 Beauty Bound.

Race 4 – 3.10pm: TABCORP CLASS 1 (1000m): 1 EMPHATIC BEL, 2 Coco Dreaming, 3 Ringdembells, 4 Willingale.

Race 5 – 3.45pm: SKY CHANNEL SUPER 4YO & UP MAIDEN (1100m): 1 ZARAGOZA, 2 Hawkwind, 3 Ausbred Mimosa, 4 Fruiting Habit.

Race 6 – 4.25pm: RYAN’S METAL ROOFING MIDWAY 3YO MAIDEN (1100m): 1 TOYGER, 2 Edited By, 3 Taxpayer, 4 Dayu.

Race 7 – 5.05pm: WYONG LEAGUES GROUP CLASS 1 (1350m): 1 LADY BOSS, 2 Pogacar, 3 Turbulent, 4 Little Cointreau.

Favorite backers were in the queue, but Tommy Berry had other ideas, his mount Highness running down favourite Spywire in the straight to take out the 2023 Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic. 

The impeccably bred colt, a son of Snitzel from Diana’s Star and a $900k yearling, went into the $200,000 feature as $4.40 chance. 

As the 1100m race evolved it looked like the Maher/Eustace stable had bagged a feature double, before Highness stormed home in the final stages to claim a narrow victory in a thrilling finish.

Trainer Michael Freedman was delighted with the win, believing the colt still has plenty to offer. 

“He’s such a laid-back character, a bit showy in condition and still learning to be a racehorse,” Freedman said. “He did a lot of that today on raw ability and if he comes out if it well, we have ticket to the Gold Coast. 

“He ran a good time which is a great indication with two-year-olds. He’ll need a trial between now and the Gold Coast race to keep him up to the mark.”

Berry said Highness was as “underdone as you’re going to see him” and has plenty more to give. 

“The Gold Coast is going to suit him a bit better and winning this should switch him on.”

The winner sported the same colours as champion colt Capitalist and will be hoping to emulate his success taking out the 2YO Magic Millions Classic in January.

Runner up Spywire ($2.05) is also likely to push onto the Gold Coast, with Waterhouse/Bott runner Toque ($3.10) finishing third. Highness is now a $8 bet for the Gold Coast Classic on January 13. 

The race wasn’t without controversy, Racing NSW stewards questioning Spywire’s jockey Tyler Schiller about his riding out his mount in the final 100m, before giving him the benefit of the doubt due to the margin but warning him about such actions in the future.

Spywire returned lame upon examination will require a veterinary clearance before any future trial or race.

While Maher/Eustace may have been denied a feature double, they trained the quinella in the $150,000 Magic Millions 3YO & 4YO Stakes with classy mare Royal Merchant staving off her fast-finishing stablemate Semana on the line. 

Jason Collett partnered the winner, a $160,000 MM yearling, who has now amassed $725,970 in prizemoney. 

He had the four-year-old mare perfectly positioned throughout, hitting the front in the straight and holding out a late challenge by Semana. 

The Wyong win was Royal Merchant’s fifth from just 17 starts, including a Group 1 victory in The Goodwood at Morphetville in May before going out for spell. 

The Wyong race looked a perfect starting point, and the mare didn’t disappoint pleasing both her stable and rider. 

Assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said class had prevailed. 

“She had blinkers for the first time, ended up in the perfect spot, travelled well and was good late,” he said. ‘Semana shows us nothing at trials or in trackwork but is a different horse on race day. 

“They will both head to the Magic Millions now.”

Collett said Royal Merchant was “very sharp.”

“She’s had a let up and a trial and the set weights really suited her. She was well placed in this race.”

Royal Merchant was sent out $1.40 favorite, with Semana ($12) and Silentsar ($8.50) who was doing his best work late, third. 

Kim Waugh had a memorable day training a double with Linguee ($26) taking out the 1300m WYONG LEAGUES CLUB GROUP PROVINCIAL BM68 & Bojangles ($3.50) the PBL LAW GROUP Midway BM64 over 1100m, the latter giving Berry a race to race double. 

Waugh had been frustrated with Linguee continually drawing wide barriers but despite drawing wide in nine she decided to start her. 

“She’s a lovely filly but she always draws terrible, it all worked out for her today. Tom (Sherry) rode her a treat. The owners deserve every winner they get. They put a lot of money into racing and it’s a nice Xmas present.” 

She was equally impressed with progressive three-year-old Bojangles, who showed a super turn of foot in the final stages to grab victory on the line. 

 “She’s a good little horse. We bred him, my owners John Stewart & Robert Roulston, and I’m so happy they got a good horse.

 “I don’t know how good he is yet, he’s impressive. Going from a maiden to a BM64 didn’t worry him, he’s a cool little cat.”

Waugh continued a great run with nine winners in just over a month and 14 for the season.

Sara Ryan kicked off the Magic Millions program with a winner in the first, her debutant How Much Better ($7.50) taking out the 1350m STAINLESS FX MAIDEN. 

The All Too Hard colt is a half-brother to Ryan’s six-year-old Much Much Better, who has amassed more than $558,000 in his 32 starts. 

“I only hope he’s as good as his brother,” Ryan said after the victory. “It was a gritty win today and there is still plenty of improvement to come. He’s a good horse and I’m excited about his future.”

The $220,000 yearling giving Ryan her 13^th win for the season.

Rachel King put on a masterclass in the 2100m PRIDE EXCAVATIONS BM64 on the Brett Cavanough trained Supertrail ($10). 

King rated the So You Think four-year-old perfectly, pinching a gap on her rivals around the 1000m mark, before going to the line strongly to win by a length. 

Cavananaugh describing Supertrail after the race as a “progressive stayer.”

The $2.15 favorite Youthful finished strongly in second and is not far off another win. 

More Than Ready mare Mistress dominated the 1600m GOLD COAST YEARLING SALE 3 – 16 JAN BM64 courtesy of a cool ride by Tyler Schiller. 

Schiller struck a wall of horses as he turned into the straight but waited patiently until a gap appeared, the four-year-old showing a great turn of foot to speed away and win by two lengths. 

“She’s a really good progressive filly, and hopefully she can get going now,” Schiller said. 

Trained by John O’Shea, Mistress brought up her second win at start eight.

The $300,000 Magic Millions yearling, is raced by Milburn Creek’s John and Trish Muir, 

There was plenty of praise for the condition of the track, with credit due to Phil Robinson & his team.