Uncategorized

IT’S all in 24 hours’ work.
Jockey Winona Costin was in Tasmania on Friday to land a feature race for co-trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, then returned home to ride the last two winners at Wyong yesterday.
The much-travelled Costin, who chalked up 84 winners last season and is approaching a career tally of 550, was successful in the Listed Tasmanian Guineas (1600m) on three-year-old Russian Roni, who clinched a hat-trick.
She was at Wyong principally to partner stablemate Bucks Party in a successful debut and then finished off a busy 24 hours by also winning the closer on Miss Checkoni for Gosford trainer Nick Mitchell.
Punters who went to the meeting expecting to clean up on three short-priced favourites were left bitterly disappointed when none were successful.
Asva ($1.55) managed third and Overriding ($1.26) was narrowly beaten before bookmakers took a set against locally trained True Crime, who was withdrawn from a Rosehill Gardens engagement to resume on his home track when trainer Kim Waugh opted not to run him on a heavy surface in Sydney.
After opening at odds-on, he got out to start at $2.20 and couldn’t pick up Costin’s mount Miss Checkoni, although he ran on well.
The seven-race program was conducted on a soft 7 track and there were no suspensions, although Blake Spriggs was reprimanded by Stewards after his ride in the sixth race and told to exercise more care when shifting ground in future.

RACE 1: DE BORTOLI WINES MAIDEN (1600m):
The ride won the race. Jockey Jeff Penza took off from second last on Gleefilly nearing the 600m when the pace was muddling, and hotpot Asva was behind the leading pair and being steadied off heels. Gleefilly ($4.80) continued on with her run, took the lead on the home turn and kept going to comfortably defeat Pioneer Lass ($10) and the $1.55 favourite. A lightly raced Kermadec three-year-old who cost only $35,000 as a yearling, Gleefilly was having only her fourth start and continues to show improvement. On this performance, she looks capable of stretching out further in distance. Jockey Mitchell Bell told stewards Asva started to race keenly when the speed slackened near the 700m. He added that when able to secure clear running at the top of the straight, his mount finished the race off only fairly. Kaisa, who finished last of the seven runners, pulled up 1/5 lame in the off foreleg and a vet clearance is required before she can either trial or race again.
RACE 2: BISHOP COLLINS CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS BENCHMARK 64 (2100m):
FORMER French gelding Flambeur ($3.80 favourite) finally cracked it for his first Australian win. Trainer Matthew Smith was confident beforehand the seven-year-old could break his Aussie “duck” and jockey Ashley Morgan duly delivered. Nonetheless, it looked a bit dicey in the early stages when the seven-year-old was trapped wide until Morgan was able to secure cover in the back straight. He found the drop back to Provincial grade to his liking, having been runner-up to Made By Khan (who raced at Sandown Saturday) in a 2000m Midway Handicap at Royal Randwick on Christmas Eve. Under his 60kg today, he outstayed Nathan Doyle’s stablemates Celestial Fury ($12) and Brave Angel ($7). That pair are capable of getting into the winning list soon, both finishing solidly although never likely to overhaul the winner.

RACE 3: PRIORITY BUSINESS LAWYERS MIDWAY MAIDEN (1000m):
Well supported first starter First Class Molley was a late withdrawal when she became fractious in the barriers, reared up and lunged forward and momentarily got her head cast over the front gate. Stewards ruled she would have to barrier trial to their satisfaction being before permitted to start in a race. At his 16th start and after seven placings, Newcastle trained Super Freds ($4.60) shed his maiden status. Ridden by Andrew Adkins, the four-year-old settled near the tail but got a magnificent run through on straightening to run down Mr Kennedy ($7.50), who had kicked clear and looked a likely winner. Trainer Jay Hopkins said Super Freds was consistent, but usually found a way to strike trouble in his races and should have won a couple of starts back when runner-up at Taree. Separatist ($3.20 fav) was resuming and lost all chance when he didn’t make the home turn well and battled on to finish third. He will no doubt take improvement from this outing.

RACE 4: WYONG ROOS FOUNDATION F&M CLASS 1 (1350m):

Another “shortie” bit the dust here. Newcastle filly Overriding had made a winning debut at home in a 1200m Maiden on Boxing Day and was sent out at $1.26 against only four rivals. However, she never travelled like the good thing she was expected to be. She jumped awkwardly, then had to be steadied to avoid the heels of another runner near the 400m and shifted in under pressure from the 100m to 50m before being straightened. Just as she looked some chance of getting past Galactic Angel (third at $6.50), Definitely Maybe ($9) swooped and nabbed her in the closing stages. A $370,000 Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling, the So You Think four-year-old gave her trainer Matt Smith a double. While Overriding was beaten, she is definitely worth another chance.

RACE 5: GO ELECTRICAL CG&E CLASS 1 (1350m):
Wild Irish Rover ($6) won his Maiden on protest at Wyong on December 14 and jockey Andrew Adkins considered attempting a similar feat. His mount was narrowly beaten by Smooth Flight ($3.60 fav) and he asked to view Stewards’ footage to establish whether there were grounds to lodge an objection against the winner. Both Adkins and Stewards were satisfied there were insufficient grounds for a protest and correct weight was declared. Smooth Flight, a four-year-old by Air Force Blue, was having his seventh start and notched his second success. Watch The Clock ($7.50) followed up his recent Hawkesbury win with a solid third, running on gamely. Apprentice Georgina McDonnell was reminded of her obligations to fully ride her mounts out to the finish wherever possible after just holding fourth on Mancconi from By Nine, who was resuming and ran home stoutly and is looking for further ground.

RACE 6: CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES MAIDEN (1350m):
The Waterhouse-Bott stable is happy to send inexperienced young horses to the Provincials to begin their careers – and such was the case with New Zealand-bred three-year-old BUCKS PARTY ($3.60 fav). He made his debut after overcoming a stress fracture and contesting four barrier trials and gave Winona Costin the first leg of her double. He did a good job too, beginning well and sitting behind Sir Tom before challenging that horse and taking over on straightening. Though hotly pursued in the closing stages, Bucks Party wouldn’t surrender and toughed it out to hold off Diaco ($21) and Mister Hemsworth ($7.50). The runner-up had done nothing in five previous starts, so this was an indication that he is turning the corner. Nice run also from fourth placed Competition, who drew awkwardly and hit the line with purpose.

RACE 7:  WYONG’S NEXT RACES JANUARY 18TH & 22ND PROVINCIAL BENCHMARK 68 (1200m):
Bookmakers gambled and won when the third supposed “special” Kim Waugh’s True Crime couldn’t send most punters home with at least something in their pockets. Easing from odds-on to start at $2.20, True Crime was under pressure from the 600m and still found the line, but was no match for Miss Checkoni ($7), who enjoyed a comfortable run in transit and eased around the leader’s heels at the 200m to score decisively. Jockey Andrew Gibbons told Stewards in his opinion True Crime will derive a fitness benefit from the outing and be better suited over a longer distance. Miss Checkoni was considered good enough to tackle a heat of the Provincial Championships at Newcastle last March, so her win at her third run this preparation was certainly no surprise. She was dropping back from a last start fifth in city grade at Canterbury, and recorded her fourth victory. Local mare Mosht Up ($8.50) loomed up menacingly and finished third, whilst iron horse ISORICH ($13) faltered near the 100m before finishing fifth. Another local Oakfield Mahogany ($3.40) was strongly supported and appeared to have every chance when fourth.

His father took out the Wyong Magic Millions and later had success on the Gold Coast and Sovereign Fund could well follow in his footsteps after his debut win in the MAGIC MILLIONS WYONG 2YO CLASSIC.

The Snowden’s trained star colt Capitalist, who took out the Wyong race in 2015, went on to claim success in both the Gold Coast feature and the Golden Slipper the following year.

Sovereign Fund has impressed both the stable and champion jockey James McDonald, who believe he’s got what it takes to take out the $2m Gold Coast 2Y0 Classic in January. 

“It was a tradesman like performance today,” McDonald said, after bringing up a treble with the win. “He’s a ready-made two-year-old, big and strong, and he’ll cope with a preparation that’s involved with getting him to the Gold Coast. 

“If he improves off the win today, and he should, he’s got the tactical speed and is tough enough to be a good chance. He’s a nice horse.”

Paul Snowden agreed Sovereign Fund had the ability to win the Gold Coast feature. He’s come a long way in a short space of time.

“This has always been the main form race going north and he’s a pretty strong and tough. He will improve off today’s win and has the constitution to get up there in good order. 

“He was a very unassuming horse early, very shy and didn’t like to be cluttered up around other runners, which was very evident in his first trial. We’ve done a lot of work with him on the track and tinkering with a bit of gear. He keeps ticking boxes and putting his hand up.”

Snowden said they had been confident leading into the race. 

“What gave us confidence today was the initial fast tempo and the fact we drew so well. If everything jumped clean and decided to put tempo into the race, when knew we’d get a lovely cart into the race. 

“James summed it up particularly well and he was the strongest late, which is what we wanted him to be.”

Sovereign Fund, a $550,000 Magic Millions yearling, earned late support starting at $6 on the back of his recent trial at Canterbury, where he finished second behind The Novelist, a subsequent Kembla winner. 

He is now listed as an $11 chance at the Gold Coast and will join stable mates Empire Of Japan, the current $5 favourite and Godfather $11.

Dubbo galloper Quasimoto ($51) flashed down the outside to finish second, giving trainer Clint Lundholm a “great thrill.”

Summer Loving ($4), trained by Waterhouse/Bott was third, while the Widdup trained $3.70 favourite, Fire Lane, finished fourth.

*******************************

John O’Shea is Gold Coast bound with not one but two three-year-olds after a quinella by stablemates Hell I Am and Shalailed in the MAGIC MILLIONS WYONG 3YO & 4YO STAKES over 1200m. 

Hell I Am, a $150,000 Magic Millions yearling, was sent out $2.70 favourite and the win was never in doubt, courtesy of another great ride by James McDonald. 

He had intended to go back from the outside barrier, but a muddling start landed him just behind the front runners. 

It turned out to be the perfect spot, with Hell I Am hitting the front on straightening and speeding away in the final stages to win by almost two lengths. 

The Hellbent gelding came into the race with impressive form, putting together three wins in his previous preparation, all on rain affected tracks. 

Punters were confident a good track wouldn’t affect him, and they weren’t disappointed. 

Shalailed was impressive in defeat, with the stable sharing a good opinion of the Shalaa colt. 

Racing Manager Alex Maher was full of praise for McDonald. 

“What a ride. We didn’t expect him to be up there, but it all panned out pretty well. He’s a lovely horse going forward. He’s a lot more mature than he was and has grown up a bit,” Maher said.

“I wouldn’t write off the second horse, he’s also a lovely horse. It’s good to see them both performing on top of the ground. They’ll both have one more run now and then head to the Gold Coast.”

Hell I Am now shares equal favouritism at $8 for the race and McDonald is a fan.

“He only had one soft trial coming into this but has come on immensely from that. He felt terrific on top of the ground and is a lovely horse.”

Kristen Buchanan’s Oakfield Triumph ($81) ran on strongly to finish third and also looks to have a bright future.

******************************* 

It was a fight to the line for the two greys Jack Duggan and Youthfull in the MAINSTREAM FINANCE SERVICES PTY LTD BM64 (2100m) with the $2.50 favourite Jack Duggan getting the bob on the line. 

Jason Deamer’s American import brought up his third win at start 14, with Tim Clark in the saddle. 

The five-year-old outstayed Youthfull ($3.90) in the final stages, the Brad Widdup trained mare, wayward in the straight. 

Deamer was pleased with the efforts of his five-year-old gelding, raced by Dynamic Syndications, having his first outing at the 2100m.

“It was a real staying test, and he was strong at the finish,” he said. “Tim rode him very well. He put him to sleep, and he relaxed nicely and was able to sit and smoke his pipe until he pushed the go button. He had a fight on his hands but got the job done. It was great to see him back to the winner’s stall today.”

Chappelli ($7.50) trained by David Payne was third. 

*******************************

The O’Shea stable has big wraps on Irish import Master Copy who brought up his third Australian win in the WYONG LEAGUES GROUP CLASS 1 over 1600m.

The four-year-old broke through for his maiden at Kembla on November 22 over the 1400m and made short work of his opponents at Wyong, looking the winner a long way from home. 

He was sent out at $1.65 favourite and given a super ride by James McDonald, just behind the leaders. He took him to the front on straightening, riding hands and heels to the line to win by a length and a half. 

“We are looking forward to bigger and better things,” Racing Manger Alex Maher said. “He’s one of the better imports we’ve had, and John has a good opinion of him.”

McDonald agreed in his first ride back from Hong Kong after being named the Worlds’ Best Jockey. 

“He’s a lovely horse. Still a bit new but he’s got plenty of pace and a good mind and that will take him a long way.”

Wayne Seelin’s Every Effort ($61) put in an improved performance to finish second on his home track, over another local Damien Lane’s Oakfield Redgum ($8). 

*******************************

It looked like a Godolphin victory in the 1350m GOLD COAST YEARLING SALE 10-16 JAN MAIDEN, but the stewards had other ideas upholding a protest by the ridder of the runner-up Josh Parr.

Aboard the Mark Newnham trained Wild Irish Rover ($3.40), Parr claimed interference in the final 50m after he was bumped by Mr Wallace ($2.20fav), ridden by his brother-in-law Tim Clark. 

With only a nose separating them on the line, it was always going to be a touch and go decision, with stewards awarding the win to Parr after a lengthy protest.

The winner, having his sixth career start, was coming off a third on the Beaumont track on November 22, when he was beaten less than a length over the same distance. 

The Snowden trained Nullify ($4.80) finished third. 

*******************************

Alibi Dot Com brought off some big bets to take out the 1100m EBH BUILDING GROUP MIDWAY BM64. 

Trained by Greg McFarlane, the Your Song mare, gave Tim Clark a winning double. 

The five-year-old caught the eye with a second at her previous start over the 1100m at Gosford on November 30. 

She was backed in from $9 to $3.70 favourite returning some big bets.

McFarlane believes Your Song is up to Metropolitan grade.

“It was a brilliant win today. She looked to have left plenty in the tank and I think she’s a city horse,” he said. “We’ve taken our time with her, and she’s come along leaps and bounds. She just needed time to find her feet and hopefully its onwards and upwards now.”

Damien Lane’s Oakfield Mahogany ($4) was second, with O’Not A Doubt ($31) trained by Joseph Khalifeh, third.  

*******************************

The powerful Lees stable wasn’t to be denied on the day, taking out the last with Australian Bloodstock four-year-old Mobstar ($9.50).

The Shalaa gelding was too strong for his rivals when resuming in the 1300m PBL LAW GROUP PROVINCIAL BM68.

Dylan Gibbons came from the rear of the field on the turn, storming down the to win win by more than two lengths, eased down on the line. 

Stable representative Cameron Swan said Mobstar had returned a much better horse. 

“I was watching the racing and thinking Dylan had plenty of horse and just needed the luck to get out and when he did, he put them to bed very quickly,” Swan said. 

“He showed a really good turn of foot and has come back a much better horse. 

Claire Lever’s Grace Bay ($3.80) finished second, ahead of another Lees runner Terrameades ($10) third. 

A treble for Brenton Avdulla, an impressive debutant and a long shots surprise win were among the highlights of our GO Electrical Race Day.
The Ryan Alexiou trained Tsarina Sophie could be the one to follow from the meeting, bringing up her second win in as many starts.  
And the locals weren’t to be denied with Kim Waugh and Damien Lane book ending the meeting with Sir Godric and Oakfield Warpaint.
 
Race 1: LEDVANCE – HPM LEGRAND – PRYSMIAN – HAGER MIDWAY MAIDEN PLATE (1350m):
A Wyong winner was never in doubt in the final stages of the 1350m Maiden and it was Kim Waugh’s $2.10 favourite Sir Godric who got the bob on the line.
The Dundeel gelding fought out the finish with Tracey Bartley’s Frosbie ($3.90), the latter proving too strong in the final stages to win by a long neck. The pair put almost three lengths on the third placegetter Rabainreach ($9).
Sporting the distinctive colours of two of Australia’s biggest owners Frank and Christine Cook, Sir Godric was having his third race start and second this preparation.
Jockey Jay Ford signalled his intent early, settling him on pace beside the leader Frosbie, patiently holding his position until the final 50m.
Waugh was full of praise for Sir Godric, believing the three-year-old is a future stayer in the making.
“It was a super confident ride by Jay and great performance by what I consider to be a very progressive horse.”
 
Race 2: SHARKRACK CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (2100m):
The judge wasn’t required by Mum’s The Boss ($2.30fav) who put more than two lengths on her rivals to bring up her second career win.
The Foxwedge mare had to wait almost eight months to break through for her second victory, but trainer Brad Widdup found the perfect race at Wyong.
Her victory was assisted by a well-rated, front-running ride from Brenton Avdulla, who brought up the first of a treble of wins.
The five-year-old led from barrier to post, with Avdulla drawing away in the final stages.
Stable representative Andrew Rabbett said they had expected the mare to race well.
“It’s taken a while for her to win again but she has run in a few races that were beyond her at the time. She does have ability but has been slow maturing mentally.
“She’s starting to figure things out and we knew the step up in distance would help.”
Second favourite Vincenzo ($3.80), from the Ryan Alexiou yard, fought on well to the line, with the Gavenlock trained Tina’s Rock ($31) putting in a much-improved run to finish third.
 
Race 3: THORN – OMEGA POWER – PSA – SCHNEIDER MAIDEN PLATE (1600m):
The step up to a mile suited Lonely Rock to a tee, the Fastnet Rock four-year-old bringing up his first win at start eight.
And it was a huge upset with Ian Finn’s horse, the rank outsider of the field, returning $101.
Warwick Farm-based Finn has always had an opinion of Lonely Rock, a $350,000 Magic Millions yearling, having nominated him for last year’s Cox Plate.
Reece Jones pulled off a super ride, settling just behind the leaders, and despite being forced wide on the turn, was able to emerge from the pack in the final stages and snatch victory.
Lonely Rock was having his eighth career start and had been unplaced in all his previous runs.
He will certainly be worth following as he continues to step up over ground, as will Gary Portelli’s $2.15 favourite, Spitfire, who hung out badly in the straight, finishing fourth.
The runner-up Kaisa ($16) trained by Lou Mary, also had excuses after being held up on the tun, while the Neasham trained Jamrock ($7.50), who finished third, isn’t far off a win.
 
Race 4: RED SMOKE ALARMS – OMNI – LEVY AGENCIES – IPD MAIDEN PLATE (1000m):
Annabel Neasham’s impeccably bred debutant Anavinci ($4) kicked off her career in super fashion with a dominant win.
And it was another great ride by the in-form Avdulla, who took luck out of the equation, by leading all the way to win by almost two lengths.
The I Am Invincible filly had impressed at both her barrier trials, catching the eye with a win over the 794m at Warwick Farm on November 18.
She was sent out $3.30 second favourite and with the impressive debut win, looks to have a bright future.
Joe Pride’s $1.80 favourite Ramones was disappointing, with apprentice Tyler Schiller telling stewards he had been forced wide and without cover throughout.
Godolphin galloper Coriolis ($18) finished strongly in second after a slow start, while the Snowden trained Fanagoria ($9.50) was third.
 
Race 5: MATCHMASTER – EVOLT – TRADER – APP CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1200m):
Ponca ($4.20) made it back-to-back wins with a convincing victory, eased down on the line to win by a length.
The win continued a great run for Hawkesbury-based Michael Freedman, who has trained eight winners in less than a month.
By gun sire American Pharoah, Ponca was a $400,000 yearling and is raced by China Horse Club. She was coming off a last start victory at Gosford over 1200m.
Tom Sherry gave the three-year-old a great, rails hugging ride, with the filly showing an impressive turn of foot in the final stages.
Sophie Johnson, representing the stable, said it was a huge improvement by the filly.
“She was super. It was a massive improvement from her last start. She just needed a bit of winding up last time but today she just glided along like it was nothing. She’s definitely improved.”
The Hawkes trained Shines ($4.40), fought on well to finish second but the hard luck story belonged to Snowden’s $3.30 favourite California Press, who flashed down the outside to finish third, after missing the start by more than two lengths.
 
Race 6: HANECO BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1000m):
Finally, it was a win for the favourite, with speedy filly Tsarina Sophia ($2.60) keeping her unbeaten record intact with her second win in as many starts.
The Russian Revolution three-year-old was resuming from a spell, having won on debut at Kembla in May and looks to have a bright future.
She was spelled after the win by the Ryan Alexiou stable and looked smart finishing second in a trial at Rosehill on November 24.
Punters were keen to support her, and she didn’t disappoint, with Avdulla placing her midfield after a slow start, before peeling to the outside in the straight and running down the leaders on the line.
Mike Van Gestel’s consistent gelding No Statement ($6.50) put in another honest performance to finish second, with local galloper Bedtime Stories ($41) putting in a much-improved run to finish third.
There were excuses for equal favourite Boomsong, who was untested in the straight.
 
Race 7: GENERAL TRADE SUPPLIERS PROVINCIAL BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1600m):
The locals were cheering in the last after Damien Lane’s Oakfield Warpaint ($8.50) brought up his fourth career win.
The Exceed And Excel gelding was coming off a second at Gosford on November 30, where he was narrowly beaten over the 1600m.
Lane kept him in the same grade and distance at Wyong and the five-year-old didn’t disappoint, winning by a length and a half.
Tyler Schiller had the five-year-old just off the speed throughout before peeling wide on the straight and racing away on the line.
The stable had been confident of a good run, with the gelding having great third up form.
The Lees trained Handsome ($16) was slow the start but hit the line strongly to finish second in only his second Australian start, while another local galloper Mark Cross’s Sian ($3.40fav) finished third.

RETIREMENT? No way!

Wyong trainer Wayne Seelin had the last laugh when his ageless warrior Isorich was back in the winning list on his home track, his 16^th victory at his 145^th start.

And he is confident the 12-year-old gelding’s winning ways aren’t over if he can keep him on firm tracks and get him fitter.

“He’s still too fat,” Seelin said after Isorich ($61), ridden by apprentice Ellen Hennessy, had upstaged his younger rivals in the Report. Report Often Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200m).

“I weighed him yesterday and he was 563kg. His best weight is 550kg. If I can get some more weight off him, I’m sure he can win again.

“He has pulled up super. He is a happy horse and loves what he is doing. He is still enjoying his work and his racing.”

His latest victory was the gelding’s first since a previous home track win in March last year in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350m), but his trainer never doubted he could return to the winner’s circle provided he got the right conditions.

“He had a long break and isn’t comfortable on wet tracks,” Seelin said. “I’m sure getting back up to 1200m and on his home track helped him today. That was his eighth win at home.”

As is a regular occurrence nowadays, Isorich passed a vet examination before being declared “suitable to race”.

“He is so sound,” Seelin said. “I’ll know when he has had enough, but it’s not yet.”

Racing NSW stewards queried ISORICH’S “apparent form improvement”, and accepted Seelin’s explanation that the gelding was back on his home track and stepped up from 900m at his previous start at Newcastle to 1200m.

Seelin paid $7500 for ISORICH as a 2012 Inglis Scone yearling, and he has returned connections nearly $800,000.

He didn’t race as a two-year-old and made his debut nine years ago when third in a 3YO Maiden Plate (1200m) at Quirindi on November 12, 2013.

That Isorich continues to show a remarkable zest for racing and remains so sound as a 12-year-old when others have called it a day is a great credit to his trainer.

RACE 1: STOP ABUSE AT THE START 4YO & UP MAIDEN (1600m):

Hawkesbury husband and wife trainers Jason and Lucy Attard are unabashed fans of jockey Rachel King – and it’s easy to understand why. Isla’s $16 upset victory over odds-on favourite Diamond Drummer was the couple’s fifth of the season, and King has been aboard four of them. 

“Rachel is a very good person, and an excellent jockey,” Jason Attard said. “She was happy with Isla’s last start sixth over 1550m at Canterbury, saying she didn’t sprint like the others in front of her, but kept going right to the line.

 “Rachel felt it was best to get rolling on her earlier in today’s race, so we left it to her, and she did the job.”

Isla trailed the leader Miss Shalaa and, after taking over in the straight, was too good for Diamond Drummer (who was subsequently found to have bled from both nostrils) and lightly-raced Zimtopia, who is worth following. Isla’s win was timely as her breeder-owner Kate Nivison (Etak Thoroughbreds) recently lost her dam, the Choisir mare Lohan, who died in early October.

RACE 2: #NO EXCUSE FOR ABUSE 4YO & UP MAIDEN (1100m):

Winner Captain George was the subject of a concerted plunge and, having his first start since being gelded, lived up to the support. Rider Kerrin McEvoy gave Captain George the run of the race, trailing leader Exsensible and was a bit too strong for that horse in the closing stages. The pair had the finish to themselves with third placegetter Ma’s Dream finishing gamely to edge out favourite Oakfield Blue Bell, whose rider Aaron Bullock was given stewards’ permission to ride the mare 1kg overweight at 58kg. Stable spokesman Jonathan Crowley said recent trials had settled Captain GEORGE down and that the gelding operation had clearly been of benefit to his racing manners. 

RACE 3: RAISE RESPECT MIDWAY MAIDEN (1350m):

Mancconi had to race wide and still won, so left his rivals with no excuses other than fifth placegetter Galactic Angel, who found plenty of trouble. The winner drew awkwardly but finally “came of age” at his 21^st start. Trainer Brett Lazzarini revealed one of the gelding’s owners despaired of him winning a race and sold his share last week. “I tried to talk him out of it, as I thought Mancconi was close to breaking through,” he said. “I’ll have to buy him a lemonade now. This horse always tries his best, and that’s why I have kept him in the stable.” Runner-up Edge Of Reward is becoming costly. This was his fourth second placing this preparation. Galactic Angel figured prominently in the stewards’ report and was disappointed for a run at a crucial stage in the straight. Most definitely she should have figured in the finish. Debutant Beauty Crusade ran home nicely from well back to finish fourth and is worth following. 

RACE 4: ELIMINATION AGAINST VIOLENCE MAIDEN (1000m):

Another first starter Meod was solidly supported late in betting and justified that backing. Jockey Tom Sherry had her quickly on the move, controlled the race up front and the result was never really in doubt. A $500,000 Inglis Australian Easter yearling purchase last year, the Exceed And Excel three-year-old will almost certainly derive further benefit from this outing as she had trialled only once beforehand when second over 878m on the Kensington track on November 8. The placegetters Dolly Bird and Surrenders tried hard, but the winner always appeared to have their measure. The disappointment was $3.20 favourite Biographer, who was never in the hunt and beat only one home. Rider Andrew Adkins told stewards his mount began awkwardly and was bumped by another runner and as a result settled further back than anticipated. Nonetheless, he added Biographer failed to quicken when asked to improve and felt he was unsuited by the tempo in the early and middle stages.

RACE 5: REPORT. REPORT OFTEN CONDITIONAL BENCHMARK 68 (1200m):

When a 12-year-old Isorich leaves younger rivals in his wake, it’s hard to make genuine excuses for the beaten brigade. However, Ranuncula (6^th) was slow to begin and had difficulty securing clear running between the 250m and 150m and couldn’t be fully tested racing in restricted room over the closing stages. Country-trained Cassy’s Sister was game in finishing second, and a plunge on locally trained Dimaggio ($2.15 favourite) came unstuck when he finished third. His apprentice rider Anna Roper told stewards that although he wasn’t the best away and was held up for clear running rounding the home turn, he wasn’t going good enough to improve in between runners approaching the 200m and was one-paced to the line. Moralist (7th) also didn’t have the best of fortune. He was keen in the early stages, raced wide and without cover from the 600m and can be forgiven. Still, all honours must go to the old marvel Isorich and his trainer.

RACE 6: JOHN ELLIOT CLASS 1 (1350m):

Aptly named Bat Out Of Hell (by Hellbent) is putting together a tidy record. This was his second win from only three starts – and he did it in the style of a young horse bound for better things. Rider Kerrin McEvoy, who scored earlier on Captain George, gave him a cosy run, got him into the clear at the right time and the horse did the rest when called on. He had won first-up at Kembla Grange last month and then ran second at Scone earlier this month (conceding the winner a fair slice of weight, although well beaten). Assiduity tried hard when second, giving Darby Racing an enjoyable quinella outcome. Favourite Oakfield Waratah didn’t cover any extra ground from an inside draw and had every chance.

RACE 7: ETTALONG BOWLING CLUB PROVINCIAL BENCHMARK 64 (1100m):

Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle missed out with Edge Of Reward earlier, but didn’t this time with Xpresso, who made a brilliant return to racing. It was the lightly raced five-year-old’s second win from seven starts, and Doyle said the gelding’s owners have had to be patient as he held him back waiting for firmer tracks. Xpresso had not appeared since finishing second to The Himalayas at Hawkesbury on June 30 and produced a brilliant burst on resumption when rider Koby Jennings asked him to go. He had trialled only once when successful over 1000m at Wyong on November 7 and can certainly win again. Though the winner earned deserved plaudits, runner-up Mabel ran her heart out under 59kg, and trainer Tracey Bartley has her firing. She too can soon return to the winning list, having scored first-up at Hawkesbury earlier in the month. Replacement rider Andrew Adkins told stewards favourite Hard To Say ($3.10) may not have handled his 60.5kg impost. Hard To Say led but was under pressure on straightening and weakened to finish fifth. 

RACE 8: THE MOUNTIES GROUP 4YO&UP BENCHMARK 64 (1600m):

Much-travelled jockey Jay Ford celebrated his 39^th birthday in style by winning the closer on the program. And he didn’t mess about either, making a move on Duke Of Buckingham on the home turn and taking him to an authoritative victory from Da Nang Star and Sian, both of whom were gallant but no match for the impressive winner. Trainer David Pfieffer opted to take blinkers off Duke Of Buckingham, and substitute visors. The move clearly worked, and the five-year-old appears capable of measuring up in better company, having returned to racing with real zest. Dream Eclipse, narrowly beaten here in a recent heat of the Summer Provincial Series on November 5, was strongly supported to return to the winning list, but had every chance in finishing fourth.