Coming off one of the biggest highlights in her 17-year training career, Kristen Buchanan saddles up a large team of home track runners at this Saturday’s Central Coast Kids In Need Charity Race Day.
Buchanan admits she is still on a high after Oakfield Arrow’s win in the Four Pillars at Rosehill last Saturday but will be switching to business mode when she saddles up eight runners across the eight Wyong races.
And she is targeting another feature race, the 2022 Sky Racing Provincial Series with Ready’s Girl, a six-year-old Better Than Ready mare who she hopes can regain her winning form.
“It’s been a big week and it was such a thrill to win the Four Pillars. Oakfield Arrow is such a beautiful mare, and we will target the Provincial Series after a spell,” she said. “I think at her best Ready’s Girl is more than capable of winning a race like this on Saturday. I’ve freshened her right up and she has drawn nicely. She really gels with the girls, so Louise Day takes the ride.
“To be honest she’s been a little disappointing, but I think returning to her home track and on a good surface, will hopefully bring out the best of her.”
Buchanan is very excited about the prospects of Oakfield Triumph, currently the second emergency in the 1000m BM64.
The Capitalist four-year-old went out a winner at his only start and looked good trialling at Rosehill on October 21.
“I really love this horse and I just hope he gets a run. He’s got a lot of ability and his trial was pretty impressive. I really think he’ll be in the finish if he runs.”
She hopes the addition of blinkers on Tikitiboo will improve her chances in the 1350m Fillies & Mares Maiden.
“She’s a beautifully moving filly and I’ve put the blinkers on to help her focus. She’s got a high cruising speed and hopefully the blinkers will help her stick on.”
Geldings Penfold Park and Oakfield Waratah line up in the 1350m CGE Maiden.
“Penfold Park is a lovely horse on debut and whatever he does on Saturday he will improve on. We’ve been taking our time with Oakfield Waratah, and he’s finally drawn a good gate. The tight track is a query, but he’s raced well at Wyong in the past.”
Rounding out Buchanan’s runners are first starters Andiamo Luce, Bilquis and Zara’s Hope in the 1000m Maiden.
“Andiamo Luce is a lovely filly but has a horror draw. Bilquis has had a lot of trials and improved in her latest. She’s still a baby and switching on, so we’ve had to be a bit patient with her. The good surface is vital, and I think she’ll be running home.
“Zara’s Hope is a really nice filly, quite small but she’s trialled really well in Sydney. I expect her to race well but she will also be better later on.”
The first of eight races gets underway at 1.20pm.
SELECTIONS:
Race 1 – 1.20pm: GOSFORD MASONIC CENTRE MAIDEN (1600m): 1 EMRYS, 2 Kovalica, 3 Bader, 4 Astral Thoughts
Race 2 – 1.55pm: GARY TURNER MEMORIAL – ABBEY TIMBER CG&E MAIDEN (1350m): 1 SHIHAB, 2 Cosmic Legend, 3 Bobby’s Fling, 4 Just An Upstart
Race 3 – 2.35pm: THE ROOS FOUNDATION F&M MAIDEN (1350m): 1 GLOWING GOLD, 2 Concordia, 3 Rangitikei, 4 Classic Deel
Race 4 – 3.15pm: PETER MACE AUTOMOTIVE CLASS 1 & MAIDEN: 1 RAFFISH, 2 Summit Special, 3 Kingdom Of Gold, 4 Brave Boy
Race 5 – 3.55pm: FREEMASONS ON THE CENTRAL COAST CLASS 1 (1350m): 1 PRINCIPESSA, 2 Field Marshall, 3 Bionic, 4 Dreamdeel
Race 6 – 4.35pm: CENTRAL COAS UNITY BANK MIDWAY MAIDEN (1000m): 1 OAKFIELD BLUE BELL, 2 Hard To Say, 3 Zara’s Hope, 4 Charity Joy
Race 7 – 5.05pm: SKY RACING SUMMER PROVINCIAL SERIES HEAT 1 – CLASS 5 PLATE (1350m): 1 SHOWTIME LADY, 2 Dream Eclipse, 3 La Jolie Fille, 4 Bethencourt
Race 8 – 5.45pm: WIDELINE WINDOWS AND DOORS BM64 (1000m): 1 OAKFIELD TRIUMPH, 2 Spinosaurus, 3 Sussu, 4 Flying Tyrol
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT: The 2022 Annual General Meeting of Wyong Race Club Limited will be held on Tuesday 8 November 2022 in the Magic Millions Lounge (middle floor), Wyong Racecourse, Howarth St, Wyong, commencing at 6.00pm
AGENDA
The business of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be as follows: –
Confirm the Minutes of the 2021 Annual General Meeting.
Receive & consider Annual Financial Report for year ended 30 June 2022 including – • Directors’ Report • Statement of Comprehensive Income • Statement of Financial Position • Statement of Cash Flows • Statement of Changes in Equity • Notes to the Financial Statements • Auditor’s Reports
Election of ONE (1) Board member. One Member to be elected to fill the casual vacancy resulting from the resignation of Darren Hooper in September, 2022.
Further Notices of Motion: A. “That Members approve and agree to expenditure by the Club until the next Annual General Meeting of the Club of reasonable expenses incurred by directors in relation to such other duties including entertainment of special guests to the Club and other promotional activities performed by directors including attending functions at other clubs to represent the Club, such activities and expenses as may be approved.” B. “That Members approve and agree to the availability until the next Annual General Meeting of the Club a reserved car space at Club race meetings for directors.” C. “That Members approve and agree to reasonable expenditure by the Club until the next Annual General Meeting of the Club for the provision of refreshments before or after Board Meetings.”
Election of Patron.
Transact, in accordance with the Constitution, any other ordinary business that may be lawfully brought forward.
Robin Taylor General Manager It would be appreciated if Members who wish to raise queries or seek information about any matters appearing in the Annual Report, give at least (10) days written notice to the General Manager. This will allow sufficient time for proper research and preparation of the replies for the benefit of all Members.
Please note: Members wishing to nominate for the ONE (1) available elected position on the Board of Directors are required to lodge their nomination on the prescribed form with the Company’s General Manager at the General Office, Howarth Street, Wyong NOT LATER THAN 12noon on Friday 21 October 2022. Nomination forms are available from the Club’s Office during normal business hours.
Election of the Board – shall take place in the following manner: a) Any two Ordinary / Life Members of the Club may nominate any other Ordinary / Life Member to serve as a Member elected Director on the Board of Directors as long as the nominee has been a Financial Member of the Club for the 12 months prior to their nomination. b) The nomination must be in writing and signed by the Member and his proposer and seconder shall be lodged with the secretary by 12 noon on Friday 21 October, 2022. c) A list of such nominations, with proposer’s and seconder’s names, shall be posted at the Club’s registered offices at least seven days immediately preceding the meeting at which the elections take place and will be made available on the Wyong Race Club website www.wyongraceclub.com. au, not later than Thursday 27 October 2022.
The 2022 Annual Reportwill be posted to all financial Members on or before 17 October 2022 in accordance with the Rules. Members and Proxies attending the AGM will be required to prove their identity with photo ID such as a driver’s licence, a passport, or similar. A Member’s card by itself will be insufficient proof of identity. Appointing a Proxy: if you are a Member entitled to attend and vote at this AGM, you may appoint a person as your proxy to attend and vote for you at the meeting. A proxy need not be a member of the company. For the appointment of a proxy to be effective the required form (available from the Racing Club office) will need to be completed and returned by 4pm Thursday 3 November 2022. The Constitution of the Wyong Race Club does not provide for postal voting.
Yet another Carlton Wyong Gold Cup victory for Chris Waller, who took his recent success in the Listed race to a new level, training the first four.
The win by English import Durston, gave Waller his eighth Wyong Cup since 2010.
The victory was also James McDonald’s third in the prestigious race, the champion hoop almost claiming the feature double after a narrow defeat in the Wyong Leagues Group Mona Lisa.
Aboard the Godolphin trained favourite Katlin, McDonald looked to have the race won, before Matt Dale’s Meg flew down the outside to win by a nose.
McDonald went home with a double, winning on the O’Shea trained Kokoro, giving him enough points to secure the coveted Nathan Berry Shield, for the best rider over the two days.
The locals weren’t left out with both Damien Lane and Kristen Buchanan training winners.
Durston & connections
McDonald gave Durston a peach of a ride in the $200,000 Listed Carlton Wyong Gold Cup, placing him conservatively in the early stages, before taking off around the 650m mark.
He weaved a passage to the outside on the seven-year-old, hitting the front in the straight and drawing away to win by almost two lengths.
It was the biggest career win for Durston from his 13 starts, having switched to the Waller stable for his previous two runs.
He was disappointing finishing last in the Group 3 Premiers Cup on August 20 but atoned for the loss with a dominant Cup win.
Stable foreman Damien Fitton gave plenty of praise to McDonald.
“It was a great ride by James. He went back to rear of the field and let him switch off. He dropped his head for the first time since we’ve had him and that told the tale in the finish. He was able to conserve some energy,” Fitton said.
“It was a winning move when he made the run when he did. It’s just onward and upwards for this horse now.”
Fitton said he believed the addition of a Norton bit to Durston had made a huge difference to his racing style.
“He’s a good horse but has been racing a bit fiercely in first two starts for us. A Norton bit on today was the ultimate gear change and made big difference.
“He did a lot wrong last start but got the miles in his legs and that enabled him to run a strong 2100m today.”
Yi Yi ($6) was runner-up, from stablemate Our Intrigue ($16).
Meg & Hugh Bowman
McDonald didn’t have the same luck on $2.70 favourite Katalin in the $160,000 Listed WYONG LEAGUES GROUP MONA LISA STAKES and after being caught wide, was run down on the line by Meg ($31).
McDonald and Hugh Bowman fought it out in the final stages, with last start Randwick winner Meg, overcoming a wide barrier to snatch victory.
An ecstatic Matt Dale was thrilled with the efforts of his Sebring filly and Bowman.
“It was a perfect ride,” Dale said. “Momentum out wide seemed to be the key as the day went on and I thought the wide barrier was an advantage, not a disadvantage.
“Hughie was confident. He was really happy with her win at Randwick the other day, after watching the replay, and he went out there with confidence. I thought she could run second or third, but she ran out of her skin to win on the line.
“It’s very rewarding – a great ride and a great team effort by the team at home. She still hasn’t cleaned right up in the coat yet so there is still a little bit more to come.
“She looks to be a Group style mare over 1600m, so there are plenty of those options to come. It’s great to get the black type and my wife owns half so that’s even better.”
Wealthy Investor & Tim Clark
Damien Lane’s Wealthy Investor was able to hold out the late challengers to take out the 1200m PBL LAW GROUP MAIDEN, the first of winning double for locals.
The Capitalist colt was resuming from a spell, having been unplaced in Group company in his three starts last preparation.
Lane had been confident he would race well, and he didn’t disappoint, bringing up his first win at start seven.
“He’s a lovely horse with a good future,” Lane said. “It’s good to get a win on board. We tested him out in some quality races last preparation, and I still think he is up to that grade. We will see the best of him as he stretches out in trip.”
Wealthy Investor earned strong support to start $4.20 second favourite. He beat the fast-finishing Poetic Drama ($20) from the Hawkes stable, with Gary Nickson’s One Destiny ($7) third. A win won’t be far off for both minor placegetters.
Oakfield Duke & connections
Kristen Buchanan was in the winner’s circle in the last race of the day, the DOYLO SPRINGTIME BM68, after her talented four-year-old Oakfield Duke ($2.80fav) brought up his fourth successive win.
Buchanan had given the Into Mischief gelding a freshen up leading into the race and it worked a charm, with Aaron Bullock bringing him to the centre of the track on straightening and drawing away to win.
“He loves winning,” Buchanan said after the race. “That’s a massive attribute and he’s very, very genuine. He’s obviously got the ability as well, but he loves getting to the line.”
Buchanan said she would consider the Four Pillars as an option for Oakfield Duke.
“I think he’s a really exciting prospect going forward.”
Kokoro
It was James McDonald at his best in the BISHOP COLLINS CHARTERED ACCOUNTS BM64 with the gun jockey giving Kokoro ($4.80) a super ride to secure his third career win.
John O’Shea’s Real Impact gelding came from the rear of the field before the turn in the 1600m race, catching his rivals napping.
He hit the front on straightening and from then the win was never in doubt, the four-year-old drawing away in the final stages to post a three and a half-length length victory.
“He got it really soft in the first half of the race, “McDonald said. “I was impressed, he sustained the speed and appreciated the firm ground. The better track conditions have been a big improvement for him and he’s ready to go back to town now.”
Cholante with Clarry Connors & connections
A one act affair in the 1100m HUNTER PETROLEUM PRODUCTS CLASS 1 saw Clarry Connors’ promising Choisir filly Cholante blitz her rivals.
The three-year-old showed a great turn of foot to speed away in the straight and score by almost two lengths.
Jockey Willie Pike was full of praise for the winner.
“She has a great turn of foot. She’s taken the next step today, she was too good for them,” Pike said.
Connors agreed the filly had gone to another level.
“She just keeps surprising me. When we realised we had to ride her back off the pace she was a different filly. When she sees daylight, she’s a bullet, she just flies.”
A $45,000 Magic Millions yearling, Cholante ($2.35fav) beat Tocomah ($9.50), from the Frazer stable, with Transformation ($10) trained by Melanie O’Gorman, third.
Notabadsuspect
Former jockey Jim Cassidy was “over the moon” after his gelding Notabadsuspect took out the 1350m STONE REAL ESTATE WYONG 4YO&UP MAIDEN.
The four-year-old, an American import trained by Greg and Jim Lee, brought up his first win with Glyn Schofield in the saddle.
“It’s a great thrill. I’ve won a Wyong Cup, a number of races here but to be an owner, it’s fantastic,” an excited Cassidy said. “It’s a team effort, I’m delighted.”
Notabadsuspect ($9), beat the Joe Pride trained Diva Diva ($8) with Lidia ($11) from the Coyle stable third.
Cinque Torri & Dylan Gibbons
Bjorn Baker’s Cinque Torri was too strong in the CENTRAL COAST COOLROOMS DA VINCE – 3YO & 4YO BM64(1300m), courtesy of a patient ride by Dylan Gibbons.
The son of I Am Invincible was coming off a sixth at Hawkesbury on August 18, after winning at Muswellbrook over 1280m the previous start.
Glen Lobb, representing the Baker stable, said Cinque Torri had always shown a bit of ability.
“He’s a bit funny with different things. He doesn’t like getting crowded and had everything go his way today. The winkers made a difference and I’d say they’ll stay one.
The winner a $170,000 Magic Millions yearling, beat the Waller trained I Am Geronimo ($3.20fav), with Marc Conners’ Starstruck Barbie ($9) third.
Allan Kehoe has no qualms about taking on the ‘big boys’ in this Friday’s Carlton Wyong Gold Cup.
Kehoe saddles up Dragon Dream, the only local runner in the $200,000 Listed feature and despite the five-year-old being eligible for much weaker races, he believes he deserves a chance in his hometown cup.
“They may be too good for him on Friday, but he ticks a lot of boxes and I give him a rough chance,” Kehoe said.
“The weather is the key. He has really strong form on heavy tracks so if the predicted rain comes, his chances will improve.
“This is the best preparation he’s had. He’s a good sound horse, the distance certainly won’t worry him, and he gets around Wyong well.”
Dragon Dream is coming off a last start second at Gosford over the 2100m, the run impressing jockey Willie Pike.
“He thought he was a nice horse and was ready to win for us, but obviously that was in a lower grade.
“He’s a half-brother to multiple Group One winner Dark Dream and is bred to stay. I think he’ll get up over 2400m or further and is an exciting prospect for us.
“We’ve all got to dream, and it would certainly be a fantastic dream if we won the Cup.”
Dragon Dream is up against a strong contingent of Waller runners, with seven lining up for the stable in the field of 12.
Waller has dominated the Wyong Cup in recent years and is chasing his eighth Cup victory since 2010. His last win coming with Wu Gok in 2019.
The in-form Lord Ardmore looks to have the goods on his rivals, having put together two wins and two placings from his four starts this preparation, his latest victory in the Premiers Cup Prelude at Randwick on August 6.
The Waterhouse/Bott stable will also be out to upset the Waller party with Grove Ferry, who is coming off strong runs in both the Premiers Cup and Premier’s Prelude, where he was runner up.
Wyong trainers are well represented in the Listed $160,000 Wyong Leagues Group Mona Lisa with Kristen Buchanan saddling up Pandora Blue and Flandersrain, Tracey Bartley Miss Redoble and Damien Lane Sonnet Star.
The race has attracted a strong field of 16, with Waller chasing a feature double with talented Niconi mare Sur La Mer, who has put together five wins and seven placings from her 17 starts.
The first of eight races gets underway at 12.45pm.
SELECTIONS:
Race 1 – 12.45pm: STONE REAL ESTATE WYONG 4YO&UP MAIDEN (1350m): 1 NANO STAR, 2 Notabadsuspect, 3 Developed, 4 Tyquendo.
Race 2 – 1.20pm: CENTRAL COAST COOLROOMS DA VINCE – 3YO & 4YO BM64 (1300m): 1 I AM GERONIMO, 2 Sumatra, 3 Verzenay, 4 Starstruck Barbie.
Race 3 – 1.55pm: PBL LAW GROUP MAIDEN (1200m): 1 ORZALA, 2 Time To Boogie, 3 Miss Artfire, 4 London.
Classy Dundeel mare Mirror Queen could push on to Friday’s $200,000 Listed Carlton Wyong Gold Cup after taking out yesterday’s prelude.
The race was the feature of an eight-race program on Ladies Day, the first day of the 2022 Cup Carnival.
The large crowd was rewarded with a super day of racing which saw Mark Newnham train a double and young guns Tom Sherry and Reece Jones share the riding honours.
The victories to Jones and Sherry saw them take the lead in the Nathan Berry Shield with six points each, followed by Josh Parr and Jean Van Overmeire on five.
The track received plenty of praise, with an upgrade to a good four half-way through the program.
Michael Freedman could have a future champ on his hands after Hawaii Five Oh’s impressive debut, while Tracey Bartley had a win for the locals with Lady Superspy.
But it was Paul Messara’s progressive four-year-old Mirror Queen who continued her winning run in the feature, the 2100m ROBSON CIVIL PROJECTS WYONG CUP PRELUDE – BENCHMARK 68.
Josh Parr & Mirror Queen
The Dundeel four-year-old is amassing a super record, with four wins and a placing from just seven starts, and he believes she has earned a shot at the Wyong’s Cup feature, with the Prelude win giving her automatic entry.
“We will make that assessment in the next couple of days when we see how she comes through the run,” he said.
“She’s not an overly robust mare, so I’ll see how she pulls up. I haven’t had a runner in the Wyong Cup before and she would certainly have no trouble with the distance going on this win.”
It was Mirror Queen’s first trip over the 2100m and despite some concerns from the stable she had no problem stepping up over extra ground.
Winning jockey Josh Parr said there is plenty of improvement to come for Mirror Queen.
“She was strong to the line. She’s still a raw filly with a lot of improvement to come. She’ll develop into a nice style of racehorse when she develops a bit more of a killer instinct.”
In an open race, Mirror Queen was sent out $3.50 favourite, coming off a third in the Highway at Randwick over 1800m on August 6.
The runner-up, Les Bridges’ Legend Has It ($6) flashed home for second after missing the start by two lengths, with Kristen Buchanan’s Oakfield Pinto ($9.50), running a nice race in third.
The $4 equal favourite Sanstoc got the better of his rivals on the line in his first trip over the mile to bring up his second win at start five.
Newnham said he believed the addition of blinkers made a difference.
“She travelled a lot sweeter during the run. She travelled in a good spot, Tom gave her a good ride and she finished off strongly.”
DIAMOND FLARE & TOM SHERRY
Stablemate Diamond Flare ($2.25fav) and Sherry completed the winning double with an impressive three length win in the 1100m GURNEY FINANCIAL SERVICES 4YO&UP MAIDEN.
Newnham described the $400,000 Magic Millions yearling, as a work in progress.
“It hasn’t been an easy task to get him here, but I was certainly relieved to see him go in the barriers. He’s certainly got the talent.”
“You only have to look at his trials to know he’s not short on talent, but he’s been very stubborn around the barriers. Hopefully we are through the worst of that now and the horse can realise his potential.”
A Deep Field four-year-old, Diamond Flare broke through at his third career start.
Rachel King escaped injury after the second favourite Bringonthebubbles ($3.60) bucked at the start.
HAWAII FIVE OH & CONNECTIONS
It was a relieved Michael Freedman after his well-bred colt Hawaii Five Oh scored through a debut wing in the 1200m THE AGENCY 3YO MAIDEN.
There was plenty of hype around Hawaii Five Oh, a full brother to Libertini, who had been impressive in his two barrier trials this preparation and was sent out $1.50 favourite.
Despite wobbling around the turn the win looked never in doubt, and Freedman believes he will take plenty of improvement from the run.
“He’s a pretty raw horse. He wobbled around the corner, and I think he’ll appreciate a bigger track,” he said.
“He’ll derive plenty of benefit out of the win. It’s hard to take on the more experienced horses and I’ve always felt he will eventually get up over a mile.”
Winning rider Nash Rawiller said he felt Hawaii Five Oh, raced by
Gerry Harvey and John Singleton, could be “something pretty good.”
LADY SUPERSPY & REECE JONES
Tracey Bartley’s Lady Superspy ($11) upset some of the more favoured runners to win the 1600m DREW CHIVAS MEMORIAL CLASS 1.
“She’s been consistent all the way through,” Bartley said. “Reece had a ride on her the other day and got to know her and really rev up on her. He got the split and won her the race.
“We’ve been waiting to step her up to the mile. It was a good win and I’m very proud of her. “
“It was a good effort today,” he said. “It was quite a tough run last start and he stuck on well for second that day. I was quite confident today.”
MAYHEM & JEAN VAN OVERMEIRE
The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou trained Mayhem ($3.50fav) was the other winner on the program, the Russian Revolution gelding too strong in the CARE 2 THE MAX BENCHMARK 64over 1350m.
The three-year-old, ridden by Jean Van Overmeire, defied a late betting drift to win by almost a length.
The victory came after his win on at Goulburn over the same distance on August 8.
Apprentice Jackson Searle was cautioned by stewards regarded his ride on the Kim Waugh trained White Boots, who found he had erred not shifting his mount to the outside of Zaidin near the 400m and didn’t riding his mount out to the line.
No action was taken, with stewards mindful of his ‘inexperience as an apprentice.’
James Ponsonby has the Carlton Wyong Gold Cup in his sights if his stayer Alloway can taste success in Sunday’s Cup Prelude.
The Wandjina five-year-old has been racing in good form since joining the Ponsonby stable earlier this year, with a win and two placings from his five runs.
He starts from barrier 10 in the 2100m BM68 Cup Prelude, the feature race on day one of the Cup Carnival, with the winner earning automatic entry to Friday’s $200,000 Listed Carlton Wyong Gold Cup.
And the trainer believes if he can race up to the form which saw him placed second in the 2200m Listed Tasmanian Guineas, he will be right in the finish come Sunday.
“I was pleased to see him race well at Wyong in his first win for me on June 16 over the 2000m,” he said. “His subsequent start at Hawkesbury was good and he went really well in the Highway last start.
“He’s drawn a bit wider than I would prefer but he seems to be a horse that puts himself handy to the pace.
“Winona (Costin) knows him well and she can hopefully roll forward from the barrier and have him up there. It’s a nice even field, not unlike a Highway race, and I give him a good opportunity.”
Ponsonby said he wouldn’t have any qualms pushing onto the Wyong Cup if Alloway were to win.
“I’d have no hesitation at all. Obviously, it’s a much stronger race and he’d have to keep improving but he gets over the 2000m and is racing well.”
Ponsonby saddles up two other runners at the meeting, Walk Up Start in the 1600m Prov & Ctry Maiden and Dark Satin in the 1600m Class 1 and believes all three are definite chances.
Kristen Buchanan represents the locals in the Cup Prelude with Oakfield Pinto and while acknowledging he is up in grade, also gives him a good chance.
The Dundeel five-year-old, coming off a last start win at Newcastle over 1600m, will start from barrier one with Rachel King aboard.
“He was quite impressive last start but in saying that he sort of got left alone and may not get those favours on Sunday. He’s placed at this trip and is weighted pretty well with 55kg.
“He’s very cool, calm and collected and we thought this was worth a throw at the stumps. It would be very exciting to get him through to the Cup.”
The first of eight races gets underway at 12.20pm.
SELECTIONS:
RACE 1 – 12.20PM: THE AGENCY 3YO MAIDEN (1200m): 1 HAWAIII FIVE OH, 2 Dear Jewel, 3 Villa Tinto, 4 Eagle Nest
RACE 2 – 1.00PM: JOHNNIE ROBERTS MEMORIAL PROV & CTRY MAIDEN (1600m): 1 SOLAROSA, 2 Speedy Song, 3 Wheni Sayucan, 4 Gingembre
RACE 3 – 1.40PM: MAGIC MILLIONS RACING WOMEN LA GIOCONDA – F&M BM68 (1600m): 1 SANSTOC, 2 Sebring’s Rose, 3 Eve ‘N’ Ruby, 4 Clear Blonde
There was plenty of expectation about Joe Pride’s Think About It and Waller’s debutant Narito leading into the meeting, and they didn’t disappoint, both winning in impressive style.
Mark Newnham and Chris Waller shared the trainer’s honours with doubles, while Brenton Avdulla was the leading rider, also with a double.
There was plenty of praise for the track, with an upgrade midway through the afternoon.
TIM CLARK AND PIEMPURR
A few nervous moments for favourite backers in the 2100m WYONG TRAINERS’ PREMIERSHIP WINNER KIM WAUGH MAIDEN, with $1.80fav Piempurr holding on to win by a narrow margin.
The Mark Newnham trained daughter of Pierro, earned strong support on the back of her consistent provincial form, her latest outing a fourth at Kembla over 2000m in stronger company.
Tim Clark was happy to settle the four-year-old just off the lead in the early stages before taking her to the front around the 1100m mark.
She fought on in the straight under vigorous riding by Clark and was able to hold out the late challengers to win by a neck.
Clark said he didn’t believe Piempurr was at her best, given a ‘quickish” back up from Kembla but it was a great job for her to still get the win.
Local galloper Dragon Storm ($26) trained by Allan Kehoe finished strongly in 2nd after not much luck in the straight, while Selvam ($26) from the Jeremy Sylvester yard was doing his best work on the line.
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I AM GERONIMO AND BRENTON AVDULLA
It was a case of third time lucky for the Waller trained I Am Geronimo who broke through for his first win at his third attempt on the Wyong track.
The I Am Invincible gelding started $1.45 favourite and didn’t disappoint beating his stablemate Nano Star ($6) by a length.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Brenton Avdulla after I Am Geronimo missed the start in 1350m 2022 TRAINERS’ PREMIERSHIP WINNERS GAI WATERHOUSE & ADRIANBOTT MAIDEN.
“That wasn’t the plan,” Avdulla said. “He hasn’t done that the two previous times I’ve ridden him, but luckily it was a race that lacked pressure and I was able to keep him wide and keep him going. There is some upside to him and if he can learn to relax it will help.”
Nano Star fought on well in the straight and it was a much-improved run by Rodney Bailey’s Single Babe ($41) to finish third.
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Joe Pride is excited about the prospects of his four-year-old Think About It who brought up his second win from start two in the 1350m 2022 WYONG JOCKEYS’ PREMIERSHIP WINNER JASON COLLETTCLASS 1.
The $70k yearling looks to have a bright future, with both Pride and winning rider Rory Hutchings believing there is plenty of improvement to come.
Think About It looked good scoring on debut at Kembla on July 30, with both placegetters’ subsequent winners.
“He’s a pretty smart horse and he’s shown that in his two starts now,” Pride said. “He’s nowhere near the finished article. When he has a spell and puts on some weight he’ll further improve. Rory is a fantastic jockey, but he won’t get an easier ride than that.”
In an effortless win, Think About It ($1.40) beat the Neasham trained Flying Witness ($4.40) by a length and a half, with Warren Ganderton’s Poetic Miss ($16) third.
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BRYNNER AND KATHY O’HARA
An exciting finish to the 1600m 2022 LEADING APPRENTICE JOCKEY REECE JONES AND TOMSHERRYCLASS 1 with Brynner ($4.80) getting the bob on the line.
The son of Contributor wound up in the final stages of the straight to run down the Joe Burges trained Mr Eighty Eight ($9.50) on the line.
Trained by Jason Coyle and ridden by Kathy O’Hara, Brynner brought up his second win at start 12.
O’Hara said the four-year-old would improve off the run.
“He’s a progressive sort of a horse who is going through his grades nicely. He still doesn’t know how to put them away but hopefully next preparation.”
The Replicant ($2.80) from the Pride stable, finished third, and isn’t far off another win, while the $2.50 race favourite Believe So, trained by Anthony Cummings, had difficulty getting clear running in the straight and could be the one to follow.
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NARITO WITH CONNECTIONS AND SPONSORS
Another exciting prospect unveiled in the 1100m LAURAINE BUCHANAN BEST MUM EVER CG&E MAIDEN PLATE with the Waller trained Narito.
There was plenty of hype surrounding the Maurice four-year-old, who was having his first race start, coming off a Rosehill barrier trial in late July.
He was sent out $2.35 favourite and the win never looked in doubt courtesy of a great James McDonald ride.
He settled the four-year-old just off the speed, bringing him to the lead in the straight where he was able to run down the front-runner to score by two lengths.
“He’s a really nice horse,” McDonald said. “He’s very progressive and would have learned plenty from today. He’s got plenty of untapped ability and they’ve taken their time with him. He’s got a lot of pace and I’d love to see him over more ground.”
Mark Minnervini’s Soobooco ($11), put in another honest run to finish second, while the Pride trained Sacred Field ($3.60) was third, after being slow to begin.
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CRYSTALENE AND TOM SHERRY
A tough win by Crystalene ($4.40) in the 1100m FAREWELL WRC RACING & OPERATIONS MANAGER DEAN GROGANF&M MAIDEN brought up a double for the Mark Newnham stable.
The Snitzel filly was on debut and impressed with a strong win, toughing it out in the straight to get the bob on her rivals in an exciting three-way finish.
She impressed jockey Tom Sherry, who believes there are more wins to come.
“She’s got a brilliant attitude and great temperament. There is plenty of improvement left in her and this win will stand her in good stead going forward,” he said.
Raced by relative newcomers Iron, Crystalene was a $475,000 yearling.
She beat the Cummings trained Perpignan ($4.60), who isn’t far off a win, with Edna ($9.50) trained by Craig Carmody, third after pulling in the early stages.
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Nathan Doyle’s honest mare Bullinachinashop made the step up to provincial grade in great style, taking out the CARLTON WYONG GOLD CUP FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 2 CONDITIONALBENCHMARK 68 over 1100m.
The victory was the second consecutive win for the daughter of Bull Point, and her fourth career victory from just 10 starts.
There was some late support for Bullinachinashop, who started at $10.
Dylan Gibbons gave the four-year-old the perfect ride, sitting just off the leader, before hitting the front midway down the straight and pulling away to win by almost a length.
Runner-up, Brad Widdup’s Unyielding Spirit ($11) fought on well, with Moralist ($4.20) trained by Matthew Smith, third.
“She’s a little ripper,” Gibbons said after the race. “She’s as tough as they come, and she really dug deep today. She’s got that killer desire and they keep raising the bar and she responds.”
The $2.80 favourite Belladeel missed the start and failed to run on.
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DIJON AND BRENTON AVDULLA
Dijon appreciated the drop back in distance to bring up a dominant win in the 1000m WYONG’S NEXT RACE DAY SUNDAY AUGUST 28 CLASS 1.
The Headwater gelding had too much speed on his rivals, the win bringing up a double for Brenton Avdulla.
He took luck out the of the equation leading throughout, pulling away in the final stages to win by a length.
Co trainer Gerald Ryan said the four-year-old was more genuine since he was gelded.
“He’s very sharp, not top class but very fast and if we keep placing him right, we’ll win more races. I think he’s up to a midweek in town,” he said.
Dijon ($4.40) beat Michael Freedman’s $3.50 favourite Insurrection, who appeared to have every chance, with Fire And Ice ($3.70) from the Minervini stable, third.
FRESH from a TAB Highway success at Rosehill Gardens at the weekend, Joe Burges will be back on the road again tomorrow.
But this time the young Taree trainer’s trip to Wyong with last-start winner Mr Eighty Eight will be a snack compared to the recent 15-hour round trek he undertook to the Forbes Cup Showcase meeting to shed the gelding’s maiden status.
Having his 14th start (but only his third for Burges), the Tavistock six-year-old easily won a 1600m Maiden Plate at Forbes on July 31 to put behind a frustrating run of 10 minor placings.
Having made the running but given little peace, Mr Eighty Eight comfortably held out his rivals and was strong to the line.
Thirty-six-year-old Burges took two horses to Forbes for the feature Sunday program and also scored with Barry’s Lane later in the program.
He and his wife Emma returned to their Bulahdelah base the next day, completing a hectic three days of travel as Zaru (who gave the trainer the second highway victory of his brief career last Saturday) had raced at Rosehill on the Saturday before the long trip to Forbes got underway later that afternoon.
Whilst Burges admitted he felt “a bit flat for a few days” afterwards, he feels the decision to go bush has worked in more ways than one for Mr Eighty Eight, who is raced by a syndicate headed by former Wyong racecourse and now Taree racecourse curator Scott Olson.
“Mr Eighty Eight has been a finicky eater, but there has been a real change in him since the trip to Forbes,” Burges said.
“Not only did we manage to get his maiden out of the way, but he is eating so much better.
“I’m really happy with the horse, and this time the trip will take only about one and a half hours down the highway.
“We’ll find out tomorrow whether he can beat some of the city horses at Wyong, but he has a nice drop in weight and I’m sure he will acquit himself well again.”
Burges has booked leading apprentice Dylan Gibbons for the Wyong Leading Apprentice Jockey Reece Jones and Tom Sherry Class 1 Handicap (1600m).
Gibbons’ 1.5kg provincial claim ensures Mr Eighty Eight will relish carrying 4.5kg less than the 59kg he successfully humped at Forbes in a set weights Maiden.
It’s not the first time Burges has called on the talented young Newcastle jockey.
“Dylan rode Barry’s Lane (whom Burges owns) to break his maiden over 1450m at Kempsey in June last year,” he said.
Dual acceptor Edge Of Darkness has been withdrawn from Mr Eighty Eight’s Wyong race, reducing the field to seven.
Instead, Newcastle trainer Grant Marshall’s Edge Of Darkness will line up one race earlier in the Wyong Jockeys’ Premiership Winner Jason Collett Class 1 Handicap (1350m), and Kacie Adams has the ride.
Fellow Newcastle trainer Mark Minervini has given a strong lead to lightly-raced Fire And Ice’s prospects in the Wyong’s Next Race Day Sunday August 28 Class 1 Handicap (1000m).
Minervini pulled the Hellbent three-year-old out of the Listed Rosebud (1100m) against his own age at Rosehill last Saturday to focus on the Wyong race, and booked Hugh Bowman.
Fire And Ice, with Bowman up, outclassed his rivals over the Wyong 1000m to easily win a 2YO Maiden there on July 19 toward the end of the last season.
Minervini also has found Bowman for another lightly-raced three-year-old Soobooco in the Lauraine Buchanan Best Mum Ever CG&E Maiden Plate (1000m).
James McDonald rode the Sooboog colt on resumption – and at his first start since tackling the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m) on debut on a very heavy Royal Randwick surface in March – when runner-up to the promising Hawkesbury mare Aureus Angel in a Provincial & Country Maiden Handicap (1000m) at Kembla Grange on August 4.
Soobooco had won trials at Wyong (June 29) and Muswellbrook (July 22) before going to Kembla Grange, and is bound to have taken improvement from that run.
Interestingly, McDonald has taken the mount in Soobooco’s race on Chris Waller’s unraced Maurice four-year-old Narito, who heads the early pre-post market.
. The rail is 4m out for the entire circumference, and the track this morning was rated a “Soft 5”. The 1350m to 1000m chute, however, is a “Soft 7”. There has been 7mm of rain recorded in the past seven days, but none in the last 24 hours. Racing begins at 12.35pm.
RACE 4 – 2.25pm: 2022 LEADING APPRENTICE JOCKEY REECE JONES AND TOM SHERRY CLASS 1 – 1600m: 1 MR EIGHTY EIGHT, 2 The Replicant, 3 Believe So, 4 Brynner.
Jason Collett and Tim Clark fought out the Jockeys’ Premiership at the final meeting of the season, with Collett claiming the title by one, with 12 wins.
Collett fired the first salvo by winning the opening race for Chris Waller to gain a three-win lead, but Clark pegged him back winning both the fourth and seventh races for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Tom Sherry (now a senior rider) and Reece Jones could not be split either in the apprentices’ premiership, and were also declared joint winners.
The Waterhouse/Bott stable secured another Wyong Trainer’s Premiership with their double.
On the racing front, the meeting produced several promising horses which can be followed with confidence.
Frankel three-year-old Phosphene made a winning debut in the opening race, and Savabeel two-year-old Major Beel was also impressive in taking the fourth at only his second appearance.
Hawkesbury mare Yes You Think hasn’t had a lot of racing either and her victory from an awkward draw and coming from well back in the fifth was a definite sign of better things ahead.
RACE 1: THE BELLBIRDS & CENTRAL COAST VOLUNTEER RESCUE ASSOCIATION 3YO MAIDEN PLATE, 1350m
PHOSPHENE
SYDNEY supremo Chris Waller struck early – but it wasn’t with the horse most punters wanted. I Am Geronimo ($3 favorite) was well backed and took over near the 700m after beginning well, but was a sitting shot in the straight and stablemate PHOSPHENE ($7.50) swept down the outside to snatch victory from Nullify ($3.80) and Tracey Bartley’s Dresden ($14). I Am Geronimo battled on to finish fourth. Frankel three-year-old PHOSPHENE was making his debut after finishing last of nine runners in a 740m trial on the Warwick Farm synthetic track on July 6. He is the first foal of the American-bred mare Posing, and looks to have a bright future, especially as he was slow to begin today and was still able to win. Stewards fined apprentice Pat Scorse $300 for failing to claim down to his minimum weight, and replaced him with fellow apprentice Reece Jones.
RACE 2: WE CARE CONNECT & CENTRAL COAST KIDS IN NEED 4YO&UP MAIDEN HCP, 1350m
DANZETTE
DUAL licence holder Blake Fitzpatrick ended the season on a winning note when DANZETTE ($5.50) came of age. The well-known harness racing trainer-driver produced the former Sydney mare first-up at start no. 21 with only a recent 785m trial at Hawkesbury to ready her. Not unlike the first race performance of the winner, apprentice Jackson Searle circled the field from near last at the 600m and brought her with a well-timed run to overhaul Loniesha ($3.30), who was slowly away and had eased dramatically from an opening quote but still started favorite. Limpida ($6) gave plenty of cheek and battled on gamely to be beaten less than a length and suffered interference near the line. An $80,000 Melbourne yearling purchase, DANZETTE had been placed on seven occasions, so a breakthrough was indeed overdue. Searle’s win was soured when stewards charged him with careless riding near the winning post, taking the runner-up in onto the third horse, which had to be checked. Searle’s suspension begins on August 7, and he can return a week later.
RACE 3: ACCOLADE WINES & NESTLE PROFESSIONAL MAIDEN HCP, 1600m
PACIFIC WARRIOR
FAVORITE punters finally got on the board when PACIFIC WARRIOR (backed from odds against into $1.95) got home, but there wasn’t much in it. Josh Parr always had the American Pharoah three-year-old in touch after beginning awkwardly, and he gamely beat Riccos ($6) and Walk Up Start ($16). A $175,000 buy at Inglis’ 2020 Australian Easter yearling sale, PACIFIC WARRIOR was having his fifth start for trainer Anthony Cummings and appreciated getting up over a longer distance. Nosey Parker ($4) gave away too much start and finished on gamely into fourth placing. Only a two-year-old, he is open to further improvement.
RACE 4: BISHOP COLLINS & AUSTBROKERS 2YO MAIDEN HCP, 1300m
MAJOR BEEL
AS with the opening winner, this youngster looks headed for better wins. MAJOR BEEL ($7) was the outsider of the Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott pair as stablemate Sightseer ran a $2.10 favorite and had to be content with third placing. MAJOR BEEL, a rising three-year-old by Savabeel, was strong through the line and is going to be even harder to toss as his distances are increased. He raced keenly in the early and middle stages and was still too good for his rivals. A $260,000 Magic Millions yearling purchase, he can win again – and runner-up Manzoice ($21) also hit the line with purpose and is another to be followed. He was slow to begin on debut.
RACE 5: DAILY PRESS & CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES CLASS 1 HCP, 1200m
YES YOU THINK
HAWKESBURY trainer Blake Ryan has a good opinion of YES YOU THINK ($15), who was having only her second start for him after previously being prepared at Gosford by Angela Davies, who won a Taree Maiden with her in February. This daughter of international star So You Think drew awkwardly, but rider Regan Bayliss allowed her time to settle and get cover, then circled the field from the 600m to nab $3 favorite Siyata in the shadows of the post. “She has plenty of upside and I really like her,” Ryan said. “I won’t be surprised if she wins a midweek race in town or even a Saturday Midway Handicap. “Her coat is still a bit patchy, so there is definitely further improvement in her.” YES YOU THINK was examined by the club vet behind the barrier when blood was noticed in her near side nostril, and cleared to start.
ACE 6: REGNIS REFRIGERATION & SONS & HARVEY NORMAN COMMERCIAL DIVISION BENCHMARK 64 HCP, 1350m
BULLET WING
WYONG trainer Kristen Buchanan kicked up for the local side when she scored with $8 chance BULLET WING. The gelded son of Bull Point fronted up for only his fourth start, and was game in edging out $2.45 favorite Navajo Peak, who would have clinched the jockeys’ premiership for Tim Clark had he been successful. Fourth placegetter Real Key set up a decent tempo, but the winner sat third and cruised up with intent on the home turn. He didn’t shirk his task in the straight as the favorite made a late challenge. Tick Tock Boom was a late withdrawal on veterinary advice, and trainer Annabel Neasham will have to produce a vet clearance before he can trial or race again.
RACE 7: WYONG ROOS FOUNDATION CONDITIONAL BENCHMARK 68 HCP, 1600m
STAR SPARKS
CLARK brought up a double, falling just one short in the Jockey’s Premiership, when STAR SPARKS ($4.60) humped 61kg to defeat locals Buba ($2.90 favorite) and $21 outsider Sian. The Medaglia D’Oro four-year-old is building a neat record; this being his fourth win at his seventh start. He made the running and bounced back from a Sandown failure on heavy ground on June 15. Buba tried hard in the last 200m but couldn’t quite peg back the winner, whilst Sian did an excellent job to hang on as he did after doing plenty of work racing outside the leader and eventual winner.
Another case of déjà vu where the longer-priced of the stable pair won. Emergency EUPHRATES DREAM ($17) nudged Belladeel ($10) in a tense finish, whereas stablemate Lake Kistoria ($6.50) beat only two home. Ironically, Willie Pike had partnered the winner at her previous start when runner-up at Hawkesbury on June 30, but this time rode Lake Kistoria. Pike told stewards his mount travelled comfortably in the early and middle stages, but didn’t respond when placed under pressure passing the 300m. However, he also considered she would benefit from today’s outing, which was her first in 12 months. Stewards will follow up with trainer Matthew Smith on the mare’s condition in the coming days. Dijon was solidly supported to start $3.20 favorite and ran another honest race to finish third after getting a break on straightening. He has now been placed at all three runs this preparation.
EXPERIENCED Sydney trainer Ron Leemon is banking on a recent gear change bringing him a change of luck at Wyong tomorrow.
A Group 1 winner with Manawanui in the $1m Golden Rose at Rosehill Gardens in 2011, Leemon has dominant favoriteLoniesha lining up in the We Care Connect & Central Coast Kids In Need 4YO&Up Maiden Handicap (1350m) as he bids to end the season on a winning note.
“I’ve only ever had a small team, but nothing has gone right of late,” Leemon said this morning.
“I have been dogged with injuries such as sesamoid and tendon problems to a number of horses who had ability.
“It’s been very frustrating and even with this mare Loniesha, it’s been difficult to find the right race for her.
“She resented a tongue tie and I found an old tongue control bit in my gear which is very fine, and it seems to suit her.
“Loniesha ran a nice race (third at Hawkesbury in a 1300m Maiden against her own sex on July 17 at $51) when she raced in it for the first time, and hopefully it will work well again tomorrow.”
Apprentice Zac Lloyd partnered Loniesha at Hawkesbury and his 1.5kg claim brings the mare in with 57.5kg – 1kg below the limit.
A rising five-year-old daughter of former champion Lonhro, Loniesha fetched $150,000 when offered at the 2019 Inglis Premier yearling sale in Melbourne.
But after three country placings without a win from nine starts, she was put on the market and Leemon and long-standing client Phil Gibb purchased her for $9500 online last December.
“Phil wanted to buy a Lonhro mare, and we were able to buy Loniesha through the Inglis digital sale,” Leemon explained.
“I was thinking about taking her to the Forbes Cup Showcase meeting on Sunday until I noticed this 1350m Maiden at Wyong.
“It would be nice to get a win with her, and sell her on in the near future as she will make a lovely broodmare. Loniesha is well bred and has a magnificent nature.”
Leemon also starts first emergency, $26 chance Miss Anticipation (Lloyd), if she secures a run in the Daily Press & Carlton & United Breweries Class 1 Handicap (1200m), and has opted to put blinkers on her.
The Dream Ahead mare was his last winner, at Nowra on January 10 last year, when she bolted in with an 1100m Maiden Plate against her own sex.
Jason Collett and Tommy Berry lock horns at tomorrow’s final meeting of the 2021-22 racing year to decide the jockeys’ premiership winner.
Collett’s victory on Prefect Match at the last Wyong meeting on July 19 lifted him to 11 wins for the season; one ahead of Berry and Tim Clark.
Collett has six mounts tomorrow; three for Sydney supremo Chris Waller (Phosphene, Adorable Miss and Ring Ahoy), two for fellow Sydney trainer Jason Coyle (Dream Maiden and Reach For Gold) and the other for the Sydney stable of leading Melbourne trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace (Flower Moon).
Adorable Miss (a firming $2.20 favorite with TAB.com.au for the Accolade Wines & Nestle Professional Maiden Handicap, 1600m) is the best fancied.
The Pierro mare has been placed at two (both at Newcastle) of her last four starts.
Berry has four mounts; Sightseer for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Zeminnika for Peter and Paul Snowden, Tick Tock Boom for Annabel Neasham, and Ready’s Girl for local trainer Kristen Buchanan.
Sightseer ($3.70) is the most favoured of the foursome.
Newcastle’s talented apprentice Dylan Gibbons is on verge of completing an outstanding achievement by winning the provincial jockeys’ title.
He has ridden 47 winners on provincial tracks in 2021-22, six more than Collett.
Gibbons has five Wyong rides; Highland Cathedral ($6.50) and Diamond Hands ($9) for Bjorn Baker, Highly Ambitious ($6) for his boss Kris Lees, Freedom Square ($7.50) for Paul Messara, and Concocted ($6.50) for Nathan Doyle.
. The rail is out 4m from the 1350m to 1000m, and 1m for the remainder of the circuit. An improving “Heavy 8” rating was posted this morning for the 1350m to 1000m chute, but it is important to note the rest of the track is a “Soft 6”. Racing begins at 12.20pm.
SELECTIONS
Race 1 – 12.20pm: THE BELLBIRDS & CENTRAL COAST VOLUNTEER RESCUE ASSOCIATION 3YO MAIDEN PLATE, 1350m: 1 I AM GERONIMO, 2 Jumeirah Beach, 3 Phosphene, 4 Nullify.
Race 2 – 12.55pm: WE CARE CONNECT & CENTRAL COAST KIDS IN NEED 4YO&UP MAIDEN HCP, 1350m: 1 LONIESHA, 2 Company Line, 3 Danzette, 4 Limpida.
