Month: May 2019

     

Garry Whitaker         John Waghorn

Wyong Race Club Chairman Garry Whitaker has officially stood down as both Chairman and as an elected director of the Wyong Race Club effective as of the May 28 Board meeting .

As provided under the constitution the Board has elected John Waghorn as the Club’s new Chairman.

Prior to his retirement from full time work in 2011, John Waghorn worked in senior management roles at a number of local councils over some 25 years. His qualifications include both an Economics Degree and a Graduate Diploma in Management. John’s expertise lies in corporate governance, risk management, strategic planning and financial management. These are all areas where he has made a substantial contribution as a Director to the management of the Wyong Race Club over the past four and half years.  In taking over as Chairman following Tuesday’s Board meeting John paid tribute to the significant contribution Garry Whitaker had made during his term.

In announcing his retirement Garry Whitaker said, “I have achieved what I set out to do when I accepted this role so the time is right for me to move on and for John, as the new Chairman now, to lead the Club into a pretty exciting future”.

Mr Whitaker said that he has enjoyed his time as Chairman however, increasing work and other commitments in the coming months will mean that he is not going to be in a position to dedicate as much time to the Racing Club as the job requires. “I won’t do half a job, and if I can’t give it 100% all of the time, I don’t feel that I would be doing the best thing for the Club”.

Garry Whitaker, along with Marion Langlar, John Waghorn and Mark Waugh were elected by the Members to the Wyong Race Club Board in November 2015 following a 22 month period when the Club was under Racing NSW administration.

Three independent directors were subsequently appointed to the Board in February 2016 to join the four elected member representatives. The Board, under Garry’s Chairmanship, has been responsible for the administration and governance of the Club since that time.

Mr Whitaker said that, “with sound guidance from the current Board and a professional, hard-working team led by CEO David Jewell, the Wyong Race Club has made significant progress over the past four years. I am very proud of the achievements that we have delivered and I’m very confident about the Club’s future.”

Over the last four years the Club, with $1.4 million funding assistance from Racing NSW, has invested over $4.5 million in capital improvements – building the new horse pool, a new irrigation system for the tracks, the impressive new Parade Ring Pavilion, fully refurbished the middle floor of the Members’ stand, installed the new electronic gates and new entry ways at Rose Street and Howarth Street, purchased a new set of starting gates, machinery, equipment, new IT systems, upgraded the jockeys’ change rooms and undertaken numerous improvements to the training tracks.

At the same time the Club has delivered operational trading profits in each of the past four years and financially is in great shape, with no debt and strong cash reserves. “We have achieved the goals from our original strategic plan”, he said, “and it is now time to enable new leadership to move forward with a new strategic plan.  First and foremost will be the newly released $5 million Track and Training Master Plan.  The Club is working with Racing NSW on Stage One to build a new $4 million all-weather Polytrack later this year to support an increase in thoroughbred training activity at Wyong.”

“We are also planning to upgrade our stabling facilities and, in the longer term, the Board is looking to expand its commercial operations and establish a seven day a week business onsite.”

“My decision to retire now, rather than to wait for the Annual General Meeting in November, in part reflects another planned transition process for the management team.  With our CEO David Jewell having advised the Board late last year that he would be looking to cut back on his workload in the near future, the Board employed a new General Manager in March, Robin Taylor, who is now working closely with David and has assumed much of the responsibility for the day-to-day operations, while David concentrates on the Track and Training Masterplan.”

In parting, Mr Whitaker says, “being Chairman has been a great experience in which I have met some wonderful people and, hopefully, have been able to contribute positively to the Club and the community.  “I can’t leave without also giving my sincerest thanks and acknowledgement for all the good work undertaken by my fellow Board members, the staff and Management Team; the generosity of the Members and Sponsors;  the light and colour provided by the Trainers and Owners;  all of whom come together to make this sport and this Club great.”

Congratulations to Central Coast Clubs Challenge winners Wyong Golf Club II taking away the 2019 shield and a kitty of $1,059.50.

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Central Coast Club’s Challenge Raceday Review – 16 May 2019 by Frances O’Shea

Tommy Berry put on a riding display taking out half the program at Wyong’s Central Coast Clubs Challenge race day.

The popular jockey rode three in a row half way through the day, capping it off with a winner in the last.

“It’s been a while since I’ve ridden four,” Berry said. “I have had a few three wins here and there, but it’s certainly been a good day out.

“It’s a credit to the trainers who brought their horses here in such good order and nice to have won on a couple of up and coming two-year-olds.”

The four wins came on two promising colts Exceedance and North, Bluesbro for local trainer Kristen Buchanan and Singing Sand for Godolpin.

Berry is having a great season since returning from a stint in Hong Kong, sitting third on the Metropolitan riders’ premiership and now running fourth in the Provincial title with 32 wins.

The first leg of his Wyong treble came on the Hawkes trained two-year-old Exceedance ($6), who looks to have a bright future after scoring an impressive debut win over 1100m.

Courtesy of a patient ride by Berry, the Exceed And Excel colt, showed a great turn of foot to storm down the outside and record a three quarter length win in the TOUKLEY GOLF CLUB 2YO MAIDEN.

Berry came from the rear of the field, circling the others on the turn and making up eight lengths in the straight to run down the leaders.

Michael Hawkes described Exceedance as “a lovely colt going forward.”

“He’s got above average ability and we’ve always had a nice opinion of him,” he said. “If it had of been a bigger surface, he probably would of won by a lot more. Wyong is a tight track and you have to ride Wyong and be patient and Tommy rode the perfect race and got the job done.

“We knew Wyong wasn’t his track, but they don’t run these sort of two-year-old races in Sydney.

“He’s had two nice trials, his first trial was really good and his second was an educational trial because he’s been a bit tardy away. I said to Tommy to have him where he’s comfortable and he got back. I wasn’t worried on the corner because I knew Tommy was going to track up. When the leader kicked it gave him something to chase and he knuckled down. It was a really good effort.”

Exceedance, a $180,000 yearling, is raced by a syndicate including Vinery stud and Werrett Bloodstock.

“Vinery have been very good clients of ours and there is a lot of good people in this horse. They have been patient and they are starting to get the rewards.

“We might go to town next or he might even go to the paddock. He’s a baby and he’s still learning.”

Exceedance beat the Godolphin trained Shielded ($6.50), with Mark Newnham’s $2.10 race favourite Blazing Miss, a half-length behind in third.

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Tommy Berry brought up a race to race double on another impressive debutant, with North ($2.70) scoring a tough win in the WYONG ROOS FOUNDATION MAIDEN over 1100m.

Trained by the Snowdens, the $300,000 Deep Field colt, led for most of the race and was able to hold out late challenges from Money Travels and Commander Bell, to win by a length.

Stable representative Colum McCullagh, admitted the two-year-old had been a “sitting duck.”

“He did well to sustain today, he was a sitting duck out there,” he said. “He pinged the lids and was there for the taking in the straight, but it was nice to see him put his best foot forward.

“He’s shown good natural speed in his trials and at home and we were reasonably confident he could get the job done today.”

Berry said North had given him a nice feel during the race.

“The stable, Colum and the team gave me a nice push for him before the race and said he’s a lovely colt, you’ve just got to keep his mind on the job.

“He wasn’t entitled to win because I got attacked for most of the race but for him to still come out the other end and beat them convincingly was a good effort.

“He’s a bit like his dad Deep Field, he’s fast and he’s got a high cruising speed.”

North beat Money Travels ($10) trained by Warren Gavenlock, with Commander Bell ($13) from the Brett Partelle stable, third.

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Berry’s third win came on Kristen Buchanan’s consistent eight-year-old Bluesbro ($8.50), who took out the 1600m WYONG GOLF CLUB LTD CLASS 1 by a head.

Buchanan described it as the “perfect” ride.

“He got him moving at the right time, he’s a big horse, a momentum horse, he rode him absolutely perfectly,” she said.

“It was a gutsy win. He’s a big striding horse and I said to Tommy he just needs galloping room to be comfortable.

“He just hung in and was very tough in the end.”

Buchanan said the eight-year-old was a brother to her Group winning mare Two Blue.

“The whole family are really tough. Ken and Leanne Dennis have done an amazing job breeding their mare.

“They couldn’t part with this one. They have younger horses coming through, but I had to keep him in the stable.

“They are all honest type horses who try their hearts out. He’s had any number of issues and has spent a lot of time in the paddock but I’m glad we stuck it out.”

Bluesbro has had 13 starts for two wins and seven minor placings.

He beat Kim Waugh’s $2.15 favourite Seeingisbelieving, with Momentum Amethyst ($26) from the David Payne stable, third.

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The Godolphin trained Singing Sand ($7.50) brought up four wins for Berry taking out the 1350m WYONG RACE CLUB – MEMBERSHIP ONLY $55 BENCHMARK 64.

Berry again showed patience coming from toward the rear of the field to swamp his opposition in the final stages, scoring a half-length win.

It was the second career win from nine starts for the three-year-old Poet’s Voice filly, who was coming off a sixth at Warwick Farm on May 1.

Darren Beadman, representing the stable, said it was a “good, tough win.”

“He had to make up a bit of ground in the straight and was able to reign them in,” he said.

“He has won in town previously so I’d say we will look at giving him another shot at a metropolitan race.”

Beadman was also complimentary of Berry.

“Tommy is a good rider and it’s great to see him getting the four winners today.”

The John Sargent trained Ladies Gem ($15) was second, with Our Tax Return ($151), for local trainer Les Tilley, third.

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Jason Coyle hasn’t ruled out a trip to the Brisbane winter carnival with River Bird ($1.28fav) after the filly broke through for a well-deserved maiden win.

The Epaulette three-year-old raced in listed company in December before spelling and was impressive with two trial wins leading into the Wyong race.

She always looked comfortable after being settled midfield by Kathy O’Hara in the 1000m KOOINDAH WATERS – RACE STAY & PLAY MAIDEN and finished strongly to record a two-length victory.

Coyle said he will see how the filly pulls up before deciding on her next run.

“I always thought we could head her towards Brisbane and her owner Joe Rapisarda is from there,” he said. “But there are some lower benchmark races in Sydney during that time as well so I will have to weigh it all up.

“We’ve been waiting for her to win for a while, but we’ve tested her at higher grades, and she hasn’t been disgraced. She’s a nice filly and it’s good to record the maiden win. Hopefully she can go on with it now.

“She did everything right today. The 1000m suits and she travelled really sweet behind them and was able to let down strongly. They ran a good time so hopefully that will put us in good stead for where we go from here.”

River Bird beat Manly Cove ($9) from the Bjorn Baker stable, with She’s My Girl ($9) trained locally by Brett Partelle, third.

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Robbie Dolan was full of praise for Prince Camelot who proved to be the dominant stayer in the 2100m CENTRAL COAST LEAGUES CLUB MAIDEN.

It looked to be a race in two with the favourite Road To Blue Skye ($1.95) in a head-bobbing battle down the straight with The Boomerang ($4.40).

The John Sargent trained Prince Camelot ($4.20) gained momentum in the final stages and was able to run down the leaders and score a narrow win.

“He’s only small but he’s got a big heart,” Dolan said. “He attacked the line strongly today and I can see him getting further. He really wants to win.

“John placed him well here and this will really get his confidence up.”

The Camelot three-year-old was coming off a third at Wyong over the 2100m at his last start.

“Sarge likes him and that is why he has persisted with him,” stable representative Amber Edmeads said.

“It was really good to see him get his head in front today, it will give him a lot of confidence. A lot of patience and time has gone into this horse, so it is good to see him win.

“He was bred to run over a distance. We were worried earlier in the shorter runs but as soon as we stepped him up, he has shown us a lot more.

“We wanted a nice good run into it and that’s what happened, and he finished off great.”

Edmeads was also full of praise for the ride.
“Robbie is a really good rider and we put him on the majority of our horses,” she said.

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An upset in the CLUB TOUKLEY RSL 3YO MAIDEN over 1350m with the Scott Singleton trained Niccirose ($31) leaving the odds-on favourite in his wake to score a dominant win.

Christian Reith settled the Nicconi three-year-old just outside the leader and favourite Embracer ($1.09) from the Waterhouse Bott stable.

The pair shared a soft lead and with everything going his way, it looked well set up for Embracer to win.

Nicconi hit the lead on straightening and pulled away leaving the favourite in his wake, to record a four and a half-length victory.

Singleton said he was a “bit surprised” with the win.

“I wouldn’t say I was expecting it, but we gave him a freshen up since his last run at Kembla and that’s done the job,” he said.

“He jarred up a bit at Kembla and this track has got a bit more give in it which suited him.

“He jumped well and was keen to race. In some of his other races he’s had to come from behind and just hasn’t been able to make up the ground.

“He has always had a bit of ability and raced really well today.”

Reith said Nicconi had given him a “good feel.”

“It’s the first time I’ve ridden him in a race, and he stretched right out. It was a promising win and good to get the maiden out of the way.

“Hopefully he’s got some more wins in him.”

Smart Decision ($9), trained by John O’Shea, was a further length behind in third.

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A good training effort by Matthew Vella after I’m A Legend ($3.10) brought up his second successive win to take out THE DOYLO LIFESTYLE GROUP CLASS 1.

The Nicconi gelding broke through for his maiden win at Goulburn on April 28 at his tenth start and backed it up with a tough win at Wyong over the 12oom.

Vella was full of praise for the four-year-old and the ride by Sam Clipperton.

“He’s quite handy this horse. He’s got great form as you can see with placings. We changed a bit up this prep and it’s paying dividends. We haven’t galloped him once at home and it’s kept his vibe good,” he said.

Vella, who has four horses in work at Hawkesbury and is pre-training 70, said the difference to his training routine had certainly helped.

“We take him through the bush a little bit, a lot of swimming, just keeping him happy.

“I was never worried about his ability. I think the blinkers have helped as well, but it’s just about not overcooking him at home because he’s quite a nervous horse as it is.

“Sam rode him so well. He knows him from last start and is a top-class rider.”

Clipperton said Vella and the owners had been very patient with I’m A Legend and were now reaping the rewards.

“It’s not easy to go from a maiden win to a class one but he did it well today,” he said.

Cinquedea, the $2.35 favourite from the Richard and Michael Freedman stable was second, with the Godolphin trained Gorgons ($7.50), third.

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By Frances O’Shea

Brett Partelle is hoping a home track win is on the cards as he heads into Thursday’s Wyong meeting with a trio of runners.

The stable will saddle up Rebecca’s Quest and She’s My Girl, for long-time supporter Bert Viera, and Commander Belle, raced by the Milgate family.

“I think all three have got ability and it would be great if at least one of them can get the job done,” Partelle said.

“Out of the three I think She’s My Girl is probably the best chance. She’s first up from a lengthy spell but her trials have been excellent.

“She’s a nice filly and we have been patient with her. She’s not real big but has a nice amount of ability and will be hard to beat.

“I expect them all to race well and wouldn’t be surprised if one of the others bobs up or places.”

She’s My Girl a three-year-old So You Think filly bred by the Viera’s, starts in the 1000m Maiden.

She debuted at Cessnock in July last year and was placed second over the 900m.

“She’s not an overly big filly and has had a few issues with her knees, maturing and that sort of stuff, so we decided to give her some time,” Partelle said.

“She trialled twice in the spring and was second at Wyong and won at Gosford. We put her out and she won her first trial back at Wyong in March and has since won another couple of trials at Gosford.

“It is great form going into this race and she will take some beating.”

Partelle has a soft spot for filly Rebecca’s Quest, by his Magic Millions winner Walking Or Dancing, who lines up in the 1200m Class 1.

“We’ve only had her for two starts. She ran fourth at Wyong first up and I thought her run was really encouraging. She franked that by coming out and winning at Port.

“The horse of Kristen Buchanan’s who finished second came out and ran second in the good maiden at Scone on Friday.

“I think that’s good enough form to stack up here and she is a nice each way chance.

”She’s a progressive filly and while it’s hard to go from your maiden to a class one she won’t be too far away.”

Partelle also expects Pierro gelding Commander Bell to race well in the 1100m Maiden.

“He’s been maturing slowly and will just get better over the next six months. He’s quite lightly framed like most of the Pierros and they take a bit of time, the better ones.

“All being equal on Thursday, over the1100m fresh, he’s going to run a nice little race. He came off a good third at Gosford in similar company and hit the line good and the track was a bit off that day. I expect him to run well and his next start he will be very hard to beat.”

Partelle said Bobby El-Issa will partner his three runners.

“Every time he rides for us, he rides well, and they are right in the finish. He doesn’t make any mistakes.”

The first of eight races at the Central Coast Club’s Challenge Race Day gets underway at midday.

 

 

SELECTIONS:

Race 1 – 12pm: KOOINDAH WATERS – RACE STAY & PLAY MAIDEN PLATE (1000m): 1 NORTH, 2 She’s My Girl, 3 Little Wonder, 4 River Bird.

Race 2 – 12.40pm: CENTRAL COAST LEAGUES CLUB MAIDEN PLATE (2100m): 1THE BOOMERANG, 2 Prince Camelot, 3 Road To Blue Sky, 4 Commentator.

Race 3 – 1.20pm: CLUB TOUKLEY RSL 3YO MAIDEN HANDICAP (1350m): 1TASK AND PURPOSE, 2 Smart Decision, 3 Well Decorated, 4 Ivira.

Race 4 – 2pm: TOUKLEY GOLF CLUB 2YO MAIDEN PLATE (1100m): 1MINI BOOM, 2 Exceedance, 3 Hey Mighty, 4 Travanti.

Race 5 – 2.35pm: WYONG ROOS FOUNDATION MAIDEN HANDICAP (1100m): 1 SET GOALS, 2 Commander Bell, 3 Serbelloni, 4 North.

Race 6 – 3.10pm: WYONG GOLF CLUB LTD CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1600m): 1 SEEINGISBELIEVING, 2 Our Fun, 3 Nathan Road, 4 Pick Of The Day.

Race 7 – 3.45pm: THE DOYLO LIFESTYLE GROUP CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1200m): 1GORGONS, 2 First Reading, 3 Defeat, 4 Cinquedea.

Race 8 – 4.20pm: WYONG RACE CLUB – MEMBERSHIP ONLY $55 BENCHMARK HANDICAP (1350m): 1 HIGH RUSH, 2 Sniponet, 3 Celer, 4 Ladies’ Gem.

  

Rachel King made Thursday’s Wyong meeting her own with a winning treble, and in all three cases she went where other riders did not want to go and stayed on the fence.

While other riders were tracking wide King was saving ground by following the rail and her tactics proved to be the right ones.

King won the HMA Group Maiden (1600m) on the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Frenzied; the HMA Materials Handling Metro and Provincial Maiden (1100m) on Gorgons for Godolphin and James Cummings and the HMA Geotechnical Class Two (1350m) on One Of The Kind for Randwick trainer Robert Pearce.

King’s tactics were applauded by Pearce.

“My horse covets the rail and always does his best when on the fence,” Pearce said.

“The horse is a six-year-old but he has only had a handful of starts for three wins.

“He is no world beater but I guess you could call him a late bloomer.”

King let One Of The Kind ($10) settle in third place behind Celer (Serg Lisnyy) and when that horse drifted away from the fence she went underneath him and gradually wore him down to win by a long neck with the favourite Apollo Prince ($2.50) a further one and quarter lengths away third.

It was King’s first treble since Randwick in October last year when she caped a big day by winning the Group Three Nivison on Resin for Godolphin.

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A clever ride from King contributed to the win by Frenzied.

King took off at the 800 metres to get past the tearaway leader Georgina Gold (Mitchell Bell) and held an advantage of several lengths at the top of the straight.

She kicked away to score by two and a quarter-lengths from Lady Legend and left many punters cheering.

Frenzied was backed in late from $5 to $4.60 while the favourite Royal Captain (James Innes Jnr) drifted from $2.30 to $2.70 and after being well back early, ran on fairly for third.

“The ride won us the race,” the stable’s representative, Neil Paine, said.

“Once he had that lead at the top of the short straight I thought he would win.

“I would have been disappointed if he hadn’t.

“He has always indicated to us that he would need ground and I imagine Gai and Adrian will step him up to 2000 metres.”

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King turned in another clever ride when she won the HMA Materials Handling Metro and Provincial Maiden (1100m) on Gorgons for Godolphin and James Cummings.

While the remainder of the riders elected to go wide on the turn King stayed on the fence and got a dream passage to go to the lead and hold off the well supported first starter Ziedrich (Mitchell Bell) and win by three quarters of a length.

The favourite In Vinciano, backed in from $2.90 to start at $2.60, was the widest runner on the turn and finished third, another half head away.

Gorgons was having only her third start and the win followed a luckless third at Hawkesbury at her previous run.

“She did not have a lot of luck at her previous run, she displaced a tooth and was running on nerves,” stable representative, Darren Beadman, said.

King said that Gorgons had still not properly settled in the race.

“Once she learns how to settle she will be a nice filly,” King said.

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Cleverly, cleverly ridden by Koby Jennings, might be headed for the breeding barn sooner rather than later following her narrow win in the HMA Instrumentation Maiden (2100m).

The imported Irish bred mare, trained by Team Hawkes, is raced by well know breeder Grant Briscoe.

“She did not do much in her few starts in Britain but we bought her because of her blood lines,” Briscoe said.

“She is by Mastercraftsman and we want to breed a stayer.

“We are breeders and sellers but we might keep whatever she produces and have a bit of fun with it.”

Jennings positioned Cleverly on the back of the favourite Dashing Special then took off to chase the leader Boomerang, grabbing that horse late to beat him by a short neck.

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A late flood of money for the Mark Newnham trained Go Fish Go (Josh Parr) proved to be on the money when the three-year-old won the HMA Power Generation Maiden (150m).

Parr admitted he changed tactics soon after the start and elected to take a trail rather than lead.

“There was good speed on in the first 200 metres and he settled well so I decided to stay where I was,” he said.

“I was riding for luck but it went my way on the turn and I got the run I wanted.”

Go Fish Go went past Scepter Of Power in the straight to beat that horse by three quarters of a length.

The win followed a debut fifth over 1100 metres at Hawkesbury last month.

“He had to go hard in that race to lead and it was a good run,” foreman, James Ponsonby, said.

“Mark got stuck into him with plenty of work and he certainly paraded well before this race.

“Mark wanted Josh to settle him where he was comfortable.”

Go Fish go was the only horse punters wanted to back, firming from $4.80 to $4 while the favourite Foxborough eased from $1.55 to $1.70 and struggled to run third after being taken wide in the straight.

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The Richard Freedman trained Leardo (Keegan Latham) survived a protest after a tight photo finish to win the HMA Flow And Industrial Class One (1600m).

Serg Lisnyy, who ran second on the Kim Waugh trained Seeingisbelieving, fired in an objection alleging interference in the closing stages of the race.

The two horses raced tight near the line with Leardo winning by a short half head with the third placed Lily Astolat a further head away.

Stewards took some time before dismissing the protest.

Freedman’s son Will said the big striding Leardo was not really suited to Wyong.

“However, the programming left us with no option,” Freedman said.

“That was a lovely ride from Keegan, that won us the race.

“He is a horse that will be seen at his best on a big track from 1800 metres to 2000 metres.”

Latham was eventually able to settle Leardo ($5.50) in fourth place on the fence, went around only one horse at the top of the straight then dug deep to hold off the late challenge from Seeinbgisbelieving ($2.30 fav).

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Apprentice Reece Jones landed his first provincial winner when he led all the way on the Paul Perry trained Quick Nick in the HMA Wear Solutions Benchmark 64 (1200m).

Jones only started riding in August last year and booted home his first winner at his first ride at Tamworth at 22 years of age.

Since then the mature age apprentice has improved rapidly with Wyong was his 30^th winner.

Quick Nick was well backed from $4.60 into $3.10 and had to work hard in the second half of the race as Andrew Gibbons ranged up on his outside on Sniponet to lay down a challenge.

Despite desperate riding from Gibbons he could not bridge the gap and Quick Nick, with Jones showing maturity in the saddle beyond his experience, held on to win by half a neck.

Jones remained calm and simply rode Quick Nick hands and heels to the line.

Stable foreman Mike Rowland said that was the only way to ride Quick Nick.

“He loves to be left alone in front,” Rowland said.

“The wet track at Muswellbrook did not suit him when he ran last but he loved the good track here today.

“He had a freshen up after Muswellbrook and a trial and today it was catch me if you can.”

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Warwick Farm trainer Jarrod Austin set Inanup for the HMA GTech Cyclones Benchmark 64 (1100m) after the horse returned from a spell and the horse not only won for connections but ran a class record.

All four of the horse’s wins have been at Wyong and, in fact, the horse is unbeaten at the track.

He was having his first start since December and after a third in a trial at Warwick Farm last month.

“He loves this track and that’s why we set him for this race,” Austin said.

‘He loves racing here and he loves racing fresh.

“I thought we had him spot on but I was a bit worried in the straight.”

Inanup ($2.50 fav) and Great Affair (Mitchell Bell) settled down to a two-horse battle but in the last 200 metres Inanup gradually got the upper hand to win by half a length in 1min 03.57secs to easily eclipse the previous class record of 1min 04.34secs.