Commute wins Hudson Homes Wyong Town Plate in style

Commute wins Hudson Homes Wyong Town Plate in style 1

The locals got the right result when Wyong trainer Tracey Bartley’s impressive mare Commute led her rivals a merry dance leading all the way to win Thursday’s $50,000 feature Hudson Homes Wyong Town Plate.

Jockey Rachel King rode the hot favourite Commute like she was the best horse in the race and she never looked like being run down.

Commute wins Hudson Homes Wyong Town Plate in style 2

Thursday’s win was her third success from just 13 career starts. The big girl has generally raced very consistently and her record could easily have been better.  Thanks to patient handling by Team Bartley the 4yo mare promises to keep improving.

Tracey Bartley suggested after the win that Commute was likely to target the rich $500,000 Polytrack Provincial Championship in March which looks to be an ideal race for the mare.

Commute wins Hudson Homes Wyong Town Plate in style 3

Interest building in Wyong Magic Millions 2YO

Interest building in Wyong Magic Millions 2YO 4

Mark Newnham’s impressive filly Every Rose will be a definite starter at Wyong’s upcoming $200,000 Magic Millions 2YO Classic on December 12.

The Choisir filly caught the eye on debut with an impressive win in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick on October 5 over 1000m and has been installed as the early favourite for the $2m Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

Newnham sent the $160,000 yearling purchase straight out for a break after her debut win and she will trial at Randwick next week in preparation for her Magic Millions campaign.

“She’ll trial and then go to Wyong,” Newnham said. “I’ll also have Diamond Thunder in the 3YO and 4YO Wyong race after he trials at Randwick on the same day.”

Newnham was impressed with Every Rose following the Gimcrack win, describing her as having a disposition like a “kid’s pony.”

The filly is sure to draw a crowd to Wyong, with 18 female owners keen to cheer her home.

Raced by Darby Syndications, the filly is vying for half a million dollars in prizemoney if she can be one of the first four horses over the line owned by female syndicates.

Stablemate Diamond Thunder has had four wins from his six starts, his latest being the Brian Crowley Listed on October 26 over 1200m.

Nominations for the Wyong Magic Million race day close on Friday, December 6.

AGM Update

The Club held its Annual General Meeting on 11th November. The meeting was attended by 36 Members, the Club’s auditors plus a number of key management and staff.

The Chairman and CEO updated the meeting on the affairs of the Club over the past 12 months or so, and the Club’s prospects for the future.

The Chairman, John Waghorn, spoke to his report highlighting the significant steps the Club has made in progressing its strategy, much of which has been achieved under the Chairmanship of Garry Whitaker who resigned earlier this year in May. He thanked his fellow directors and staff for their contribution during the year. He also acknowledged the importance of Club’s supportive sponsors, in particular CUB and Magic Millions.

CEO David Jewell, as part of his detailed presentation, confirmed that this was his sixth and final Chief Executive’s report to Members. He indicated that the Club financial result, a net loss of $349k, was disappointing given the Club had enjoyed a largely successful year. The significant reduction in the scheme of distribution from RNSW at the end of FY19 was the major contributor to the Club not being able to report a breakeven result of the year, breaking a four-year streak of positive results for the Club. He noted that all the other Provincial Clubs had reported losses of the same order, in the same year that RNSW reported a $14m profit off the back of increased returns from wagering sources outside of TABCORP.

David Jewell provided the members with a number of key highlights achieved during his tenure as CEO. He confirmed that while he was stepping down as CEO, he was not finished and would be staying on to deliver two significant projects for the Club – the electrical supply upgrade to the stabling area and the construction of a new $4m Polytrack synthetic training track, which received contractual approval from RNSW earlier that day.

David Jewell acknowledged the support of the Club’s Board and staff in making the transformation in the Club’s position possible. He also acknowledged the importance of the continued support received by the Club from its members, trainers, stable staff, owners, contractors, jockeys, RNSW stewards, TAB and Sky Channel staff, the local media, sponsors, the H&H catering team and fellow Provincial Racing Club Chief Executives and their Boards, remarking, “There are a lot of people involved in helping us consistently deliver successful racing events at Wyong. I am very proud to have been part of that team.”

The Meeting elected Darren Hooper via ballot, the General Manager of Unity Bank, to fill the casual vacancy on the Board. In addressing the meeting Darren remarked that he was looking forward to making a positive contribution to the Wyong Race Club as he believed the Club is critical for the long-term prospects of Wyong. The Chairman thanked Darin Butcher for his nomination and expressed his hope that Darin would consider renominating in the future.

Bob Graham was appointed Club Patron for what will be his 30th year in the position.

PENZA DOMINATES RIDING RANKS – Carlton Spring Race Day Review

PENZA DOMINATES RIDING RANKS - Carlton Spring Race Day Review 5

A treble to comeback jockey Jeff Penza and a win for veteran local trainer Stan Thomas were the features of Saturday’s Wyong Race meeting.

Penza, who returned to the saddle two months ago after being sidelined for almost a year, is back to his best and recorded wins on John Sargent’s stayer Tyrrhenian, Godolphin’s promising gelding Suave and on Rabbit Clause for Joe Pride.

Ocean Park gelding Tyrrhenian ($6) removed any questions about his ability to stay, taking out the 2100m WYONG MAGIC MILLIONS DECEMBER 12 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE by a length and a half.

The four-year-old outstayed his stable mate Prince Camelot ($2.70) courtesy of a well-judged Penza ride.

Campbell, representing the Sargent stable, was complimentary of the ride.

It was a good ride by Jeff, he used his brain. The horse wanted to go forward and he took the race by the scruff of the neck and showed today he can stay.

“It was a race winning move by Jeff at the 600m and he went on with it really well. John thought he would run the trip and he proved him right today.”

Penza’s second win was on the well-bred Suave ($1.55) who brought up back to back wins in the WWW.TAB.COM.AU CLASS 1 HANDICAP over 1350 metres.

The four-year-old won on debut at Hawkesbury on October 24 and was even more convincing bringing up his second victory.

“He’s nice horse going somewhere,” Lee Cundy, representing the stable said.

“He will bob up in a better race somewhere. He comes from a good family and he will go a long way. He’s very casual which will take him a fair way. “We will step him through the grades and see where we end up.”

Penza also has a high opinion of Suave.

“He’s a slow learner and started his career as a colt and wasn’t going anywhere. He had to start from scratch this preparation and has come out and had two wins. I think he’s got a long way to go.”

Suave beat Go Fish Go ($9) from the Newnham stable, with Romalette ($3.30) trained by Joe Pride third.

Penza rounded off his treble riding Rabbit Clause ($4.40) to victory for Pride in the 1000m DE BORTOLI WINES MAIDEN PLATE.

The three-year-old got the nod in a tight finish from Matowatakpe ($3.10fav), from the Baker stable, the pair fighting it out in the final stages of the straight.

Pride was impressed with the performance of the first starter and believes he is in for a good preparation.

“His trial coming into today was good and we came here with plenty of confidence. It was a great ride by Jeff and always good to get the maiden win out of the way.”

Godolphin’s runner Mercury ($3.40), was more than two lengths behind in third.

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The consistent Ondo Pasa ($11) rewarded veteran Wyong trainer Stan Thomas with another win, storming home to take out the 1350m GREAT NORTHERN ON TAP CONDITIONAL BENCHMARK 70 HANDICAP.

Ridden by Mikayla Weir, the six-year-old mare brought up her sixth win from 45 starts.

In a well-timed ride, Weir came from the rear of the field at the 600m mark, hitting the front on straightening and pulling away from her rivals to win by almost two lengths.

It was a popular win for the 82-year-old trainer, who has two horses in work on the track.

He was full of praise for the consistent mare, who he owns himself.

“There were excuses last start and I was reasonably confident today,” the 82-year-old trainer said.

“She’s been a great horse for me. She tries hard every time she goes around and that’s all you can ask.”

Ondo Pasa was sixth at her last start at Wyong on October 20 over 1300m but was beaten only just over a length. She last tasted victory in March but has been placed twice since.

“It’s always good to train a winner on the home track and I’m happy today,” he said.

Ondo Pasa beat The Patrician ($18), trained by Robert Pearse, with Godolphins $3 favourite Nindamos, third.

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Rachael Murray recorded her first Wyong win since relocating to the area mid-year on the aptly named Dancing Rachel.

The Declaration Of War filly was purchased by trainer Gilbert Slattery for just $5000 and raised on the family’s property near Gosford.

The three-year-old was having her ninth start in the CHRISTMAS @ THE RACES DECEMBER 19 MAIDEN HANDICAP over 1600m, have been previously placed twice.

Murray took a sit toward the rear of the field, making her move around the 400m mark. She hit the front mid-way down the straight and let down strongly for a strong length and a half win.

“That’s a huge win today, Rachel on Rachel,” Slattery said. “She was unlucky last start at Gosford, and we lost the protest.

“She’s a good filly. She’s by the Melbourne Cup winner and I brought her as a weanling at Scone and we raised her at home.

“My grandson and my son do all the work so it’s a real family affair. “

Murray said Dancing Rachel went “super.”

“I asked Louise (Day) how to ride her and she said make sure her last furlong was the best. That was fantastic advice because the horse went really well. She settled lovely and raced the mile perfect.”

Dancing Rachel ($5) beat the $2.15 race favourite Haunting Spirit, trained by Lauri Parker, with Mick An’ Nick’s ($3.50), from the Robl stable, third.

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Luke Hilton is excited about the prospects of Hinchinbrook gelding Playard ($8.50) after the new stable additions win in the 1000m GOSFORD HOCKEY MENS HCPL PREMIERS 2019 BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP.

Hilton said they had taken their time with five-year-old.

“He had a few issues, so we gave him some time off,” he said. “We knew he had the talent and he’s a big strong horse but has had niggling issues.

“I was really pleased to get him back to the races today.

“I thought he could win today but may of been a little bit vulnerable over the 1000m. Aaron Bullock rode him in the trials the other day and gave him a really good push.

“His work during the week was spot on, so it’s great to get the win with him. I’ll keep him at the shorter trips. He’s got a good turn of foot and it was a great ride by Ashley (Morgan). “

Playard beat Zeta’s Rocket ($8) trained by Craig Carmody by a long neck, with the Waterhouse/Bott trained Dreaming For More ($3.70fav), third.

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South African jockey Brandon Lerena recorded his first Wyong win in his first appearance at the track, booting home the Bjorn Baker trained Axe.

Lerena made the move to Australia in August and Axe was his fifth win.

He rated the Written Tycoon colt well, with a good front-running ride, holding off his challengers to win by a half-length.

“He is a very nice colt, “Lerena said.

“He’s still quite immature and green and does things the wrong way but it was a win full of merit today.

“He shirked the start slightly and I had to chase them up to get to the lead. It enabled him to build up some gears and he kicked away in the straight.”

Axe ($3) won the 1600m CHRISTMAS @ THE RACES DECEMBER 19 MAIDEN HANDICAP by half a length from the Waller trained Samurai ($6.50), with Pitchfork ($15) from the O’Shea stable, third.

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Blake Spriggs was in the winner’s circle, piloting Bollywood to victory for Godolphin, the first leg of a winning double.

The consistent Sepoy filly was having her 11th career start in the HAPPY 21ST PATRICK DARBIN MAIDEN PLATE (1350m) having previously recorded seven placings.

Spriggs sat just off the pace on the $1.85 favourite, getting a split in the straight and chasing down the leaders to win by a length and a half.

“She deserved the win,” Spriggs said.

“She’s not the best horse in the stable but she tries very hard and that is evident in her form. She keeps running around the placings, but she won well today.

“She had a bit of a job to do getting the 1350m, and I thought that would be her maximum distance wise. She got out and won well.”

Bollywood beat the Snowden trained Maisaa ($4), with the Newnham trained Supercede ($7), third.

RYAN BANKING ON WYONG

RYAN BANKING ON WYONG

Gerald Ryan has trained four winners in the past eight days and hopes the run can continue at Saturday’s Wyong Carlton Spring Race Day.

The leading trainer claimed victories on the Kensington track and at Kembla, Goulburn and Gosford taking his overall career tally to 2001.

And with Wyong always a happy hunting ground for the stable, Ryan is quietly confident he can continue the run.

“I’ve always liked bringing horses to Wyong. It has always been a good track for me and hopefully that will continue on Saturday,” he said.

“It is a very good racing surface and horses can really stretch out there. I just consider it a great place to race.”

Statistics confirm Ryan’s thoughts with the stable having an 18 percent win ratio and recording considerably more wins at Wyong than any other Provincial track.

Ryan is enjoying a successful season, with 28 winners to date and an overall win ratio of 23.1percent.

“Things are going well and hopefully it can continue.”

He considers $420,000 Rubick colt, Rubic Honour, in the 1000m Maiden, the best chance of his two runners.

Ryan purchased the three-year-old, a half-brother to Blue Diamond Stakes runner-up Enbihaar, for Muzaffar Yaseen’s Teeley Assets.

The prominent owner breeder instructed Ryan to buy the best looking Rubick he could find, and Rubic Honour was the result.

“He was the spitting image of his old man, albeit maybe a little taller than his father at the same age,” Ryan said.

The colt had two starts in his first preparation for a third at Orange and sixth on the Kensington track. He resumes at Wyong after posting successive barrier trial wins at Warwick Farm and Rosehill.

“He’s always shown a heap of ability, but he was disappointing on race day,” he said.

“We gave him a good long spell and he’s come back and his trials have been quite good.

“He wasn’t disgraced first up at Orange and that turned into a good form race. This looks ideal for him and I’m expecting him to run well.”

James Innes Jnr will be in the saddle making the dash up the freeway to Wyong after riding in the second race at Rosehill.

Ryan plans to change the riding tactics on his other runner, Forgiato and hopes the move will bring out the best in the Super Easy gelding.

He purchased Forgiato at the Inglis Classic sales for $70,000 and retained a share along with his son Blake.

The three-year-old, is a dual acceptor, with Ryan leaning toward the shorter 1200m distance.

Forgiato is having his third career start and coming off a seventh at Wyong on October 20.

“I was disappointed in his last start at Wyong over the 1350m. I’m going to add a tongue tie and ride him differently, back off the speed,” he said.

“He’s better than what he showed last start. Both runs he’s had we’ve ridden him up on the speed but in his trials, we’ve ridden him back and he’s hit the line. I think we just might be riding him wrong.”

SELECTIONS:

Race 1 – 12.19pm: WYONG MAGIC MILLIONS DECEMBER 12 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN (2100m): 1 TIME STAMP, 2 Guest, 3 Prince Camelot, 4 Invidentia.

Race 2 – 12.54pm: CHRISTMAS @ THE RACES DECEMBER 19 MAIDEN HANDICAP (1600m): 1 HAUNTING SPIRIT, 2 Mick An’ Nicks, 3 Sassy Em, 4 Dancing Rachel.

Race 3 – 1.34pm: HAPPY 18TH SARAH DARBIN MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200m): 1 FROSTY ROCKS, 2 Forgiato, 3 Mercury, 4 Samurai.

Race 4 – 2.14pm: HAPPY 21ST PATRICK DARBIN MAIDEN PLATE (1350m): 1 DESERT STORM, 2 Flinders, 3 Manseneta, 4 Bollywood.

Race 5 – 2.54pm: WWW TAB.COM.AU CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1350m): 1 SUAVE, 2 Go Fish Go, 3 Romalette, 4 Rosie Elsie.

Race 6 – 3.34pm: GOSFORD HOCKEY CLUB MENS HCPL PREMIERS 2019 BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1000m): 1 ROYAL ECLIPSE, 2 Dreaming For More, 3 Upper East Side, 4 Happy Mo.

Race 7 – 4.15pm: GREAT NORTHERN ON TAP CONDITIONAL BENCHMARK 70 HANDICAP (1350m): 1 NINDAMOS, 2 Republic, 3 High Rush, 4 Monsieur Macron.

Race 8 – 4.59pm: DE BORTOLI WINES MAIDEN PLATE (1000m): 1 RUBIC HONOUR, 2 Rifles, 3 Matowatakpe, 4 Mercury.