Month: April 2021

Damien Lane’s filly Zorocat was rewarded for her consistency scoring a tough win over 1200m on her home track. 

The three-year-old had been narrowly beaten at her past two starts at Newcastle over the same distance. 

The win is the stable’s fourth in two weeks, taking Lane to 28 for the season to date.

Lane had always believed the Zorocat would be better suited at Wyong and was proved right when she brought up her second win at start eight in the HMA FLOW & INDUSTRIAL CLASS 1.

The only concern had been the wide barrier, but Jason Collett was able to ease the Toronado filly over from barrier 10 to take the lead. 

He maintained the front throughout and was able to hold out the fast-finishing Mix, from the Widdup stable, to win by almost a length.  

“I think she’s a filly with better races in store for her,” Lane said.

“She’s been a work in progress. She’s a bit hot headed but has shown us ability from day one. 

“When she can harness that energy and we get up to 1400m she’ll be quite a nice filly.”

Lane said Zorocat had been primed for the win. 

“She’s been a bit stiff in both runs at Newcastle and was nabbed late by a couple of smart horses.

“Wyong was always going to suit her better if she got the right run.

“She was probably spot on today and Jason did a great job. 

“Lustre Lodge paid around $150,000 for her and it’s good to get a filly of that quality in our stable.” 

The win brought up a double for Collett, who said the filly gave him a “good feel.”

Zorocat ($3.30), beat the $2.90 favourite Mix, with Pia Sofia ($31) from the Quinton stable, a close third. 

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Paul Perry’s consistent three-year-old Saquon could be headed for better things on the strength of his win in the 1350m HMA WEAR SOLUTIONS BENCHMARK 64.

The No Nay Never gelding, a $150,000 yearling, brought up his second win at start six, with three seconds to his name. 

Saquon didn’t have it all his own way, with The Crimson Idol, from the Jeff Englebrecht stable, going head-to-head in the final stages of the race. 

Jockey Tim Clark described it as a “tough win.” 

“Full credit to the horse. He had to dig in with a big weight. For a young horse that bodes well for the future,” he said.

“He was there to be beaten at the furlong, but he really dug in and got the job done. 

“He’s quite a nice three-year-old and is going to progress to some better races than Wyong on a Thursday.

“He’s got a racing style about him as well and that’s going to take him a long way.”

Saquon, the $1.70 race favourite, beat The Crimson Idol by a short half head, with Waller’s Canadian Spice ($11), third.

Wayne Seelin’s ten-year-old Isorich ($21) was fourth in his 131^st start.  

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Wyong specialist Stoltz continued his winning association with the track bringing up his third victory from three starts in them 1000m HMA GEOTECHNICAL BENCHMARK 64.

Annabel Neasham’s speedy More Than Ready gelding proved way too strong for his opposition, drawing away to win by almost two lengths. 

It was a well rated ride by apprentice Louise Day, who sat just off the speed, bringing the three-year-old to the outside on straightening and drawing away in the final stages. 

Day described it as Stotz’s most convincing win. 

“He obviously loves it around this track, its three from three now and Annabel has done a great job with him.

“To make him fire first up for probably his most convincing win is a great effort.

“When I asked him to go when we came around the bend he just picked up and it was a really class win.

“I would say he will be quite competitive come the winter.”

A $200,000 Magic Millions yearling, Stoltz was having his seventh career start, with three wins and two placings to his name. 

He was sent out $4.60 second favourite and beat Brett Partelle’s Perfect Style ($4.60), with Rahini Factor, trained by Greg McFarlane ($11) third. 

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Leave Me Be impressed jockey Lee Magorrian with her strong win in the HMA GROUP MAIDEN over 1200m.

The NIcconi filly, having her third career start, drew away from her opposition in the final stages to win by half a length. 

Magorrian believes the Chris Waller trained three-year-old has better wins in store. 

“I think she should get a city win this preparation,” he said. 

“She raced well the whole way today and knuckled down well over the last bit.

“I got on the back of the favourite from the 500m onwards and I knew she was going to be hard to beat.”

Magorrian said Leave Me Be would get over more ground, possibly up to 1600m. 

The winner defied a late betting drift, with Dehorned Unicorn earning strong support to start $2.80 favourite. 

The Joe Pride trained colt looked the winner in the straight, before being run down.

Leave Me Be was bred by former trainer Bob Haire, who retains a share in the ownership.

Dehorned Unicorn was runner-up, with the Bjorn Baker trained Cinque Torri ($3.10) third.

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Jarrod Austin’s confidence in Fattore Stella paid off with the mare breaking through for her debut win in the 1350m HMA INSTRUMENTATION 4YO & UP MAIDEN.

Jess Taylor gave the four-year-old a great rails run in the straight, drawing away on the line to win by more than a length. 

Austin had been confident Fattore Stella would be at her best. 

“It’s the first time in a long time that I’ve come to the races with her ticking every box,” he said. 

“She’s been working good and travelling better with the blinkers on.

“It certainly looked like an attractive race for her on paper and panned out that way.

“It wasn’t the strongest race, but you’ve got to be there and be in good order to win and she did just that.”

Austin praised the ride by Taylor.

“You rarely see Jess make a mistake. She rides a bit of work for us and it good to see her get a winner for us.”

Fattore Stella ($6.50) beat Company Line ($14) from the Nick Mitchell stable, with Above Reserve ($5) trained by Jim and Greg Lee, third.

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Do This All Day put in a superior staying performance to beat some of his more fancied rivals in the 2100m HMA POWER GENERATION MAIDEN.

The Clare Cunningham trained three-year-old was having his fourth career start and coming off a 2200m at Nowra on April 20 where he finished just two lengths behind the winner. 

Jason Collett gave the gelding a great ride, patiently sitting midfield before taking a rails run on straightening, bursting through in the final stages to win by a length. 

“I’ve always liked this horse from the first time I saw him in the paddock,” Cunningham said. 

“I had the pick of a couple of horses at Domeland and chose him. 

“He’s a really tough character and showed that today. He was on a ten day back up but showed us no reason not to run him. 

“He continues to relish his training and it was only his fourth start today.

“It is so good to get the job done and I think he has a bit more under his belt.”

A $540,000 Inglis yearling, Do This All Day beat Matthew Smith’s Bedford Square ($2.45), with Red Hot Zone ($12) almost four lengths behind in third. 

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The well supported Squanto kept punters happy with a convincing win in the HMA MATERIALS HANDLING CLASS 1 over 1600m. 

The Sebring gelding was given a gun ride by Brenton Avdulla, who waited patiently for a gap to open in the straight, before steering the three-year-old to a two and a half length win. 

The Gary Portelli trained Squanto, raced by Max Whitby and Neil Wherrett, was having his 10^th career start, resuming at Newcastle on April 10 for a third over 1200m.

Avdulla said Squanto should be able to progress through his grades. 

“It was a good training effort by Gaz. It’s never easy stepping up from 1200m to a mile and he went well. 

“With the quick tempo I had to back off and take my medicine and sit there behind them and be patient. 

“He quickened well when the gap came. It was a soft win in the end and there’s no reason why he can’t go through his grades.”

Squanto earned significant late support and was sent out $3.30 second favourite, beating Upscale ($10) from the John Sargent stable, with Peter Green’s Spanish Fighter ($3.70) a close third. 

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Brenton Avdulla and Tim Clark dominated the riding ranks both booting home doubles at the April 8 Autumn Racing meeting.

The wins brought up four in four days for Avdulla, who heads into the first day of the Championships at Randwick on Saturday, with a number of key rides.

Clark brought up his fourth winner for the week and could also be in for a huge day at Randwick with eight rides across the program.

Avdulla’s winners came on the Maher/Eustace filly Sassysav in the 2100m Maiden and Gary Portelli’s two-year-old Akihiro, who was impressive breaking her maiden over 1350m.

The wins took him to second in the Wyong Jockey’s Premiership just one behind Jason Collett on ten. 

Clark who has six Wyong wins to date, partnered Paul Perry’s promising three-year-old Saquon in the 1350m Class 1 and made it a race to race double on the Portelli trained Arctic Thunder in the 1350m Maiden.

Portelli had a winning double with Akihiro breaking through in the 1350m Maiden.

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Well-bred Savabeel filly Sassysav revelled in the heavy 10 conditions and outstayed her opposition to take out the DE BORTOLI WINES MAIDEN over 2100m, bringing up the first of Avdulla’s wins.

The filly was having her fourth career start and only her second in NSW. 

The Maher/ Eustace training partnership, who purchased Sassysav as a $370,000 yearling at the Karaka sales, started her twice over shorter distances at Pakenham before relocating her to their Sydney stable. 

She was luckless at her most recent start at Newcastle on March 30 when she finished fourth over the 1850m.

Avdulla had no such problems in the small field at Wyong, settling Sassysav just off the leaders until the final stages when she was able to run down Bedford Square on the line. 

The $1.80 favourite Oceanic Flash, from the Ryan/Alexiou stable, was under pressure on the turn and struggled on the heavy track, to finish third. 

Sassysav ($4.60) put more than a length on Matthew Smith’s Bedord Square ($3.20), with Oceanic Flash a further five lengths behind in third. 

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An impressive step up to Provincial grade by the Rodney Ollerton trained Circus Bound to take out the 1350m GO ELECTRICAL PROV & CTRY MAIDEN.

Ollerton is the fifth trainer of the Uncle Mo gelding, who joined his stable late last year.

He seems to have found the key to the four-year-old who posted a convincing three length win under strong riding by the in-form Christian Reith. 

He settled Circus Bound just behind the speed, circling the leaders on the turn before hitting his straps midway down the straight and pulling away for an easy win. 

Circus Bound was bought by Jake Alder, who works with Ollerton at his Broadmeadow stable, from an online auction site. 

He was having his fourth start for the stable, having been placed third at Scone and Quirindi before a last start fourth at Taree over 1600m.

“It’s great to get a winner for Jake, he does a good job for me.” Ollerton said. “The horse has been going along okay and it was a good win today. 

“I’ve only given him four starts and he earned a go at the Provincials. 

“I was a bit unsure if he’d handle the heavy going but he did and a great ride by Christian made the difference.”

Circus Bound was sent out at $5.50 after earning strong late support and beat the Stephen Jones trained Discompose ($16), with All At Sea ($9) from the James Harding stable, was third. 

Grant Allard’s $2.20 favourite Bright Eyed Girl didn’t handle the conditions and finished toward the rear of the field. 

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The Gary Portelli trained Akihiro appreciated a step back in grade to break through for a dominant win in the 1350m CARLTON DRAUGHT MAIDEN. 

The victory bringing up Avdulla’s winning double.

The two-year-old had been racing in much stronger company and was runner up in the Victory Vein at Randwick in October.

At his latest outing in the Group 3 Black Opal at Canberra in March he finished seventh. 

He looked sharp winning a trial at Warwick Farm on March 23 and carried that form into the Wyong race, easily putting away the small field. 

Akihiro, who was sent out $1.45 favourite, was an $80,000 Magic Millions yearling. 

He beat Klopp ($3.10) from the David Pfieffer stable, with Mick Attard’s Borsalina ($17), third. 

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It was a walk in the park for the Ryan/Alexiou trained Tectonicus who put more than five lengths on his rivals to win the TAB.COM.AU CLASS 1 over 1600m.

The consistent Not A Single Doubt gelding was given a great front running ride by apprentice Tyler Schiller.

He had him under a tight hold along the back and led by two on straightening, kicking away in the straight and before being eased to the line.

Tectonicus was sent out $1.12 short-priced favourite on the strength of his recent form, coming off a third at Kembla on March 12 over the 1400m and a second when resuming at Wyong over 1350m on February 25. 

His class prevailed with his second career win coming at start eight. 

The locally trained Finney ($20) from the Rodney Bailey stable was second, with Greg McFarlane’s Landstrasse ($6.50) third. 

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Shadow Colour broke a run of placings for a long overdue win for the Mark Newnham stable. 

The Hinchbrook gelding finally broke his duck after being placed in ten of his previous 11 starts, taking out the MARKETS 2259 AT WYONG RACE CLUB SUNDAY APRIL 11 MAIDEN over the 1100m.

A $65,000 Magic Millions yearling, Shadow Colour had been runner up on eight previous occasions, all on the Provincial circuit. 

“He’s finally done it today,” a relieved Robyn Fowler, representing the Newnham stable, said. 

“It was his day, and I was pretty confident when he was full of running on the corner. 

“He jumped really well, and I think the trial last week really brought him on. 

“Hopefully it’s a confidence builder and the start of a picket fence this time.”

Shadow Colour jumped well and was taken to the lead by Josh Parr, who maintained the front, pinching a break on the turn and holding out his rivals in the final stages. 

He beat the fast-finishing Godolphin runner Quatenus ($4.60) by a length, with Radiance ($6.50) also from the Godolphin yard, third. 

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Saquon continued the trend for the day of dominant wins, producing a convincing four and a half length victory in the JIM BEAM CLASS 1 over 1350m.

The Paul Perry trained three-year-old was sent out $1.60 favourite and didn’t disappoint with the win never in doubt. 

Tim Clark led from barrier to post in a perfectly rated front running ride, the first leg of a race to race double.

He gapped his rivals on the turn, relishing the heavy conditions, to post his most convincing win to date. 

Bringing up his second victory from six starts, the promising No Nay Never gelding beat Portelli’s Zachariah ($7) who put in an improved performance, with Sammy ($4.60) from the Lees stable, two lengths behind in third. 

Saquon, a $150,000 yearling, is raced by Perry and long-time clients Steve and Louise Gillard.

The same trio race Sky Lab, the second favourite in Saturday’s $2m Group 1 Australian Derby at Randwick. 

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The Portelli stable brought up a double with Artic Thunder, who clocked up her fourth career win in a thrilling finish. 

Tim Clark made it race to race wins, driving the Headwater filly to the line in the GREAT NORTHERN CONDITIONAL BENCHMARK 68 over 1350, to score by a narrow margin.

Artic Thunder, raced by Darby Syndications, was having her eighth career start and coming off a fourth at Goulburn on March 20. 

Clark settled the filly midfield, weaving a path in the straight before taking her wide to run down the leader Rumpshaker on the line.

Artic Thunder ($4.40) brought up her fourth win beating Nick Mitchell’s Rumpshaker ($11), with Damien Lane’s Thiswilldous ($7) putting in a good run for third. 

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Wyong specialist Dual Escape blitzed her opposition to bring up her fourth win on the track in the WYONG’S NEXT RACE MEETING THURSDAY APRIL 29 BENCHMARK 64 over 1100m.

The Denim Wynen trained and owned seven-year-old has had four wins since transferring from Kristen Buchanan in mid 2019, three of those at Wyong. 

The seven-year-old is also a strong performer on a heavy track, with three wins from seven starts. 

She was coming off a fourth at Gosford on March 27 over the 1100m and with conditions to suit, was sent out $4.80 in the small field.

Dual Escape showed her normal great speed from the gates and led throughout, posting a one and a half length win. 

With 10 wins and six placings from her 49 starts, she has now won more than $200,000 in prizemoney.

She brought up her latest win beating the Mark Newnham trained race favourite Time For Victory ($4.20), with Flash Fibian ($7.50), from the Paul Murray stable, third.