Month: July 2022

DEAD-HEATS abounded today – but not in races!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

RACE 8: COCA COLA EUROPACIFIC PARTNERS & ARCADE TRADER BENCHMARK 64 HCP, 1100m

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.

Race 3 – 1.30pm: ACCOLADE WINES & NESTLE PROFESSIONAL MAIDEN HCP, 1600m: 1 ADORABLE MISS, 2 Pacific Warrior, 3 Nosey Parker, 4 Riccos.

Race 4 – 2.15pm: BISHOP COLLINS & AUSTBROKERS 2YO MAIDEN HCP, 1300m: 1 SIGHTSEER, 2 Ring Ahoy, 3 Gotta Fly, 4 Highland Cathedral..

Race 5 – 2.50pm: DAILY PRESS & CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES CLASS 1 HCP, 1200m: 1 SIYATA, 2 Golden Gate, 3 Zeminnika, 4 Highly Ambitious.

Race 6 – 3.25pm: REGNIS REFRIGERATION & SONS & HARVEY NORMAN COMMERCIAL DIVISION BENCHMARK 64 HCP, 1350m: 1 TICK TOCK BOOM, 2 Air Of Alsace, 3 Enjolras, 4 Real Key.

Race 7 – 4.05pm: WYONG ROOS FOUNDATION CONDITIONAL BENCHMARK 68 HCP, 1600m: 1 I WANT ONE, 2 Freedom Square, 3 Flower Moon, 4 Star Sparks.

Race 8 – 4.45pm: COCA COLA EUROPACIFIC PARTNERS & ARCADE TRADER BENCHMARK 64 HCP, 1100m: 1 LAKE KISTORIA, 2 Dijon, 3 Concocted, 4 Prince Invincible.

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In a day of many highlights local trainer Sara Ryan had an afternoon she will never forget, saddling up her first winner, Prefect Match, just her 17^th runner. 

Mark Newnham took out the training honours in a competitive day of racing, with Sneaky Paige and Roma Avenue taking out their respective races.

Mark Minervini’s Fire And Ice broke through in the 2YO Maiden and looks to have a bright future, while Annabel Neisham’s Regal Pom claimed his maiden in impressive style, winning by more than eight lengths. 

Check out all the highlights below.  

A good training effort by Richard LItt saw Snitzel gelding Roccaforte victorious at his first attempt over the 2000m.

It was a month between runs for the three-year-old, but he fought on strongly in the straight to take out the HAPPY RETIREMENT JEFF ENGELBRECHT CLASS 1 & MAIDEN.

Brenton Avdulla was keen to be on pace from the outset and was able to cross and settle Roccaforte behind the leader from the outside gate. 

He sat just off the leaders throughout and was able to hold out the $2.20 favourite Queenmaker in the final stages to win by a half-length. 

It was the second victory for the winner from 12 starts, his latest outing a second over the 1800m at Hawkesbury, seeing him sent out as $2.50 second favourite at Wyong. 

There were excuses for Edward Cumming’s Queenmaker, who failed to settle in the early stages, with Willie Pike forced three wide in the back straight. 

The Wayne Wilkes trained King Kidau ($7) was third. 

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A frustrating run of placings came to an impressive end for Annabel Neasham and connections of Regal Pom after the gelding blitzed his opposition in the ALLAN DENHAM RACING 3YO MAIDEN over 1600m.

The stable had always had a good opinion of Regal Pom, a $60,000 Magic Millions yearling by Press Statement.

But he had been unable to break through in his previous 11 starts, where he was placed on seven occasions. 

All that became a distant memory after stable apprentice Ellen Hennessey pinged the gates and dominated throughout to win by more than eight lengths. 

“He has had plenty of chances, but we were confident today was his day,” Hennessey said. 

“We thought the conditions would suit with the soft track, him being up to the mile and in peak condition. He’s a bit of a grinder and we thought being at Wyong we would get going early and it worked out.”

Edward Cumming’s $2.45 favourite Flyaway was runner-up and seemed to have every opportunity, while Stephen Farley’s Party Stop ($8) put in another honest performance to finish third. 

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Mark Newnham’s Roma Avenue justifies his $1.80 favouritism taking out the 1350m COOMBS FAMILY MAIDEN.

The Star Witness three-year-old earned strong support, after two third placings at Canterbury in his past two starts. 

Newnham had been confident leading into the race. 

“I think he’s at his right distance today. He handles the wet ground and has drawn inside. I’d be disappointed if he didn’t win.”

Tom Sherry positioned the winner just off the leader and eventual runner-up Waller’s I Am Geronimo ($19) in the early stages, before hitting the front in the straight. 

It was a race in two from the 600m, with Roma Avenue’s class showing out in the final stages, posted a length and a half win.

Inuwashi ($9), also from the Waller stable, was third, with the both the placegetters not far off a win. 

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A confident ride by Jean Van Overmeire helped secure victory for Verzenay in the 1200m TAB.COM.AU PROV & CTRY MAIDEN.

Trainer Brad Widdup had been confident the All Too Hard filly, a $75,000 Magic Millions purchase, would put her best foot forward after a second at Newcastle last start. 

“She’s a very honest filly and has drawn well today. It looks like a nice race for her, and I think she gets her chance,” he said.

Van Overmeire angled the three-year-old off the fence from the 600m, taking her to the outside on straightening. 

Verzenay ($3) showed a great turn of foot to hit the front in the final stages and win by half a length, at her seventh career start. 

Martini Crusader ($26) trained by Stephen O’Halloran rattled home for second and will be one to follow, while there were no excuses for Blake Ryan’s $2.50 favourite Separatist, who finished third.

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Mark Minervini looks to have a talented colt on his hands after Fire And Ice ($2.40fav) out classed his rivals to breakthrough for his first win. 

Hugh Bowman partnered the son of Hellbent in the 1000m CANADIAN CLUB 2YO MAIDEN, after riding him in two recent metropolitan trials. 

The win was never in doubt after Bowman settled him in front on the rails, pulling away in the final stages to put almost five lengths on his rivals. 

Fire And Ice had three starts in strong Sydney grade in his first preparation before spelling. 

Minervini has always had a good opinion of the colt and now plans to target the $1m Golden Rose at Rosehill in September.

“He’s an exciting prospect for the stable and we’ve paid up for the Golden Rose,” he said. “I haven’t raced a colt with this sort of ability and temperament for a long time.”

The Gary Portelli stable filled with the minor placings with Nonshalaant ($5) and Millybella ($6.50).

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Deep Field filly Sneaky Paige ($3.70) bounced back to form to bring up a double for Mark Newnham and Tyler Schiller.

The three-year-old filly had been disappointing at her last start, finishing ninth on the Kensington track over 1150m, but put that form behind her to bring up win number two in the WYONG RACE CLUB FUNCITON CENTRE CLASS 1 over 1100m.

Sherry took Sneaky Paige to lead from the start and was able to dictate terms in front, staving off the challenges in the final stages to win by a long neck. 

Newnham said there had been no apparent reason for the filly’s last start failure and her work since had been good. 

“We thought she would be able to put herself right up on the pace and being a Canterbury winner on wet ground wouldn’t hurt her chances,” he said. 

Runner-up Critical Time ($26) looks the one to follow, with the Freedman trained race favourite Allusionist ($2.90) third. 

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Jason Attard was full of praise for Sovereign Express after he made it back-to-back wins in the GREAT NORTHERN CLASS 1 over 1600m.

The Bullet Train four-year-old was coming off a Newcastle win over the 1400m on June 25 and Attard had been concerned he might be a bit fresh.

“I was worried, but he settled nicely coming to the turn,” he said. “He was off the bridle in the straight and is still learning to race but loomed up on the outside and was too good. 

“We weren’t sure he’d handle the track and it’s good that he’s tractable. It was a beaut win.”

Rory Hutchings had Sovereign Express on the rails and just off the pace, pulling to the outside in the straight and running down the leader in the final stages.

He was sent out $3.20 second favourite and beat the Anthony Cummings trained favourite Believe So ($2.40), with Beenvane ($4.40) from the Jason Coyle stable, third. 

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A super finish to the program with local trainer Sara Ryan saddling up her first winner after Prefect Match took out the 1300m WYONG’S NEXT RACEDAY THURSDAY JULY 28 BM64.

Ryan has only been licenced for the past year and has had 17 starters after recently taking over as trainer for Domeland. 

Prefect Match was having his first start for the stable and was resuming after two trials. 

Wet track specialist Jason Collett came from near the rear of the field, storming down the outside to win by a length. 

It was the second win from seven starts for the progressive Brazen Beau gelding, a $400,000 Magic Millions yearling.

Prefect Match ($9.50) beat the Lees trained $2.60 favourite Terrameades, with Real Key ($7.50) from the Bateup stable, third.