In just 12 months Sara Ryan has forged a name for herself in racing and this Friday she could go down in history by adding a Carlton Wyong Gold Cup to her growing resume.
At just 29, Ryan would become the youngest trainer to claim the prestigious Cup and the first local to do so in many years.
Irish import The Mediterranean and Group 3 winner Parry Sound line up for Ryan in the capacity field of 16.
“They are both going really well, and either is capable of winning the race,” Ryan said.
“To win a Wyong Cup would mean so much to me, it would be fantastic. We want the Cup to stay in Wyong.”
Ryan said she has always had a very big opinion of The Mediterranean, who was placed third in the Listed Winter Cup over 2400m at Rosehill in June.
“He’s a very interesting horse. He had very good form overseas but needed a wind operation when he came over here.
“It has taken ages to get him right and then when he came back from Queensland, he got travel sickness and needed a break.”
Ryan said she decided to take the Wyong and Newcastle Cup paths to see where he would progress.
“He’s a naturally fit horse and can retain that fitness. He’ll have to do a bit of work early from the barrier but will roll forward.”
Ryan has booked Reagan Bayliss for the ride and said he galloped both The Mediterranean and Parry Sound on Tuesday and was happy with them both.
Parry sound had been second emergency and Ryan was sweating on him getting a run.
“I’m really happy Parry Sound got a run because he’s absolutely flying. He was first up in the Rowley Mile and his stats indicate it’s the best he’s ever come back.
“He gets back so the barrier doesn’t really matter and I’m hoping to engage a senior rider.”
Ryan will have to contend with one of the strongest Cup fields in recent years to see her dream come true.
A full field of 16 runners have accepted with two emergencies. Chris Waller has three starters as he vies for his ninth Wyong Cup winner in 12 years.
Kris Lees saddles up the early favourite Kalapour, who took out the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap at Doomben in May.
Waller’s Olentia, a Group 3 winner in the autumn, is favourite for the Mona Lisa, the $200k Listed racing attracting a strong field of 15.
Damien Lane saddles up local hope Zorocat.
The Nathan Berry Medal for the leading rider over the two days will be decided following Cup Day, with Adam Hyeronimus the current leader on 11, over Tyler Schiller on 10 and Jean Van Overmeire on seven.
Nathan’s twin brother Tommy will be on course to present the medal.
The first of eight races gets underway at 12.45pm.
SELECTIONS:
Race 1 – 12.45pm: SENPOS POINT OF SALE PROVINCIAL BM64 (1600m): 1 BROADWAY BOUNCER, 2 Silvakia, 3 Oakfield Prince, 4 Blackcomb.
Race 2 – 1.20pm: WISEBERRY HERITAGE GROUP MIDWAY 4YO&UP MAIDEN (1350m): 1 MONOPOLY GIRL, 2 Drialle, 3 Bold Storm, 4 Miss Artfire.
How fitting that today’s feature race on our opening day of the Cup carnival should be won by a local – and on Ladies’ Day to boot!
Denim Wynen landed the Johnnie Roberts Memorial, named after the popular Wyong trainer who passed away in May 2020 after battling cancer, with her underrated mare Obvious Step ($6.50).
Ridden by Ashley Morgan, who scored on Newcastle sprinter Hard To Say in the Doomben opener yesterday, the six-year-old mare overcame a slow getaway and a troublesome run in the straight to prevail in a tight finish to the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350m).
Wynen has now won three races with Obvious Step, who began her career in Sydney and also was a thrice winner for her original trainer David Payne.
She dually accepted with Obvious Step, and pulled the right rein in withdrawing her from the Magic Millions Racing Women Benchmark 68 Handicap (1600m) against her own sex to stay at the shorter distance.
An overweight Morgan forfeited his two other bookings at the meeting, and was fined $100 by Racing NSW stewards.
Jockey Adam Hyeronimus made the most of a late pick-up mount to take the riding honours with a treble.
Hyeronimus won the first two races on Solar System and Global before replacing an overweight Aaron Bullock on local mare Oakfield Redgum in the sixth race, and was rewarded with the easiest of his three successes.
Bullock had four mounts at the meeting, and did not ride. Stewards will interview him about being overweight at a date to be fixed.
There was also a nice reward for Wyong trainer Damien Lane, who celebrated his birthday by winning with Oakfield Redgum.
Hyeronimus had Oakfield Redgum away smartly, and she never gave him – nor her backers – the slightest cause for concern, romping away in the straight to score by more than five lengths.
A plunge on debutante Countyourblessings went astray in the opening event, The Agency 3YO Maiden Plate (1200m).
Backed from odds against to start a dominant $1.80 favorite, the I Am Invincible filly, a $250,000 Magic Millions yearling buy at the Gold Coast last year, couldn’t overhaul another MM purchase SOLAR SYSTEM ($4.60), who cost more at $530,000.
The winner, a member of the Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott team, quickly gathered pace after jumping, took up the running on the rails and gave plenty to maintain a good break in the straight all the way to the post.
Countyourblessings was inclined to veer to the centre of the track over the last 100m, and never looked likely to reach the winner, but no doubt will take improvement from her first start.
Winning rider Adam Hyeronimus considers SOLAR SYSTEM is trending in the right direction after the Deep Field gelding had finished third at Wyong on August 3 when making his debut.
“He has improved every time he has been to the trials and races, and was good today,” Hyeronimus said.
Yarraville ($41), another making her debut, though beaten clearly, finished well to grab third placing, just ahead of Kristen Buchanan’s Team America ($14).
Sydney trainer Joe Pride was both delighted and relieved to see GLOBAL EMPIRE ($1.95 favorite) shed his maiden status in the Care 2 The Max 4YO&Up Maiden Handicap (1100m).
“He has been a bit frustrating, but has been slow maturing,” Pride said.
“That’s not to say he won’t get to where we hope he will, and it was good to see him do that today.”
Jockey Adam Hyeronimus, who clinched a double in the open two races, said “it was a good strong win”.
“He travelled nice and strong, and stretched out nicely when I asked him to go after straightening.”
Having his seventh start (he had been placed four times), GLOBAL EMPIRE didn’t have things his own way, being pressured by both Rinzai (4th) and KongKong Harmony (last) up front.
He shook them off making the home turn, and was never threatened thereafter in defeating Let’s Try ($6.50) by two and a half lengths, with a further one and a half lengths to third placegetter, Louise Munce’s Ranhita ($18).
GLOBAL EMPIRE trialled six times, starting early last year, before making his debut when placed later that year at Hawkesbury in October over 1000m behind the talented and subsequent Listed winner Red Card.
THE third leader in a row won when Sara Ryan struck a blow for Wyong trainers with lightly-raced FRANK EXPRESS ($15).
Sydney’s champion apprentice Zac Lloyd, at his first ride returning from a suspension, bounced straight back to the winning list, leading throughout in the Iris Foundation Benchmark 68 Handicap (2100m).
A four-year-old son of European champion Frankel, FRANK EXPRESS made it two victories on end, following a 1600m breakthrough in a Newcastle Midway Maiden on August 10.
“I always thought he would get a middle distance,” Ryan said afterwards.
“Zac rode him a treat, getting away with cheap sectionals around the back.”
FRANK EXPRESS was having only his fifth start and beat a game Mr Bond ($5), who lost his off fore plate in running and showed a return to form.
Hat-trick seeker Vincenzo ($3.60), who fluffed the start by jumping in the air when the gates opened, and cost himself any chance of achieving that.
Disappointment of the race was another recent Newcastle winner Bulbarrow ($3.10 favorite). He was also chasing a hat-trick, but was under pressure on the home turn and dropped out to finish last of the eight runners.
A subsequent veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities.
JOCKEY Jean Van Overmeire continued his brilliant start to the new season, clinching his 16th winner on Hawkesbury mare SACRED GIRL ($11) in the Robson Civil Projects Provincial Maiden Plate (1600m).
Such has been his form that he shares the lead in the NSW premiership with Sydney’s champion jockey James McDonald.
Van Overmeire gave the Sacred Falls mare, a $65,000 New Zealand buy two years ago, a perfect run behind fellow Hawkesbury representative Mr Papera, a well-backed $2.35 favorite, and finished best to beat him narrowly.
He had the mare away quickly at the jump and then took a trail behind Mr Papera, who had worked across from his outside barrier to take up the running, but lost his near fore plate during the race.
Tracey Bartley’s Stanczyk ($2.50) was given every chance and wound up a close third.
SACRED GIRL had five trials without racing for a leading Sydney stable, and has now raced four times since being transferred to leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup.
“I’m really happy she won for Tricolours Racing and a large group of owners,” Widdup said.
“She has shown enough ability to win a race, but has been a bit laidback in her races.
“I tried blinkers, but they didn’t work, so we put a nose roll on her today, and we were able to ride her more positively, and she did the job for us.”
Four-year-old mare KINGSTON CHARM ($4.40) has a real affinity with Wyong as her jockey Tyler Schiller pointed out after her win in the ODA Advisory Class 1 Handicap (1600m).
“She seems to like the track as both her wins have been here,” Schiller said.
“KINGSTON CHARM won her Maiden earlier in July when Reece Jones rode her.”
Schiller had the mount on the daughter of Exosphere for the first time at her last run when third in a Class 1 Handicap (1600m) at Hawkesbury on August 8.
“She isn’t a mare you can bustle, so I was happy to be patient on her and she travelled comfortably throughout,” he said.
“I thought she put them away pretty comfortably too.”
Once Schiller got a gap on KINGSTON CHARM in the straight, she dashed quickly and was too good for Golden Passport ($4) and roughie Muckabout ($51).
Forget the $2.90 favorite Rise To It’s defeat. He had no luck at all in the run, was widest on the home turn and kept battling right to the post to just miss third placing. He can soon make amends for hat defeat.
WYONG trainer Damien Lane celebrated a birthday with a winner – and there was never any doubt about it.
He was confident beforehand OAKFIELD REDGUM ($2.60 favorite) could do the job in the Magic Millions Racing Women F&M Benchmark 68 Handicap (1600m, and didn’t have a moment’s worry.
With Aaron Bullock an absentee, Adam Hyeronimus was the replacement rider and rode the easiest of his three winners at the meeting.
Hyeronimus quickly had OAKFIELD REDGUM into stride and she travelled smoothly in front.
It was obvious on the home turn that the five-year-old daughter of Dundeel was going to be hard to run down.
She scored by more than five lengths from Lyrical Lady ($11), who ran on gamely, and Tornado Light ($31) was third.
OAKLFIELD REDGUM was Lane’s second winner of the season (All Too Sneaky was his first at Dubbo on August 13, and he has also had five minor placings).
“The map looked really good for her today,” he said. “She is better if she can find the front and get a couple of cheap sectionals, then roll along from the 500m.
“OAKFIELD REDGUM Is better ridden that way rather than sit and sprint, also likes soft ground.
“Whilst she hasn’t won out of turn, she has matured into a nice mare and seems to be putting it all together.”
Jockey Ashley Morgan has had a busy weekend – but well worth it.
He won the opening race at Doomben yesterday on Newcastle-trained Hard To Say, and landed the Johnnie Roberts Memorial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350m) here on local OBVIOUS STEP ($6.50), who was slow to jump and didn’t have the clearest of passages either in the straight.
Morgan eventually got her around the heels of $2.90 favorite Rockabilly Rebel, and she drove hard to take the major prize.
In a close finish where any of several horses could have won in the closing stages, OBVIOUS STEP got there in time to edge out Rockabilly Rebel and $41 roughie She’s Independent, who made the running.
Well-backed Lady Shenanigans ($4.40) was a close fourth.
Wyong trainer Denim Wynen has done a terrific job with OBVIOUS STEP since taking over her preparation last year.
She has won three races with the daughter of Sidestep, who has also been placed on seven occasions in her care.
WRITTEN Tycoon three-year-old QUEEN OF THE MILE made it two wins from three starts since joining the Michael Freedman stable, and could not have been more impressive in doing so.
Ridden by Tom Sherry, QUEEN OF THE MILE ($4) was resuming, having also easily won the Gold Nugget 2YO Handicap (1100m) at Bathurst in April.
She loomed up menacingly to tackle front-runner Nonshalant ($7.50), and swept away to beat her convincingly.
The $26 outsider Proud Image was third, with Allan Kehoe’s $3.70 favorite One Kind fourth after appearing to have every chance.
A $180,000 Magic Millions yearling buy last year, Queen Of The Mile looks destined to make the grade in town.
Once You Were ($6.50) ran fifth, but had absolutely no luck in the straight, and is worth another chance next time out.
Hawkesbury husband and wife training partners Mitch and Desiree Kearney have been winless since the couple’s bargain buy Lady Shenanigans was first home at Taree’s April Fool’s Day meeting on April 1.
But they haven’t lost confidence and believe their frustrating drought can be broken with the same horse at Wyong’sopening day of the Gold Cup carnival on Sunday.
The booking of Sydney’s champion apprentice Zac Lloyd for Lady Shenanigans in the Johnnie Roberts Memorial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350m), named in honour of the late popular Wyong trainer, has boosted their confidence.
Placed four times since that Taree victory, the six-year-old gelding has drawn nicely (barrier two in a field of 10) and the forecast of some more rain – Wyong is currently a “Soft 6” – was music to Team Kearney’s ears.
“Lady Shenanigans is rock-hard fit; we’ve never had him any more ready,” Desiree Kearney said.
“I’m confident he can get us back into the winning list.
“Mitch rang Zac’s father Jeff, who manages his bookings, and he took the ride straight away.
“It’s been a tough time over the last few months, and we’ve had a good cleanout of our stable.
“You get attached to horses, and thus it is never easy to move them on.
“But we have culled five in the last six weeks as they weren’t performing, and we’re down to eight horses.
“Lady Shenanigans can give us a real boost by winning on Sunday.”
There is no doubt the Zoustar gelding has been a wonderful performer for the popular couple’s stable – and they own him themselves.
Ever on the lookout for an online bargain, Desiree Kearney found the then unraced and unusually-named Lady Shenanigans at an April 2021 sale, and bought him for $1750 after he had fetched $300,000 as a Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling in 2019.
The Kearneys have won five races (along with 12 placings) with Lady Shenanigans, who has earned just over $153,000prizemoney.
His wet track prowess is such that all his wins have been on wet ground; three on soft tracks and two on heavy surfaces.
Whilst he isn’t racing at Wyong, Team Kearney is keeping fingers crossed multiple city winner Heza Gentleman can make a successful comeback.
The now seven-year-old, who gave the couple a memorable city breakthrough at Warwick Farm in August 2020 and was the star of the Canterbury night session in late 2021 by winning three races on the bounce, has been sidelined since June last year after fracturing a sesamoid.
“Heza Gentleman is back at the stable, and walking and swimming,” Desiree Kearney said.
“We will gradually step up his program and then get him x-rayed again.
“Whilst we’re hopeful we can get him back to the races, we will stop straight away if he shows any sign that he isn’t going to make it.”
Fellow Hawkesbury trainer Fabio Martino also has a good opportunity for a provincial breakthrough, with the consistent Mr Papera (Alysha Collett), in the Robson Civil Projects Provincial Maiden Plate (1600m).
The Winning Rupert five-year-old has been placed at both starts since resuming, at Newcastle over 1400m and 1600m on July 29 and August 10 respectively, when also ridden by Collett.
One of provincial racing’s newest trainers, Martino clinched his first and only success to date, with Eliseo at Canberra in November last year.
Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees has pulled the plug on a Doomben start on Saturday with Ventura Ocean, who instead will be a rival in Lady Shenanigans’ race.’
Ventura Ocean drew poorly in a Benchmark 70 Handicap (1350m) in Brisbane, and stable apprentice Ben Osmond, who won on Cheerful Legend midweek on the Kensington track, claims 3kg to lessen the gelding’s 63kg impost.
Experienced Northern Rivers jockey Raymond Spokes will make a rare visit to the provincials to continue a successful association with Wyong trainer Allan Kehoe’s promising filly One Kind in the CBWN Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m).
Spokes has partnered the lightly-raced Sebring Sun three-year-old’s three wins to date; the latest in a Class 2 Handicap (1000m) at Tuncurry on August 11 when resuming.
The eight-race program begins at 12.30pm, and the rail is out 3m for the entire circuit.
SELECTIONS:
RACE 1: THE AGENCY 3YO MAIDEN PLATE, 1200m: 1 DUCASSE, 2 Solar System, 3 Capzinzi, 4 Countyourblessings
RACE 2: CARE 2 THR MAX 4YO&UP MAIDEN HCP, 1100m: 1 GLOBAL EMPIRE, 2 Wonder Missile, 3 Separatist, 4 Hong Kong Harmony
Hawkesbury husband and wife training partners Mitch and Desiree Kearney have been winless since the couple’s bargain buy Lady Shenanigans was first home at Taree’s April Fool’s Day meeting on April 1.
But they haven’t lost confidence and believe their frustrating drought can be broken with the same horse at Wyong’s opening day of the Gold Cup carnival on Sunday.
The booking of Sydney’s champion apprentice Zac Lloyd for Lady Shenanigans in the Johnnie Roberts Memorial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350m), named in honour of the late popular Wyong trainer, has boosted their confidence.
Placed four times since that Taree victory, the six-year-old gelding has drawn nicely (barrier two in a field of 10) and the forecast of some more rain – Wyong is currently a “Soft 6” – was music to Team Kearney’s ears.
“Lady Shenanigans is rock-hard fit; we’ve never had him any more ready,” Desiree Kearney said.
“I’m confident he can get us back into the winning list.
“Mitch rang Zac’s father Jeff, who manages his bookings, and he took the ride straight away.
“It’s been a tough time over the last few months, and we’ve had a good cleanout of our stable.
“You get attached to horses, and thus it is never easy to move them on.
“But we have culled five in the last six weeks as they weren’t performing, and we’re down to eight horses.
“Lady Shenanigans can give us a real boost by winning on Sunday.”
There is no doubt the Zoustar gelding has been a wonderful performer for the popular couple’s stable – and they own him themselves.
Ever on the lookout for an online bargain, Desiree Kearney found the then unraced and unusually-named Lady Shenanigans at an April 2021 sale, and bought him for $1750 after he had fetched $300,000 as a Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling in 2019.
The Kearney’s have won five races (along with 12 placings) with Lady Shenanigans, who has earned just over $153,000 prizemoney.
His wet track prowess is such that all his wins have been on wet ground; three on soft tracks and two on heavy surfaces.
Fellow Hawkesbury trainer Fabio Martino also has a good opportunity for a provincial breakthrough, with the consistent Mr Papera (Alysha Collett), in the Robson Civil Projects Provincial Maiden Plate (1600m).
The Winning Rupert five-year-old has been placed at both starts since resuming, at Newcastle over 1400m and 1600m on July 29 and August 10 respectively, when also ridden by Collett.
One of provincial racing’s newest trainers, Martino clinched his first and only success to date, with Eliseo at Canberra in November last year.
Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees has pulled the plug on a Doomben start on Saturday with Ventura Ocean, who instead will be a rival in Lady Shenanigans’ race.’
Ventura Ocean drew poorly in a Benchmark 70 Handicap (1350m) in Brisbane, and stable apprentice Ben Osmond, who won on Cheerful Legend midweek on the Kensington track, claims 3kg to lessen the gelding’s 63kg impost.
Experienced Northern Rivers jockey Raymond Spokes will make a rare visit to the provincials to continue a successful association with Wyong trainer Allan Kehoe’s promising filly One Kind in the CBWN Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m).
Spokes has partnered the lightly-raced Sebring Sun three-year-old’s three wins to date; the latest in a Class 2 Handicap (1000m) at Tuncurry on August 11 when resuming.
The eight-race program begins at 12.30pm, and the rail is out 3m for the entire circuit.
SELECTIONS:
RACE 1: THE AGENCY 3YO MAIDEN PLATE, 1200m: 1 DUCASSE, 2 Solar System, 3 Capzinzi, 4 Countyourblessings
RACE 2: CARE 2 THR MAX 4YO&UP MAIDEN HCP, 1100m: 1 GLOBAL EMPIRE, 2 Wonder Missile, 3 Separatist, 4 Hong Kong Harmony
Locals finished the program strongly at our Winter Race Day with Allan Kehoe and Kim Waugh both saddling up their first winners of the new season.
It was a meeting dominated by favourites, who were successful in six of the eight races, with doubles to Matthew Smith, the Peter and Paul Snowden and Jason Collett.
Kehoe kicked off the season with his consistent galloper Dreamdeel ($2.90fav) taking out the 1600m BM64, while Waugh’s Chipper broke through for a well-deserved win in the 1000m Midway BM64.
The 2022/23 season was one the best on record for Kehoe with 17 wins and he was confident his Dundeel gelding could start the new one with a victory.
Jason Collett took him to the lead around the 1200m mark stringing out the field before giving him a breather mid race. He held out the fast-finishing Oakfield Redgum to win by a head.
Kehoe said he had made the decision to start Dreamdeel in preference to a gallop leading into a Midway on Saturday week.
“We thought it would be better for him to go around today and it paid off,” he said. “I thought his class was a bit better than the rest of the field and that’s how it worked out.”
It was a Wyong trifecta with Brett Partelle’s Commander Bell ($21) putting in an improved performance to finish third.
Waugh kicked off the defense of her Wyong Trainers Premiership with Chipper ($2.40fav) bringing up his second win at start 13, with six minor placings.
The No Nay Never four-year-old had proved hard to work out in recent starts but Waugh’s decision to add blinkers and Jay Ford ‘s to take the sit in running, proved to be a winning combination.
“He’s going really well and had been there abouts in his runs this preparation without winning. We’ve moved him around in distance to see what works best and the addition of blinkers kept him more focused.”
Vegas Raider ($7.10) stormed home for second and isn’t far off a while, while Rodney Bailey’s Mr Bingo ($3.70).
Angela Davies Coco Dreaming ($6.50) may have bucked the trend for favorites but attracted the biggest cheer of the afternoon from her excited connections.
Davies has had to be patient with the four-year-old Pariah mare who was having her first start in the 1000m Provincial Maiden.
It was an impressive win by Coco Dreaming with Andrew Gibbons circling the field on the turn before drawing away in the straight to win by a length.
Nathan Doyle’s Boston Rocks ($1.65) attracted plenty of attention from punters sent out $1.65 favourite. The Hellbent three-year-old didn’t disappoint putting almost three lengths on his rivals, with Ashley Morgan in the saddle.
Doyle has a good opinion of Boston Rocks, who made it back-to-back wins with the Wyong victory.
“He’s shown us that he has a lot of talent to date. He’s got a bit to learn so we will take him through his grades,” Doyle said.
There was plenty of support for Snowden first starter Fire Star ($1.40) in the 1200m 3Y0 Maiden and the Deep Field colt got the job done but not without a late scare for punters.
Tom Sherry was positive from the gates and held the lead throughout, the result looking beyond doubt before Gold Bullion ($6) stormed home in the final stages to come within a short head of Fire Star.
The win was impressive, with a good watch on Waterhouse/Bott trained Gold Bullion when he gets over more ground.
Snowden’s made it a winning double when Zarrose ($2.60) defied a late betting drift to take out the 1350m Maiden.
The Exosphere filly looked impressive when finishing second on debut at Hawkesbury on July 9 over the 1300m and brought that form to Wyong to break through for her first win.
Andrew Atkins came from the clouds in the final stages after being placed awkwardly behind tiring runners and beat the Freedman trained Sense Of Humour ($14) by a half-length.
Matthew Smith relied on Wyong expert Tim Clark to get the job done on promising stayer Deep Voyage ($2.90) and he didn’t disappoint steering the four-year-old to victory in the 2100m Class 1 & Maiden.
Clark settled the Darby Racing gelding midfield and was able to angle clear from a tricky spot in the straight and find fresh air late to score by a length.
Smith was complimentary of Deep Voyage considering there is still plenty of improvement to come.
“He is doing a really good job for a horse in his first preparation,” Smith said.
“He is in no way seasoned just yet so it’s a bit hard for him in these races at this stage of his career and I think next time in, he will be a nice horse.”
Kristen Buchanan’s Blue Guitar ($26) battled on well to finish second after leading for much of the race.
Matthew Smith’s Chain Of Gold ($2.50) continued the trend of favourites greeting the judge, the Sooboog four-year-old’s second win in the 1350m BM68 giving both Smith and Jason Collett a winning double.
Smith had expected the gelding to improve on his last start at Taree, where he finished well back in the field.
“Everything went south that day, but I was confident if he could get back to his form two runs back, he would be competitive. It’s a big step up from a class 2 to a BM68 and I don’t do it very often,” Smith said.
After sealing her first ever Wyong Trainers Premiership Kristen Buchanan is keen to kick off the new season in winning style.
A season best 37 wins in 2022/23 saw Buchanan share her home track leading trainers title with Kim Waugh, who has taken out the premiership for the previous five years.
The title came down to the second last day when Buchanan saddled up Stenson Wallman in the 1000m 2YO Maiden at Muswellbrook. The promising Invader colt got the job done in impressive style, much to the relief of his trainer.
“To win the Wyong Trainers Premiership is a huge deal to me,” Buchanan said. “I’ve had it in my sights for a few years, but Kim is such a good trainer and hard to run down.
“I put in a fairly concentrated effort over the last few weeks and it paid off. It’s a great result for the stable.”
Buchanan had a nervous wait to see if Stenson Wallman would start at Muswellbrook. Owners Trilogy Racing had accepted a good offer for the colt to race in Hong Kong but found out late Saturday night the deal had fallen through, allowing Buchanan to race him on Sunday.
“I’ve never been more determined in my life to win a race and it was great to get the job done and in such good fashion.”
Buchanan hopes her trio of runners at Wyong on Thursday can get the new season off to a winning start.
She is excited to get two-year-old Hell Of A Show to the track after three good trials.
The Hellbent colt debuts in the 1000m Provincial Maiden with Ashley Morgan in the saddle. He impressed winning two trials at Wyong and Rosehill in May and came home nicely in his latest trial at Gosford on July 26.
“He had two good trials and then we gave him a bit of a let up. He did everything he had to do at Gosford and finished off nicely. I expect him to race well.”
Buchanan believes her Shamus Award four-year-old Blue Guitar, also to be ridden by Morgan, will appreciate the step up in distance in the 2100m Class 1 & Maiden.
“I’ve been looking forward to getting up out to the 2100m and just letting him roll forward. He’s been placed at his last two starts and this race should suit.
“He’s very consistent and we put the blinkers on last start which woke him up a bit. He struggles to change gears but will cover the ground and race well if he can build momentum.”
Three-year-old filly Zara’s Hope lines up in the 1350m Maiden and Buchanan expects her to race well. She is coming off a fourth at Gosford over 1100m on July 22nd.
“She’s a very clean winded filly and the tempo was a bit too slick for her at Gosford. I think the extra ground on Thursday should really suit her. Anna Roper should suit her as well.”
Buchanan is undecided if she will run Gardenzio and Our Gigi Rocks in the 1200m Class 1.
Four-year-old Menari gelding Garadenzio, was a Wyong winner two starts ago before finishing fifth at his latest outing at Gosford on July 22.
Lightly raced four-year-old mare Our Gigi Rocks won on debut at Port Macquarie in March and was uplaced at her next start before spelling.
“I’ll weigh the field up before deciding if either will start,” Buchanan said.
The first of eight races gets underway at 12.25pm.
SELECTIONS:
Race 1-12.25pm: GOOD LUCK ROBIN TAYLOR IN YOUR NEW GOLF CLUB GM ROLE 3YO MAIDEN: 1GOLD BULLION, 2 Fire Star, 3 Rockabilly Rebel, 4 Solar System.
Race 2 – 1.05pm: BOOK YOUR NEXT FUNCTION AT WYONG RACE CLUB CLASS 1 & MAIDEN: 1 DEEP VOYAGE, 2 Blue Guitar, 3 Interventionist, 4 The Professor.
Race 3 – 1.45pm: LADIES DAY – AUGUST 17 MAIDEN (1350m): ! ZARROSE, 2 Zara’s Hope, 3 Sense Of Humour, 4 Rule Of Salex.
Race 4 – 2.20pm: DE BORTOLI WINES PROVINCIAL MAIDEN (1000m): 1 STAR MAGIC, 2 Hongkong Harmony, 3 Hell Of A Show, 4 Coco Dreaming.
Race 5 – 2.55pm: TAB.COM.AU CLASS 1 (1200m): 1 BOSTON ROCKS, 2 Serene Nic, 3 Gardenzio, 4 Astral Thoughts.
Race 6 – 3.35pm: CARLTON WYONG GOLD CUP FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1 BM64 (1600m): 1 ALLHALLOWIDE, 2 Martini Crusader, 3 Nitride, 4 Reach Beyond.
Race 7 – 4.10pm: TO THE MOON AND BACK IN MEMORY OF LYN GALE MIDWAY BM64 (1000m): 1 VEGAS RAIDER, 2 Mr Bingo, 3 Bring Glory, 4 Chipper.
Race 8 – 4.50pm; WYONG’S NEXT RACE DAY SUNDAY AUGUST 27 CONDITION BM68 (1350m): ! Princess Amira, 2 Danza In The Dark, 3 Chain Of Gold, 4 Appetite For Risk.
