Month: January 2024

A large crowd, a win for the locals, a double to talented apprentice Anna Roper and competitive racing paved the way for a super afternoon at Wyong’s final Summerdayz meeting. 

Damien Lane’s Pluckten scored the local win and while he started at longer odds than the more fancied runners, the victory was no surprise to the trainer. 

The three-year-old Pluck gelding was having just his third start in the 1350m SKY CHANNEL PROVINCIAL MAIDEN and Lane expected him to race well. 

“He’s a progressive horse and I was surprised at the odds,” he said. “He has come such a long way and I think the owners have one who will go on with the job. He is still working out what it’s all about and I think he will keep improving after a break and come back a nice horse.”

Lane was full of praise for his apprentice Anna Roper who brought up a winning double on Pluckten ($6.50). 

“Anna got caught three wide early but opted to go forward which proved to be a winning move. She is a big part of our stable now and has a bright future.”

Price Racing’s short priced favourite Fugitiva ($1.70) looked like he would dash clear turning in the straight, but Pluckten held him out on the line to win by a long neck, with the Perry trained Cup Of Ambition ($13) fighting on well for third. 

Roper’s first winner came via an upset in the staying race with Kylie Gavenlock’s Tina’s Rock ($10) too strong in the final stages over the 2100m. 

A great ride by Roper helped secure the Pierro mare’s first victory in the TAB.COM.AU CLASS 1 & MAIDEN, beating Ross McConville’s $2 favourite Tell The Future. 

“It’s just a wonderful win,” Gavenlock said. “This mare had double colic surgery before this preparation, and we thought we’d lose her. Owners Greg and Donna Kolivos stuck their necks out and hung in with her. They deserve this win and so does the mare.

“It was a really good ride by Anna. I thought if we were in touch with them on the turn, we were a good chance.”

There were excuses for Tell The Future who didn’t handle the turn but still fought on gamely. 

Ben Smith’s progressive gelding Outakandy justified his short price with a dominant win in the HUCKEL EXCAVATIONS MIDWAY CLASS 1 over 1600m.

The three-year-old was coming off a last start victory at Kembla and punters were confident he could do it again, backing him into $1.45. 

Zac Lloyd took a sit behind the leader and eventual runner-up Gardenzio, before hitting the front in the straight and drawing away to win by two and a half lengths. 

“I was on the best horse, and he proved himself, “Lloyd said. “He is still a fair bit underdeveloped with a bit of growing and maturing to do. He could step out over further as he progresses.”

Kristen Buchanan’s Gardenzio ($3.80), getting out to the mile for the first time fought on gamely, but may not of appreciated the rise in distance.

It was a nail-biting finish in the 1200m WYONG LEAGUES GROUP F&M MAIDEN with the Waterhouse/Bott trained Koby Girl ($2.50fav) getting the bob on the line denying Kristen Buchanan’s Kervette ($11).

And while the judge went Koby Girl’s way, the Written By filly had to survive a protest before correct weight was declared. 

It had been a race in two in the straight, with winning jockey Regan Bayliss and Lee Magorrian going head-to-head to the line. 

Neil Paine, representing the Waterhouse/Bott stable, said they had taken their time with Koby Girl, who sported the colours made famous by Gai’s father Tommy Smith. 

“They’ve always had an opinion of this filly, but she needed time, and the connections were patient. The stable thinks she will get over further in time, she’s got a lot of improvement to come.”

An excited group of owners cheered on Richard and Will Freedman’s Merchant Empire ($4.20) who caused another boil over winning the 1200m CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES CG&E MAIDEN, by holding out the fast-finishing Edited By ($3.30). 

The Merchant Navy three-year-old bred by John Cornish at Torryburn Stud, was on debut and the stable expected him to need the run. 

But under great riding by Ashley Morgan, he held the lead for most of the race, before being giving a mid-race breather, then fighting on to the line to win by a long neck. 

“I told the owners he would probably get beat by inexperience, but he proved me wrong,” Will Freedman said. “He was inexperienced on the turn and when he gets to a bigger track and learns more he will keep improving.”

There were no excuses for the beaten brigade with Joe Pride’s $2.40 favourite Eastern Front having every opportunity.

Ross McConville made the trip from Kembla to Wyong worthwhile after his promising sprinter South Of India ($7) dominated the BEST WISHES WRC TRAINER STEPHEN “CRUSHER” FARLEY CLASS 1 over 1000m.

The Snowden trained Fire Star ($1.35) was sent out shortest favourite of the day, but Sean Guymer had other ideas leading from barrier to post. 

Fire Star was slightly slow to begin, and Josh Parr had to make a long circling run into the straight, but South Of India was too strong on the line.

The winner, a three-year-old son of Irish sire Churchill, is bred and raced by McConville and was coming off a last start victory at Newcastle over 900m.

“He’s a very nice up and coming horse and I had expected him to race really well,” he said. “I have high expectations for him but want to take him time.”

Rounding off the program was Tyrone Coyle’s injured plagued Prince Aurelius ($16), who dominated the DE BORTOLI WINES BENCHMARK 64 over 1300m.

The Kembla trained seven-year-old had been out of the winner’s circle for almost three years but was able to claim the main prize courtesy of a great ride by apprentice Olivia Chamber. 

“All credit to Olivia,” Coyle said. “She has ridden him from day one since he came back into work. She rode him on Tuesday and said he was back to his old self. She said if he’s right on the day he will win.

“I’m over the moon. He’s a day-to-day proposition but it’s great to get him back.”

Snowden’s $2.60 favourite Mirra Impact, finished two and a half lengths behind in second, but doesn’t look far off a win. 

A bit of homework and plenty of patience paid off for Rodney Bailey yesterday when his promising four-year-old Norton Road was a dominant winner on debut at his home track.

Bailey purchased the son of Stratum Star from an Inglis online sale in March 2021 for the bargain price of $7500. 

He had been impressed with the bloodlines on the mare Ransack’s side, who was sired by Lonhro. 

“I did a fair bit of homework on him when I saw him listed for sale and was impressed with the breeding, particularly on the mare’s side. I knew they had picked a well-bred mare to put to the stallion, to get him going along a bit. He was a good type and definitely a bargain buy,” Bailey said. 

“He was very immature when we got him home and I knew he would take time. Then he kept going shin sore, so we had to give him a few preparations before we got him right.”

Bailey unveiled Norton Road at a trial at Rosehill on December 29, instructing jockey Reece Jones to give him a quite trial. 

“Reece said he jumped out of the barriers and just sped away. I knew he was a speedy type and he really showed it that day.”

Bailey opted to start him in the 1200m DE BORTOLI WINES PROVINCIAL MAIDEN at Wyong and he was sent out $2.45fav on the strength of his eye-catching trial. 

He didn’t disappoint, apprentice Anna Roper taking him to the lead and maintaining it throughout, kicking away in the straight to win by more than two lengths. 

“He’s got a fair bit of ability and hopefully he might go on with it. It was exciting today and I’ll give him three or four weeks off now before deciding where we will go.

“He’s got a high cruising speed and big, long stride, so I’m sure he will get over more ground.”

Norton Road’s win was celebrated by the entire Bailey family, with his daughter Bridget the official owner, in her first foray into horse ownership. 

Favourites dominated the first five races on the program with Lee and Cherie Curtis’ Still Alice ($2.40) setting the tone in the first race, the 1000m PBL LAW GROUP MIDWAY MAIDEN.

Jay Ford gave the Epaulette filly, a $300k yearling, a perfect front running ride to bring up her first win at start two. 

Curtis said he expects the filly to get up to city grade and over more ground, 

“She’s got a bit of class, I think she’s a nice filly and we’ve always thought a lot of her, but she was always a bit behind and needed a bit of time,” he said. “I think she’ll keep improving and get up to at least city grade.”

Another well rated ride saw Up And Comer ($5EF) win the 1600m SKY CHANNEL SUPER MAIDEN for Annabel Neasham and Chad Schofield. 

Up And Comer came from mid-field on the turn, Schofield circling the field and hitting the front on straightening, holding off his rivals to win by a half-length. 

Riley Loy, representing the stable, said they had been confident the Press Statement filly would run a good race. 

“We’d been happy with her work out and pretty confident today she’d run a nice race. She definitely suits a mile and could look to go a bit further.”

The fast-finishing Morton Pier looks like one to follow. 

Joe Pride is excited about the prospects of his filly Cosmanova ($2.70fav), who made it back-to-back wins in the 1100m TABCORP F&M BENCHMARK 64.

“She’s a filly with a stack of improvement to come,” he said. “She’ll head to the paddock now but over time as she gets older, she’ll get better as her pedigree comes through.

“There’s a bit to look forward to, with two wins on the bounce. We’ll give her a little break to strengthen up more and then see her at the end of the season.”

New Zealand bred mare Dawla bucked the favourite trend when she came from behind to win the CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES CLASS 1 over 1200m.

Apprentice Zac Wadick took advantage of the slow tempo, coming from the rear on the turn and storming home to win by three quarters of a lengths. 

It was Wadick’s second win for his boss Brad Widdup, since joining the stable in December. 

Scone visitor Innervoice returned double figure odds ($13), upsetting the more favoured runners in the 1350m GO ELECTRICAL F&M BENCHMARK 64.

The six-year-old Poet’s Voice mare, trained by Lyle Chandler, scored her third career win at start 32. 

Winning rider Mitchell Bell said there were excuses for her last start performance at Scone. 

“We weren’t afforded the runs we needed at Scone, going up the inside didn’t suit her. There was good speed today and from the wide draw we were able to get momentum up around the 600m and keep it. She’s a different horse again once she gets to the outside of them, a lot more confident and she hit the line well.”

Mark Minervini’s Star Impact $5, fought on strongly for second, while there appeared to be no excuses for the Maher/Eustace favorite Lady boss ($3.60) who finished third. 

Another upset in the last with the short priced favourite Katsumoto ($1.55) well beaten by the Con Karakatsanis trained Black Duke ($11).

The Fiorente six-year-old, brought up his fourth win at start 40, with the stable believing the addition of blinkers and 3kg claim for Zac Wadick helped get the job done. 

The dominant victory in the 1350m WYONG LEAGUES GROUP CG&E BENCHMARK 64 bringing up a double for Wadick & the riding honours for the day.

Stewards reporting Katsumoto had pulled up lame in the near-fore fetlock, requiring a vet certificate before resuming racing. 

Damien Lane completed a successful week with a home track victory, Oakfield Mahogany giving him his third win in just seven days and 19^th for the current season. 
Lane is enjoying one of his best runs in recent years and it was fitting the latest win came from one of his biggest supporters Bruce McKenzie.

The Capitalist gelding was second up from a spell and while Lane gave him a chance of breaking through for win number four, he felt he may have needed another run. 

He preferred the chances of stablemate Wealthy Investor in the 1200m DE BORTOLI WINES PROVINCIAL BM68 but Oakfield Mahogany ($9) and jockey Andrew Atkins had other ideas. 

Atkins let the speed go out of the race, popping off the fence on the turn and racing away in the straight to win by over a length. Stablemate Wealthy Investor ($3.80) finishing fourth.

“He’s a big gross boy and I thought me might need another run, but he proved me wrong,” Lane said. 

“He resumed on a wet track at Gosford and knocked up over 1100m. It was great to see him get the job done today.”

Super ($12) looked sharp storming home to finish second, also appreciating the better ground, while the $2.35 favorite Extreme Cat appeared to have every chance, finishing third. 

It was an Irishman stole the show in the riding ranks with Darragh Keenan bagging a double and bringing up his 200^thcareer win. 

Keenan was having only his second ride at Wyong when he lifted Dunbelievin’($3.60) to victory in the SKY CHANNEL SUPER MAIDEN (1600m).

And it didn’t stop there, the 23-year-old bringing up a double on another Maher runner, Cape Byron ($3.40fav) in the last. 

Keenan relocated to Australia from the UK in early December linking with the Maher stable.  

He had posted two wins since relocating before Saturday, Dunbelievin’ the first at Wyong. It wasn’t an easy task, the well-bred Dundeel three-year-old beating Beach Party in the smallest of margins. 

The judge found it difficult to split the two after Keenan lifted the gelding on the line, with the result eventually going his way. 

Keenan came from behind again in the last, running down the leaders to win the 1300m SENPOS MAIDEN HCP on the well supported Cape Byron.

The Capitalist gelding resuming from a spell to bring up his first win at start three.

It wasn’t all celebrations with Keenan earning the wrath of the stewards for his ride on Cape Byron, copping a four-day suspension for careless riding.  

Tim Martin was very confident heading into the 1300m CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES F&M CLASS 1, and that confidence was rewarded with Give Me Joy ($2.20) bringing up her second career win. 

It was back-to-back victories on the Wyong track, with the four-year-old daughter of Caravaggio having broken her maiden with a five length win on December 23. 

She took up where she left off, with apprentice Hannah Williams piloting her to a front running victory. 

The race wasn’t without controversy, Andrew Gibbons, riding the Lees trained second favorite Imposant protesting alleging interference in the final stages. 

The protest was dismissed with a relieved Martin, a co-owner of Give Me Joy, banking the winner’s cheque.

“I thought she should win and that’s how it panned out,” Martin said. “She’s a big, scopey mare and when she starts putting things together, she should be pretty good.”

At a subsequent inquiry, Williams pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding and was suspended for four days. 

Class prevailed in the TABCORP BM 64 HCP with John’s Thompson’s well bred mare California Grass ($2.35fav) returning to the winner’s circle after a run of placings. 

Keegan Latham put in a well-timed ride to chase down the leader Supertrail and score a half length win. 

A lightly raced Al Maher mare, California Grass was coming off a second at Warwick Farm on December 23. 

She was given a great run off the speed in the early stages, Latham circling the field before the turn and going head-to-head with Supertrail in the straight, getting the better of the Brett Cavanough trained second favorite, Supertrail on the line. 

There was an eventful finish to the 1000m MERCURE KOOINDAH WATERS RESORT MIDWAY MAIDEN with the short priced favorite Russian Snitzel running off on the turn after looking the winner. 

The Russian Revolution filly was sent out a $1.90 on the strength of two impressive  trial wins, but things didn’t go according to plan when she ran off the track, taking second favorite Ballet D’Esprit ($3.70) with her. 

This enabled Maddie Owen on Parmenio ($15) to rail through and kick away in the straight, holding out the fast-finishing Battlefield to win by a half head. 

Trained by Anthony Cummings, the winner was resuming from a spell having been gelded. 

“He has come back this time in as a gelding and I think that has made a big difference to him,” Cummings said.

Ballet D’Esprit was impressive, storming home to finish third, while stewards sent Russian Snitzel back to the trials. 

The Snowden trained Kadall ($4.40) was given a great ride by Alysha Collett to bring up his second win in just five starts in the 1300m DIMENSION ONE GLASS FENCING CG&E CLASS 1.

Collett sat just behind the leader throughout, drawing clear in the straight and holding out the fast-finishing Canadian Ruler ($7) to win by a long neck. 

An $80,000 yearling, Kadall raced by Triple Crown Syndications, was coming off a second at Hawkesbury in the same grade. 

Stephen Farley’s $3.90 favorite Lease was ridden toward the rear and failed to make up ground in the straight.