Kristen Buchanan celebrataed a win at yesterday’s BJ Howes Race Day and very nearly a race to race double, while several runners are Metro bound after impressing with their Wyong wins.
It was a #teamwyong victory in the 1600m LINCOLN ELECTRIC CLASS 1 that had us cheering with Kristen Buchanan’s Gardenzio getting the job done courtesy of a great front running ride by Anna Roper.
Roper showed why she is one of the State’s leading apprentices, rating Gardenzio perfectly in front, before kicking clear in the straight to score a two length win.
The stable was almost celebrating a quinella after stable mate Silent Russian, having his first start for Buchanan, finished third.
An improvement in racing manners paved the way for Gardenzio’s return to the winner’s circle.
“He was very calm, cool and relaxed today. He can be a bit wayward but put it all together and got the job done. He’s a nice horse who keeps improving.”
The win was Buchanan’s 14th for the current season.
Richard Litt denied Buchanan of a race to race double when Bo Katan ran down Kervette on the line to take out the LEVELMASTER MAIDEN over 1300m.
Litt has a good opinion of the Impending gelding, who brought up his debut win at start four, with two minor placings.
“We’ll take him to town now and I expect him to be very competitive. He’ll get out to the mile and further and just get better and better.”
Litt congratulated owners Monarch Racing Syndications, a relative newcomer to the game, on their second winner.
Nathan Doyle’s Rush Hour is another talented horse who will likely target the metropolitan circuit following his dominant win in the COREGAS MIDWAY CLASS 1 over 1200m.
A $130k Magic Millions yearling, the son of Russian Revolution scored his second victory from just four starts.
Apprentice Ben Osmond rated the colt well on the speed, giving him a mid-race breather, before putting paid to his rivals in the straight.
“He was too classy for them today,” Doyle said. “He has showed us a lot from day dot and has plenty of ability. He has better things in store than a class 1 at Wyong but it was good to see him back.”
Rush Hour’s other win came in the $500k Magic Millions 2Y0 Debut in January last year.
Kim Waugh’s last start winner River Pat ran a credible second.
It was one way traffic in the opener, the 1100m INSURANCE HOUSE F&M MAIDEN, with John O’Shea’s promising filly Cross Your Heart going one better than her last start Wyong second.
The Deep Field three-year-old, a $280k Magic Millions yearling, was given a strong ride by Tyler Schiller, who took her to the outside on straightening and sped away for a convincing win.
Cross Your Heart is raced by an all-female syndicate a number from Torryburn Stud, many who were trackside to cheer her home.
The runner-up My Kee finished strongly and looks to be wanting more ground.
It wasn’t as cut and dried for Detundu who looked to have broken through for his first win in the 1100m COMMSYS CG&E MAIDEN before Joe Pride’s Eastern Front had other ideas.
The $1.50 favourite Detundu shook off Luna Field in the final 200m and looked to have the race run won before Eastern Front stormed home to claim victory.
Even the trainer had doubts when the Russian Revolution was lengths behind the leaders on straightening.
Under strong riding by Sam Clipperton he snatched victory on the line, with Pride believing there is more improvement to come.
“I thought he had a real task ahead coming around the corner, but he got the job done,” he said. “He’ll have a break now and when he comes back, I think we’ll have a really nice horse.”
Kerry Parker’s Tom Cruising was a well-deserved winner in the INFRABUILD PROVINCIAL MAIDEN over 1600m.
A strong ride by Lee Magorrian helped secure success for the American Pharoah three-year-old who was having his fifth start and earned strong support to start a $3.30 favourite.
“He knuckled down really good today,” Parker said. “He’s been racing terrific and was in the right race today. He still needed luck in running but with the help of Lee was able to pick himself up when the gap appeared and hit the line.
“He’s a relaxed customer and I think he will get over more ground.”
The fast-finishing Piplup, who had a chequered run to the line, is worth following.
It was a case of catch me if you can for Barry’s Lawrence’s Take The Jackpot and nobody could, with the Casino Prince five-year-old too strong in the 1350m BJ HOWES METALAND CONDITIONAL BM68.
Kacie Adams gave the gelding a great front running ride and was able to hold out the challengers giving Take The Jackpot his second win at start nine.
Annabel Neasham’s $3.10 favourite Mickey’s Medal had to wait for a split in the straight and stormed home to finish second, a half-length behind the winner.
Angara’s win looked never in doubt in the MECHPRO SOLUTIONS AU BM 64 over 1100m.
Trained by Paul Perry, the Frankel gelding brought up his third win, courtesy of a clever ride by Andrew Adkins.
He took full advantage of the inside gate, saving ground throughout, before kicking away in the final stages to win by two lengths.
“We knew he would appreciate the drying track and that’s how things worked out,” Nathan Perry said. “He’s been racing very consistently and deserves another win.”
A $150k Magic Millions yearling, Angara is raced in partnership by Christine Cook, giving the prolific owner her second win on the program, after Cross Your Heart’s earler victory.
Runner up Lohnraki looks to have come back well from a spell.
