Month: September 2024

John O’Shea is making the WYONG LEAGUES GROUP WYONG CUP his own, claiming his third feature in just four years. 

Lion’s Roar was the latest of O’Shea’s protégé to claim the prestigious Listed race and the first since linking with training partner Tom Charlton. 

Jason Collett gave the seven-year-old a super ride, getting the gelding into the perfect rhythm in the early stages of the 2100m race, before hitting the front in the straight and holding out his rivals on the line. 

Lion’s Roar showing his supreme staying prowess to take out the $250,000 race, taking his prizemoney to more than $2.3million. 

He has now won six of his 36 starts with 10 minor placings for owners Champion Thoroughbreds, including the G1 Randwick Guineas in 2021.

“It was a really rewarding win for the team,” O’Shea said. “We had a plan to go into the Rowley Mile and come here and got the job done. 

“He was really strong and gallant. He has been a tremendous horse for Champion Thoroughbreds and our stable. 

“He won his first race as a two-year-old and is seven now and it’s not over yet. Where do we find more of them?”

O’Shea was also complimentary of the ride by Collett, who brought up a race to race double with Lion’s Roar.

“He is riding in sensational form. He’s grown a leg, and we are lucky to be associated with him.”

O’Shea’s winning Wyong Cup run began in 2021 with Berdibek, followed by Benaud last year. Chris Waller still holds the record with eight cup wins but the O’Shea/Charlton stable has dominated in the past few years. 

The Cup win brought up a winning double for the O’Shea/Carlton combo, Aunty Rene taking out an earlier race.

Birthday girl Kristen Buchanan got the job done for the locals in the CARLTON DRAUGHT PROVINCIAL BM64 (1600m) with her consistent mare Kervette. 

A daughter of Kermadec, the four-year-old has now had two wins and eight placings from her 14 race starts. 

It was a perfectly timed ride by Jason Collet, coming from the rear of the field to claim victory. Kim Waugh’s Doraskaya finished third. 

Short priced favourite Yoshinobu got the job done in the opening race, READY’S @ THE DOYLO SUPER MAIDEN (1200m) justifying his favouritism.

The Neasham/Archibald colt, a $550,000 Magic Millions yearling, had been impressive in his two trials before resuming. He was ridden by Kerrin McEvoy. 

Carrying the name of former champion Show County, the modern-day namesake claimed his first win in the 1350m WYONG LEAGUES GROUP MIDWAY 4YO&UP MAIDEN.

A son of Showtime, the four-year-old was having his fourth start, with trainer Alexandre Lemarie confident he could win. 

And that he did, beating the short priced favourite Classic Poetry, with Mark Cross’s locally trained Hoo Haa third. Brazilian born Louis Beuzelin the winning rider.

As is often the case the outsider in a small field wins and that’s exactly how it panned out in the CENTRAL COAST COOLROOMS DA VINCE – 3&4YO BM64 over 1300m.

Gary Portelli’s Debello was given a great front running ride by apprentice Mollie Bourke and was able to hold out his fast-finishing rivals to win. 

It was the third win from 18 starts for the son of Deep Field.

Dual acceptor Edited By looked well placed by trainer Michael Freedman in the 1200m BISHOP COLLINS CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS’ SPRINGTIME CONDITIONAL BM64 (1200m).

The Written By gelding had impressed last preparation with back-to-back Newcastle wins and raced well when finishing fourth on resuming at Warwick Farm on August 21. 

He stormed home down the outside with Rory Hutchings in the saddle to bring up his third career win at start nine with two minor placings. 

Aunty Rene held on to win the HUNTER PETROLEUM PRODUCTS F&M BM66 over 1600m in a tough victory. 

The So You Think mare making it back-to-back wins following her last start first at Kembla. She brought up win number three for Andrew Adkins and trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton. 

Wyong trainers filling the minor placings, with Tracey Bartley’s Lady Superspy second over Allan Kehoe’s Moonlight Grace. 

Race favourite Hezdarnhottoo claimed the last, the SENPOS POINT OF SALE CLASS 1 (1100m) for Bjorn Baker and Tommy Berry. 

The Too Darn Hot three-year-old now has two wins and a placing his name from just four starts. 

Josh Parr was the winner of the prestigious Nathan Berry Medal for the most successful jockey over the three-day carnival. Parr finishing on 14 points. 

Jarrod Austin hatched a plan to win the Domeland Mona Lisa several months ago and that plan came to fruition with talented mare Terra Mater getting the job done in impressive style. 

The Wandjini five-year-old gave Austin one of his biggest career wins, a cool ride by champion Nash Rawiller securing victory in the Listed $200,000 race. 

Rawiller was met by a wall of horses when he turned into the straight, pushing through when a gap opened around the 100m mark to win by a head. 

“It was a little hairy at one stage,” an excited Austin said. “I thought Nash would come through but was a bit worried with 150m to go. 

“I knew back on a dry track today her turn of foot would be even better and he showed that. 

“Not often do our plans come off but it did and that’s really satisfying. I wanted to get black type into her and I’m really happy today. 

“We’ll look toward the Tibbie now in a couple of weeks.”

Rawiller said her knew the mare would be there for him when he needed her to be. 

“I knew she’d be there when we finally saw daylight and banked on her turn of foot. 

“There has never been a more deserving black type winner than her and all credit to Jarrod.”

Rawiller was full of praise for Terra Mater.

“You get an association with horses and she has been one of them over the last three years that you know what they can do and what they are made of,” he said.

“When it starts getting a bit tough there, she was there for you.

“I banked on her turn of foot because there was no speed early and they weren’t going to stop.”

John Sargent’s Ningaloo Star was the runner-up over the Neasham/Archibald trained Hell Hath No Furty.

Earlier on the program there was plenty of excitement with Hawkesbury based Jackie Greentree’s Zoum Raider training her first winner in four years in the 1100m #Teamwyong Equimillion Provincial Maiden.

Fellow Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup saddled up short-priced favourite The Act, but when they went hard in front Chad Scofield was able to storm home on Zoum Raider to snatch victory over Sara Ryan’s Koios, with The Act third. 

Zoum Raider was a $2000 online purchase and after being unplaced in his only start last preparation, has resumed a winner. He is one of only two horses in Greentree’s stable. 

It was an effortless win in the opener for the Neasham/Archibald trained Minnehaha Falls, the Sacred Falls mare sent out short, priced favourite and not disappointing. Alysha Collett partnering the four-year-old to her debut win in the Tabcorp Maiden over 1625m. 

Line of Fire led from barrier to post in the Wyong Leagues Group Class 1 (1625m), Josh Parr riding the Dundeel gelding to victory. 

Bjorn Baker’s four-year-old is building a strong resume with two wins and three placings from his seven starts. He was a $200,000 Magic Millions yearling, raced by Darby Syndications. 

It’s rarely a Wyong meeting without Chris Waller tasting success, and this was no exception, $420,000 Magic Millions yearling Useapin taking out the 1000m De Bortoli Wines Maiden. 

The daughter of Yes Yes Yes, having her fourth start, was given a super ride by Tyler Schiller to secure her first win. 

Another favourite went under in the 1200m Sky Channel Maiden with the Maher trained Deconstruction overpowering the short priced Excelindeed on the line. 

The Snitzel colt, a $350,000 yearling trained by Ciaron Maher was resuming off a Rosehill barrier trial win. 

Jason Collett gave the three-year-old a peach of a ride sitting off the favourite before hitting the front in the final stages of the straight to bring up his first win at start two. 

It was a tight finish in the Johnnie Roberts Memorial BM64 (1000m) with Nathan Doyle’s Reigning King holding out the favourite Fire Star.  The victory bringing up a double for Josh Parr.

A four-year-old Snitzel gelding, Reigning King was a $400,000 yearling having his 11^th career start for two wins and five placings.

Etched In Time eased in the betting in the 1350m CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES MDIWAY BM64 (1350m) but still got the job done, with Regan Bayliss in the saddle. 

Richard & Will Freedman’s Written Tycoon four-year-old brought up his third win at start 10, with a minor placing.

The winner, a $160k yearling, is raced by NSW Tycoons.