Wet weather may have impacted the crowd but certainly didn’t affect the racing, with several impressive performances across the seven races and a clean sweep for Chad Schofield, winning on both his mounts.
Kris Lees looks to have a handy prospect in Russian Revolution three-year-old Brudenell, who brought up his third win from just five starts in the 1000m BM64.
Earl Of Devon could live up to his $230,000 price tag, the New Zealand bred three-year-old staying prospect breaking through at just his second start for trainer John Thompson.
The Mark Newnham trained Lim’s Sydney could be one to follow with a dominant win in the 1100 Maiden, while training duo Tara and Phillipe Vigouroux were celebrating in the last with Izfallihngdown greeting the judge at $26.
The track held up well after being downgraded to a heavy 8 before the first race.
Race 1 – BOOK YOUR NET FUNCTION AT WYONG RACE CLUB CLASS 1 (1100m)
An upset in the first with the Joe Pride trained Pole Position ($8) too strong in the final stages over the 1100m.
The Astern gelding was in a battle down the straight with the Kim Waugh’s Oxford Vision ($11) and got the bob on the line to score by a head.
The first and second placegetters kicked clear in the straight and Brad Widdup’s short priced favourite Justina looked like being well beaten.
She hit a flat spot-on straightening before storming home late to finish third and looks like the one to follow. The Snitzel filly was sent out $2.05 favourite after late support, with the Lees trained second favourite Zanzibar Gem ($2.60) appearing to have no excuses. Aaron Bullock later relayed to stewards, the mare failed to handle the heavy track.
There were plenty of excited owners on course to cheer home the winner, a $50k Magic Millions buy, raced by Triple Crown and ridden by Chad Schofield
“It was a good debut run for him,” Pride said. “It looked a suitable assignment first up, it’s a good start to his preparation and there is good improvement to come.”
Race 2 – PRESILIENT – MANAGED IT SERVICES PROVINCIAL BM64 (1000m)
The Lees trained Brudenell showed his class to overcome a wide run and bring up his third win from just five starts.
The son of Russian Revolution was sent out $2.70 favourite on the strength of his dominant win over the same distance at Tamworth last start.
Stable representative Danny Greer said the three-year-old was showing plenty of promise.
“We expect him to progress nicely through his grades,” he said. “He had no favours today, posted wide without cover, but Aaron (Bullock) got him moving at the right time and it was a solid win in the end.”
The Ben Smith trained Belieber ($3.60), who was the recipient of late support, battled on gamely to finish second, with the Perry trained Aspen Chase ($7) third.
Race 3 – ABCOE CENTRAL COAST MIDWAY MAIDEN (1350m)
John Thompson looks to have a handy stayer on his hands, with Earl Of Devon ($8) scoring a nice first up win over the 1350m.
The New Zealand bred three-year-old by Tavistock, a $230,000 Karaka yearling, was resuming from a spell having been unplaced at his only start.
Coming off just one trial, he earnt support with the punters, opening at $13 and starting at $8.
Despite being caught wide, Keagan Latham gave the gelding a good ride just off the speed and just when the $2.20 favourite Shigeru looked like he was going to break through for a win, Earl Of Devon was able to run him down on the line to win by a long neck.
Rod Craig, representing the stable, said they had expected a good run first up.
“We wanted him to be more on the pace today and he was ridden beautifully,” he said. “I was a bit worried coming to the turn that he was pushing him along, but he levelled out nice. He’s a nice horse and it was a good win today.”
Lord Bob, ($5.60) trained locally by Allan Kehoe, was third.
Race 4 – BIDFOOD MAIDEN (1100m)
Lim’s Energy ($1.50) won like a short-priced favourite should, putting more than three lengths on his opposition.
The Smart Missile three-year-old was having just his second career start, after finishing second on debut at Nowra on January 8.
Trainer Mark Newnham, had him over the same distance at Wyong and he was again partnered by apprentice Tyler Schiller, who gave the gelding a gun ride, despite copping interference at the 600m.
He settled him one out, one back in the small field, before taking him to the front on straightening where he sped away for a dominant win.
Schiller had been confident Lim’s Energy could break his maiden.
“He was very good at his first start but was a bit wayward when he hit the front. I thought he would show a good turn of foot late and he did.”
The Matthew Smith trained Fiancetto ($7) was second and will be improved by the run, while Choix De La Mer ($4.20) from the Snowden stable, was third.
Race 5 – GIBBOS PIES MAIDEN (1600m)
John O’Shea’s New Zealand bred More Saintly ($5.50) showed a super turn of foot to present Chad Schofield with a winning double.
The Reliable Man three-year-old was stepping out for the third time, his second start over the 1600m.
He looks certain to excel over more ground after showing a great turn of foot to overhaul the leader and race favourite Bridget Wenlock ($4.20) in the final stages.
The Neasham runner looked to have the race won after shooting away in the straight, before More Saintly emerged from the pack and gave chase, overhauling the favourite on the line to win by half a length.
The Waller trained Stella Simone ($5.50) could be one to follow, finishing strongly in third.
Race 6 – COAST & COUNTRY MEATS WYONG BM64(1600m)
The addition of blinkers and a trouble-free run set the tone for Real Peace to bring up his fifth career win after being sent out $3.30 favourite.
The Clarry Connors trained five-year-old, a $30,000 Magic Millions yearling, has returned nearly $300,000 for his owners, many who were trackside to celebrate his latest victory.
Tom Sherry was able to put the gelding in a good position despite the wide barrier, and when he gave him his head in the straight, he pulled away to win by three lengths.
“He’s a horse that tends to find trouble and Tom took all the bad luck out of the equation today and sat outside the leader,” Marc Connors said. “He didn’t get in trouble and got the job done. He relaxed really well and when Tom asked, he gave plenty. The blinkers helped today as well.”
Mark Cross’s Sian’s ($5) put in another honest performance to finish second, with the Widdup trained Ausbred Bluebird ($8) third and looking for more ground.
Race 7 – WYONG’S NEXT RACE MEETING BJ HOWES METALAND RACE DAY FEBRUARY 21 BM64 (2100m)
A rough result in the staying race with an outsider Izfallingdown upsetting her more fancied rivals to return $26.
Trained at Hawkesbury by Tara and Philippe Vigouroux, the six-year-old mare was having her first start over the 2100m and appreciated the extra ground, with a tough win.
The Vigouroux’s have taken their time with Izfallingdown, a daughter of American sire London Bridge, who they race with Tara’s father former Hawkesbury Race Club chairman Ken Quigley.
She was coming off a third at Canberra over 1600m on January 11.
Taylor settled Izfallingdown midfield before circling the field on the turn and hitting the front on straightening. She toughed it out in the straight and was able to stave off the placegetters, the Doyle trained Brave Angel ($5.50) and Endorphins ($3.90) from the Lees stable, with both having every chance. It was Brave Angel’s last race, with the mare in foal.
Tom Sherry reported to stewards Allan Kehoe’s $3.90 favourite Dragon Dream, had faield to back up after racing a Canterbury on Friday night.
