A home track double to Kim Waugh, a double for Bjorn Baker and riding double to Ashley Morgan were the highlights of Wyong’s February 8 race meeting.
Waugh’s duo River Pat and Selfless Act both causing upsets in their respective races and giving Wyong’s premier trainer four wins in a week and 25 for the current season.
Waugh’s Headwater filly River Pat, who was sent out at the juicy odds of $51, burst through a gap in the straight to win the 1100m MAGIC MILLIONS ADELAIDE YEARLING SALE 18-19 MARCH F&M MAIDEN.
The three-year-old, raced by Werrett Bloodstock, had been trialled twice leading into her first start.
She placed in both trials, the latest a second at Wyong on January 31 but received no market support.
Ash Morgan settled River Pat midfield, finding a gap at the top of the straight and storming away to win by a length.
It was dead heat for the minor placegetters, Cross Your Heart ($4) and Russian Snitzel ($5.50).
Apprentice Jake Barrett partnered Waugh’s second winner Selfless Act ($10) to victory in the 1350m CENTRAL COAST COOLROOMS MIDWAY BM64.
The consistent Panzer Divison mare, raced by Pepper Tree Bloodstock, brought up her third win at start 13 with four minor placings.
Barrett came from behind to circle the field on the turn, bursting down the centre of the track to overhaul the $3 favourite Navy Blood in the final stages.
Barrett, now apprenticed to Barbara Jones, began his riding career as a 15-year-old for the Waugh stable.
It wasn’t all good news for Barrett, who earned the wrath of the stewards and was disqualified for careless riding from February 19 to March 3.
The closest finish of the day brought up a double for the Bjorn Baker stable, with O’Tycoon ($3fav) getting the nod on the line in the TAB.COM.AU BM64.
The Written Tycoon four-year-old, a $180,000 yearling raced by Australian Bloodstock, brought up his third win at start 15.
In a perfectly timed ride Dylan Gibbons stormed home in the final stages to snatch victory over The Swooper ($3.70), with Suprina ($8.50), who led for most of the race, holding on for third.
The first leg of Morgan’s double came via the Maher trained Negotiations ($14) who showed an impressive turn of foot to win the 1000m SKY CHANNEL CLASS 1.
The impeccably bred son of I Am Invincible, a $750,000 yearling, kept his record intact bringing up his second win from as many starts.
The four-year-old broke through for his maiden win at Eucha in July last year but had been unimpressive in two recent trials.
In a slowly run race, Ashley Morgan settled the gelding toward the rear, taking him to the lead on straightening and drawing away to win by a length.
Godolphin’s Shako ($3.30) finished strongly in second, while the $2.90 favourite Fludway was third, was unsuited by the slow tempo.
The Snowden trained Densetsu ($10) put his best foot forward at start two taking out the 1100m DE BORTOLI WINES CG&E MAIDEN in impressive style.
The son of Lonhro was coming off a last start failure at Kembla on debut but was suited by the quicker tempo second up.
“It was a good turnaround of form from last start, “stable representative Colm McCullogh said. “Josh (Parr) rode him well, but the deciding factor was the was speed being on today. He likes to flow into races like that.
“The horse has definitely got talent. He’s better than a Wyong maiden but it’s good to get the monkey off his back and hopefully he can kick on through his grades.”
Joe Pride’s Bottler ($21) stormed home for an eye catching second, with the $.190 favourite Bo Katan third.
Lonhro’s progeny scored again in the CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES PROVINCIAL MAIDEN over 1600m, with the Widdup trained Noble Tess a dominant winner.
Chad Schofield was able to get the best out of the three-year-old filly following a battle with the $1.85 favourite Irish Anthem in the straight.
Noble Tess, having her sixth career start, was coming off a fifth at Wyong over the same distance on January 18.
Having her fourth run this preparation she had fitness on her side and was strong to the line.
Warwick Farm trainer Amanda Turner was all smiles after her stayer, So Sneeky ($9) was able to stave off his opposition to take out the WYONG LEAGUES GROUP BM64 over 2100m.
It was a breakthrough Wyong win for former New Zealand hoop Andrew Calder, who relocated to New South Wales last year.
By NZ sire Falkirk, So Sneeky brought up win number five with a super staying performance, putting more than a length on the fast-finishing Doraskaya ($3.90) from the Waugh stable, with the $2.90 favourite Counter, not suited by the slow pace.
Starmae started as short priced favourite in the 1350m PBL LAW GROUP SUPER MAIDEN and didn’t disappoint with Zac Lloyd giving the filly a perfect front running ride.
The Bjorn Baker stable had been confident the Zoustar filly, who was coming off a second at Gosford, would perform well and the win never looked in doubt.
“She’s not the biggest filly going around but she makes up for it in speed,” stable representative Luke Hilton.
“She’s very genuine and I don’t think we’ll see the best of her until a few more months.”
A $325,000 Magic Millions yearling, Starmae ($1.85) brought up her second win at six and was coming off a second at Gosford on January 24.
She beat Hooligan Tommy, who made up good ground in the straight, with Waller’s Hartman ($7), third.
The Wyong track earned plenty of praise from jockeys, with kudos
