Kim Waugh is hoping to continue on from a winning weekend with a trio of chances at her home track meeting on Thursday.
Waugh secured spots for two horses in the $500,000 Provincial Championships final at Randwick on April 13, when Safado took out the Hawkesbury qualifier on Sunday narrowly beating stablemate Spring Charlie.
And she hopes the successful run can keep going with Joy For Us, Mighty Marmalade and Holy Reign all looking to be strong chances in their respective races at the club’s Community Services Race Day.
“It was very exciting to get both horses into the final and hopefully we can qualify another one or two,” Waugh said.
And while the race isn’t a part of the immediate plans for talented mare Joy For Us, Waugh hasn’t ruled it out completely.
“At this stage we aren’t considering it but there are a still a couple more qualifiers down the track so you never know,” she said.
The Lonhro mare scored a strong win over the 1350m on her home track last start, and lines up on Thursday in a Class 2 over the same distance.
“She won very well the other day,” Waugh said.
“She hasn’t had much luck in the couple of runs before that. She got interfered with a couple of times in the run at her previous start but she had a lovely run the other day and won the race.
“It showed how well she had been going without having luck. She has drawn barrier seven but does get back a bit so that won’t be of great concern.”
Waugh has booked Josh Parr, who won on the mare at her last start.
Blake Shinn will partner both Holy Reign and Mighty Marmalade.
Waugh is confident about the chances of Holy Reign who is shooting for his third successive win in the 1600m Benchmark 64.
The Manhattan Rain three-year-old has won at Kembla and Newcastle at his last two outings, and has been unplaced in only two of his eight starts.
“He is a nice horse who keeps improving all the time. He is going very well,” she said.
“He is still learning. The first win at Kembla with Blake (Shinn) he floated around a bit when he hit the front and Blake confirmed he’s still got a bit to learn but when he won his next start, he was a bit more focused which was good.
“I’ll keep taking him through his grades, teaching him and giving him confidence at the same time.”
Waugh is hoping for a better start from her consistent mare Mighty Marmalade, who jumps from barrier nine in the 1200m Benchmark 64.
The four-year-old has had four seconds and a win from eight starts, with Waugh concerned about her tardiness at the barriers.
“She has gotten into a habit of missing the start a bit which has been quite costly to her,” she said.
“She’s going well without winning and she does race well at Wyong. Hopefully Blake can get her out of the barriers and running.”
Waugh said she was happy with the way her team was racing at present, having scored a winning double at the last Wyong meeting on February 19.
“We have had some good results lately but they can’t win all the time. As long as they are consistent, we are happy,” she said.
The first of eight races kicks off at 1.15pm.
SELECTIONS:
Race 1 – 1.15pm: WYONG PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS MARCH 30 MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200m): 1 BUOYANCY, 2 Sir Owen, 3 Jaytees, 4 Live The Moment.
Race 2 – 1.50pm: WESTPAC RESCUE HELICOPTER SERVICE 3YO MAIDEN PLATE (1350m): 1 CANZONET, 2 Canyonero, 3 Blast, 4 Mimi.
Race 3 – 2.25pm: COAST SHELTR MAIDEN PLATE (1600m): 1 POP GIRL, 2 Loveseat, 3 Sound Off, 4 Lady Grande.
Race 4 – 3.05pm: COMMUNITY TRANSPORT CENTRAL COAST MAIDEN PLATE (1000m): 1 VERMONT, 2 Ariege, 3 Pindus, 4 Agassi.
Race 5 – 3.40pm: COMMUNITY & BUSINESS WOMEN’S NETWORK CENTRAL COAST NSW BENCHMARK 64 (1200m): 1 SEGALAS, 2 The Soloist, 3 Mighty Marmalade, 4 Alliterate.
Race 6 – 4.20pm: CENTRAL COAST CENTRE RIDING FOR THE DISABLED BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1200m): 1 QUEEN ABLAZE, 2 Kanavu, 3 Triple Choice, 4 Hubble.
Race 7 – VINNIES SHOPS CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1350m): 1 CHINA GALE, 2 Joy For Us, 3 Oakfield Twilight, 4 Titus.
Race 8 – 5.30pm: IRIS FOUNDATION BENCHMARK 64 H
