Nash Rawiller has an impressive record on Terra Mater and will partner the mare in her quest to claim Sunday’s $200,000 Listed Domeland Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) at Wyong.
Jarrod Austin’s talented five-year-old is a among a super field of fillies and mares contesting the feature race on day two of the Carlton United Breweries Wyong Cup Carnival.
The Mona Lisa has previously been run on Cup Day but with the new three-day format is now Sunday’s feature, on a strong eight race card.
Terra Mater, a daughter of Wandjina, has been ridden by Rawiller in six previous races for three wins and a placing, including a metropolitan hat trick last summer.
The pair combined at her latest outing when she resumed at Rosehill on August 17 and was narrowly beaten by Kazou in a BM88 over 1200m.
Austin said there is more improvement to come and is excited about the prospect of the mare snaring a stakes win.
“She’s come back bigger and stronger, and everything is going to plan so far,” he said.
“We set her for the Mona Lisa Stakes some time ago and are looking forward to Sunday. She pulled up very well after Rosehill and worked really good this week. I’m very happy with her.
“We’d love to be able to pick up a stakes race for her, that would be the icing on the cake.”
As well as a champion jockey at the reins with two previous Mona Lisa’s to his credit, Terra Mater will benefit from barrier two on a good track over her favourite distance.
Three of her six victories have come over the 1350m along with two minor placings and she was narrowly beaten on debut at Wyong in November 22 so the track will suit.
Winning won’t be an easy task with strong competition from the likes of Bjorn Baker’s Shezanalister, who was third in the Group 2 Missile Stakes at Randwick last start and Kris Lees last start Rosehill winner Hellavadancer.
Gerald Ryan’s August 18 Mona Lisa Prelude winner Pajanti has drawn barrier four, the lightly raced four-year-old a previous Wyong winner over the 1350m.
Kim Waugh’s Selfless Act, runner-up in the Prelude, represents the locals but will have to overcome a wide barrier in 15, while Tracey Bartley’s Irish Kisses is second emergency but will start in the 1350m BM64.
The first of eight races gets underway at 12.55pm with the track currently rated a good four.
SELECTIONS:
Race 1 – 12.55pm: TABCORP MAIDEN PLATE (1600m): 1 KINGS OF THUNDER, 2 Forrest Gump, 3 Ilovenews, 4 Minnehaha Falls.
Race 2 – 1.29pm: WYONG LEAGUES GROUP CLASS 1 (1600m): 1 Oakfield Blue Bell, 2 Line Of Fire, 3 Euromaster, 4 Slick ‘N Quick.
Race 3 – 2.04pm: 1 GENEROUS HARRY, 2 Wild Sensation, 3 Luna Field, 4 Le Pelago.
Race 4 – 2.39pm: #TEAMWYONG EQULMILLION PROVCIAL MAIDEN (1100m): 1THE ACT, 2 Lady Ichikawa, 3 Koios, 4 Leantothemoon.
Race 5 – 3.15pm: SKY CHANNEL 3YO MAIDEN (1200m): 1 EMBASSY, 2 Excelindeed, 3 Tact, 4 Diddle Dumpling.
Race 6 – 3.50pm: JOHNNIE ROBERTS MEMORIAL BM64 (1000m): 1CROSS YOUR HEART, 2 Queen Of Dragons, 3 Reigning King, 4 Catch The Glory.
Race 7 – 4.25pm: DOMELAND MONA LISA STAKES (1350m): 1 TERRA MATER, 2 Shezanalister, 3 Hellavadancer, 4 Pajanti.
Race 8 – 5pm: CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES MIDWAY BM64 (1350m): 1 ETCHED IN TIME, 2 Foolish, 3 Tender Streak, 4 Star Legacy.
