Fran

Richard Litt heads to Wyong this Saturday with two very different prospects. 

He saddles up debutant Montevecchio in 1600m Super Maiden and progressive mare La Signora Dane in the 1000m BM64. 

Litt is keen to see how the daughter of Star Witness copes with her first attempt at provincial grade and equally as excited to see what Montevecchio can do as he launches his career. 

The three-year-old is the son of LItt’s most successful horse to date, dual Group 1 winner Castelvecchio, who amassed almost $3 million dollars in prizemoney from his 13 starts.

He now stands at Arrowfied and with the success of his early progeny including Group 1 winner El Castello, is regarded as the leading second season sire in Australia. 

Montevecchio caught the eye of Litt at the Inglis Classic yearling sales, and he purchased him for $45,000.

“I liked the look of him from the start. He stood out for me and obviously knowing the sire I was confident he could have ability,” he said.

“We have had to be patient with him.  He’s a little bit green and we are starting him off over a mile, but we have given him three trials, so I think he’s ready.

“This will basically be just a learning experience for him. He should find his best over more ground. 

“I think he’s a pretty nice horse, so fingers crossed he races well.”

Litt believes La Signora has earned the chance to step up to the provincials, with two wins from just four starts, and expects her to perform well. 

The lightly raced five-year-old put together successive Canberra victories to kick off her second preparation before finishing fifth on the same track over 1200m last start, beaten a length. 

She drops back to the 1000m, where her two career wins have come and will benefit from Braith Nock’s three-kilo claim. 

“I think she should run well,” Litt said. “She has a bit of ability and is ready to take the next step. This looks like a good race for her.”

The first of eight races gets underway at 1.30pm, with the track currently rated a good 4. 

SELECTIONS:

Race 1 – 1.30pm: WYONG LEAGUES GROUP BM64 (2000m): 1 CORMAC, 2 Oakfiedl Mamselle, 3 Coto De Caza, 4 Just Boogie.

Race 2 – 2.05pm: TAB.COM.AU CLASS 1 (1600m): 1 JACK OF ACES, 2 Stylebender, 3 Pasima, 4 Waterville.

Race 3 – 2.40pm: MECURE KOOINDAH WATERS SUPER MAIDEN (1600m): 1 LADY JUSTICE, 2 Samphire Green, 3 Neviim, 4 Hardash.

Race 4 – 3.15pm: DE BORTOLI PROVINCIAL BM68 (1600m): 1 JACK DUGGAN, 2 Guzumped, 3 Oakfield Prince, 4 Without You.

Race 5 – 3.50pm: DOMELAND BM64 (1000m): 1 ZEALOUSLY, 2 La Signora Dane, 3 Zoe Shark, 4 Not Written Off. 

Race 6 – 4.30pm: COTTER ACCOUNTANTS MAIDEN (1000m): 1 MISS TRENTINO, 2 Puerto Banus, 3Magnolia Jewel, 4 Royal Armada.

Race 7 – 5.05pm: WYONG EQUINE CLINIC MIDWAY MAIDEN (1200m): 1 SYNERGIZE, 2 Artifactx, 3 Suncone, 4 Overland. 

Race 8 – 5.45pm: SKY CHANNEL CLASS 1 (1200m): 1 CREEK, 2 Plaza, 3 Ohtani 4 Oakfield Triumph.

A failed sale to Hong Kong is set to become a welcome windfall for Wyong’s Allan Kehoe. 

He had been offered a lucrative deal to sell Prince Of Sorts to an Asian buyer on the basis of two mid-year trials at Hawkesbury and Newcastle where he blitzed his opposition. 

But the Tassort three-year-old failed the rigid veterinary tests required to export horses to Hong Kong and lines up for the stable at Wyong tomorrow.

“I really think he could be the best horse I’ve ever trained,” Kehoe said. “He’s as sound as anything and his three runs to date have been good.”

Prince Of Sorts opened his account with a sixth at Wyong on August 4 before his debut win at Dubbo the following start. 

He was then spelled before finishing third at Port Macquarie when resuming over 1006m on October 27.

He returns to the home track on Saturday in the 1200m Class 1 and Kehoe expects him to be in the finish. 

“It was just a bit of fitness that cost him the win at Port last start,” he said. “He had missed his main gallop heading into the race and that set him back a bit.

“We were treating it as a trial, and he got to the line really strong.”

Kehoe said apprentice Olivia Chambers will ride Prince Of Sorts on Saturday.

“He’ll appreciate the claim and I really think he will be hard to beat. He’s a really nice horse, and I don’t think we’ll see the best of him until he gets out to 1400m and a mile.”

Kehoe’s partner Kimberley Clarke purchased Prince Of Sorts as a $22,000 yearling and he has already repaid her and her fellow owners with $32,000 in prizemoney. 

Lord Bob is Kehoe’s other runner on the program, the trainer hopeful he can help continue their great start to the current season with another win.

The six-year-old lines up in the 1100m BM64, having put together two wins and a second from his five runs this preparation. 

“He’s getting toward the end of his preparation, but in saying that he’s not showing any signs of tiredness. 

“He keeps stepping up to the next level and I think he will step up even further next preparation.”

Kehoe has had a super start to the 2024/25 season with six wins and eight placings from 30 starters, giving him an impressive winning strike rate of 20%.

‘It’s been a really good start and hopefully we can build on that. We have some nice two-year-olds coming through as well who can hopefully be winners.”

The first of eight races gets underway at 12.45pm, with the track currently rated a soft 5.

SELECTIONS:

Race 1 – 12.45pm: ABBEY TIMBER – GARY TURNER MEMORIAL 4YO&UP MAIDEN (1000m): 1 ARTIFACTX, 2 Cryptonic, 3 Pombia, 4 Magnolia Jewel.

Race 2 – 1.20pm: GOSFORD MASONIC CENTRE 3YO MAIDEN (1000m): 1 MANUSCRIPT, 2 Eagles Beware, 3 Highwire Flyer, 4 Algarve.

Race 3 – 1.55pm: RENTOKIL INITIAL SUPER MAIDEN (1200m): 1 INQUE, 2 War Star, 3 Rainbow Goddess, 4 Apollo Ridge. 

Race 4 – 2.35pm: WIDELINE WINDOWS AND DOORS CLASS 1 (1350m): 1 SOCRAZYINLOVE, 2 Snatchreilly, 3 Rennata, 4 Lucilago.

Race 5 – 3.15pm: WYONG LEAGUES GROUP – THE ROOS FOUNDATION PROVINICAL MAIDEN (1600m): ! LIKE LUKEY, 2 Hardpoint, 3 Finger Bun, 4 Zeema. 

Race 6 – 3.55pm: PETER MAC’S SERVICE CENTRE BM64 (1600m): 1 WATERVILLE, 2 Zip On By, 3 Jack Of Aces, 4 Oakfield Prince. 

Race 7 – 4.35pm: FREEMASONS ON THE CENTRAL COAST MIDWAY CLASS 1 (1200m): 1 PRINCE OF SORTS, 2 Rose Water, 3 American Starlet, 4 Invaida Prince.

Race 8 – 5.15pm: CENTRAL COAST KIDS IN NEED BM64 (1100m): 1MERCHANT LADY, 2 Don’t Doubt Merlin, 3 Accredited, 4 Ivy Diva

It’s fair to say there will be plenty of excitement if Kristen Buchanan’s Shoutaboutit gets the job done on her home track on Thursday. 

The three-year-old filly is raced by a syndicate of ladies and it’s no surprise they made themselves heard when she was a last start winner at Hawkesbury on October 10. 

The $50,000 Magic Millions yearling has been a work in progress for Buchanan, so there was plenty to “shout about” when she broke through at her sixth start over the 1100m.

“Naturally the ladies were very excited to get the win and hopefully she can do it again on Thursday,” she said. 

“We picked her out at the Magic Millions sales in the hope she’d make the pink bonus 2Y0 race, but things didn’t work out for her. 

“Physically she has been very ready for a while but mentally she needed time. 

“She’s starting to reap the benefits of the extra time now and going really well. 

“Some of the girls will be on track so no doubt you’ll hear them if she’s in the finish.”

Buchanan said the syndicate comprised of Thoroughbred Girls, headed by Sharon Lenton, along with a number of close friends and long-time supporters of the stable. 

“I decided to run her on the home track to give her a look, with the wish list being the Wyong Magic Millions 3YO & 4YO Stakes in December.

“She’s a hot filly so how she copes with racing on the home track will be the telling factor to determine if we push forward to that race.”

Buchanan is hoping Oakfield Waratah can return to form in the 1630m BM64. 

“I did have him nominated for the Four Pillars on Saturday, but I think he’s a bit off that in the form he’s been in.

“I think he’ll be better served in a nice BM64 at home and I’m hoping he will run well, especially with Chelsea’s (Hillier) three kilo claim.”

The six-year-old has had four wins from his 21 starts, one of those over the 1600m in a Midway at Randwick in July last year. 

She is yet to decide if she will start dual acceptor Silent Russian. 

“If he runs it will be in the 2130m BM64 and I expect he will appreciate getting over more ground.”

The first of eight races at the annual Go Electrical Race Day, gets underway at 1.15pm.

SELECTIONS:

Race 1 – 1.15pm: OMNI – AUSSIE DUCT – SAL MATCHMASTER MAIDEN (1630m): 1 JOLLY GOOD FELLOW, 2 Blacklist, 3 Le Troisir 4 Celtic Sin.

Race 2 – 1.50pm: LEGRAND SUPER MAIDEN (1100m): 1 GUNROOM, 2 Shalaa Gold, 3 Fiorenz, 4 Floodgates.

Race 3 – 2.25pm: THORN LIGHTING – CABAC – OMEGA POWER MIDWAY MAIDEN (1000m): 1 STRAAND BEAUTY, 2 Private Harry, 3 Enhance, 4 Joe Jitsu.

Race 4 – 3.05pm: SCHNEIDER F&M CLASS 1 (1200m): 1 PHENOM, 2 Shoutaboutit, 3 River Pat, 4 Vieste.

Race 5 – 3.40pm: ROBUS – TRADER – LEDVANCE CG&E CLASS 1 (1200m): 1 ZOUPRINCE, 2 Hydrometer, 3 Bartolf, 4 Full Metal Jacket.

Race 6 – 4.20pm: ERMERALD – HANECO -ELECTRA PROVINCIAL BM68 (1000m): 1 REIGNING KING, 2 Lady Shenanigans, 3 Movin’ Denman, 4 Border Control.

Race 7 – 4.55pm: PRYSMIAN – GENERAL TRADE SUPPLIES – PERLITE BM64 (2130m): 1 OAKFIELD HAWK, 2 Hooligan Tommy, 3 Broadfield, 4 Silent Russian.

Race 8 – 5.30pm: EVOLT – BRILLIANT – HAGER BM64 (1630m): 1 SHE’S GOT VEUVE, 2 Oakfield Prince, 3 Tip Top Timing, 4 Physicist.

Chris Waller’s stranglehold on the $250,000 Listed Wyong Leagues Group Cup could continue with the stable saddling up three good chances on Friday. 

Waller has taken home the prestigious trophy eight times since his first win with Hawk Island in 2010.

He last tasted success in 2022 with Durston, ridden by James McDonald.  

Making up Waller’s trio of stayers for this year’s race is New Zealand import Medatsu, Mazoice and Etna Rosso, an Irish import, all three well supported in early betting.

Tommy Berry is yet to win a Wyong cup despite having ridden in the race a number of times but is well served to break the hoodoo this year on Waller’s Medatsu.

The lightly raced four-year-old by Japanese sire Staphanos, will be shooting for his third successive win in the 2100m feature. 

Berry has partnered him in his past two victories, a Benchmark 72 over the 1500m at Rosehill on August 3 and 1600m Benchmark 78 at Randwick on August 24. 

The gelding was unplaced in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick last October before a lengthy spell, resuming with the two metropolitan wins. 

Waller has given Medatus the perfect preparation for the Wyong Cup, with Berry confident he could be the horse to give him his first cup victory. 

“This is one of the few cups I haven’t won, so hopefully I can get the job done with Medatsu,” he said. 

“He’s an impressive horse going forward. The stable has always had a high opinion of him, but he’s taken a while to mature. 

“I think he has the ability to get him over the line, despite a wide barrier draw he has quality on his side.”

Tyler Schiller will ride Manzoice, whose two race wins include the 2500m Group 1 Victorian Derby at Flemington in October 22. The five-year-old is coming off a second in the Premier’s Cup Prelude at Randwick over 1800m on August 10.

Etna Rosso looked impressive taking out the 19000m BM78 at Rosehill on August 17, his three career wins all coming over a staying distance. The favourite in early markets, he has the advantage of in-form jockey Kerrin McEvoy. 

Sara Ryan’s Roma Avenue and Kim Waugh’s Camaguey represent our Wyong trainers in the Cup, a win by either trainer would be the first by a local in 18 years. 

The Cup will be run at 4.35pm, with the first of eight races at 12.50pm. 

SELECTIONS:

RACE 1 – 12.50pm: READY’S @ THE DOYLO SUPER MAIDEN (1200m): 1 YOSHINOBU, 2 Tautoum 3 Bradken Blu, 4 Polymnia.

RACE 2 – 1.25pm: WYONG LEAGUES GROUP MIDWAY 4YO&UP MAIDEN (1350m): 1 THE BENTLEY, 2 Classic Poetry, 3 Show County, 4 Hongkong Harmony.

RACE 3 – 2.05pm: CENTRAL COAST COOLROOMS DA VINCI – 3&4YO BM64 (1300m): 1 DRACO’S FIRE, 2 Weeping Woman, 3 Bit Of Banter, 4 Zedari.

RACE 4 – 2.40pm: BISHOP COLLINS CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS SPRINGTIME CONDITIONAL BM64 (1200m): 1 EDITED BY, 2 Norton Road, 3 I’m A Steel, 4 Cohesive. 

RACE 5 – 3.20pm: HUNTER PETROLEUM PRODUCTS F&M BM 66 (1600m): 1 AUNTY RENE, 2 Noises, 3 Doraskaya, 4 No Second Thoughts.

RACE 6 – 3.55pm: CARLTON DRAUGHT PROVINCIAL BM64 (1600m): 1 RUSH ATTACK, 2 Kervette, 3 Dubai Flyer, 4 Doraskaya.

RACE 7 – 4.35pm: WYONG LEAGUES GROUP WYONG CUP (2100m): 1MEDATSU, 2 Etna Rosso, 3 Lion’s Roar, 4 Age Of Sail.

RACE 8 – 5.10pm: SENPOS POINT OF SALE CLASS 1 (1100m): 1 BRAVEHEART, 2 Agenda Setter, 3 Catch The Glory, 4 Savoldi. 

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.