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It was the John O’Shea and Willie Pike show at a rain affected Wyong meeting, the pair teaming for a race to race double.

Pike piloted the O’Shea duo Duke Of Gordon and Awesome Wonder to victory, the latter being targeted towards the Queensland Oaks.

The locals weren’t to be denied with Kristen Buchanan’s One Way Street returning to form to take out the 1200m Maiden.

The last two races on the card were abandoned after heavy showers continued throughout the afternoon. 

HMA GROUP MAIDEN PLATE (1350m): 

The result was never in double for the Annabel Neasham trained African Daisy who justified her short price with an effortless win. 

The American Pharoah filly was resuming from a spell and Neasham had her primed for victory, with two impressive Warwick Farm trials. 

It was an easy watch for punters, with Brodie Loy taking an early sit behind the leader, easing to the front mid-race, before sprinting away to win by more than five lengths. 

Raphael Marchelli, representing the stable, said they had been confident leading into the race. 

“She had two nice trials and looked very sharp,” he said. “She likes heavy tracks too so we knew that wouldn’t be a problem. She looked like a winner a long way out and we were happy with that.

“Her coat wasn’t perfect, and she was green late, so there is still plenty of improvement to come.”

African Daisy ($1.20fav), beat Gracious Gracie ($7.50) from the Mark Stewart stable, with Karen Outrim’s Australian Citizen ($31) third. 

HMA INSTRUMENTATION MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200m)

A change in tactics proved to be a winning move for Kristen Buchanan’s One Way Street.

The Super One gelding was taken to the lead by Hugh Bowman, who maintained the front throughout and despite tiring in the final stages, held on to win.

It was Bowman’s only ride for the day and Buchanan was full of praise for the jockey. 

“He was the perfect rider for this horse, and I wanted to get his perspective on him,” she said. 

“Clearly, he’s going to be one paced. We’ve tried to hold him up at his past two starts and it hasn’t worked, so we did things differently today. 

“It was fantastic to see him win.”

One Way Street was sent out $2.40 favourite, based on his two placings on his home track in rain affected conditions in his first preparation.  

It was another runner-up for Taree trainer Mark Stewart, with All Beans ($14) finishing strongly and not far off a win. 

Damien Lane’s Red Cobra ($3.50) was also doing his best work late coming from well back, to finish third. 

HMA POWER GENERATION MAIDEN (2000m)

LOVE RULES – Reece Jones

A perfectly executed plan saw Rod Northam’s Love Rules breakthrough for her debut win over the 2000m.

The daughter of Pierro was given a great ride by Reece Jones, who followed his boss’s instructions to a tee, settling the filly just behind the leaders. 

She hit the front on straightening, sprinting away in the final stages to record her first win at start six. 

The three-year-old was coming off a third at Newcastle over 1890m on April 9 on a heavy track. 

Northam was impressed by the filly’s late turn of foot and pleased with the ride. 

“I was pretty happy with that. She hasn’t figured out how to race properly and is the type of filly who the older she gets the better she’ll get.

“She showed a nice turn of foot, and it was good to see her kicking away at the end of 2000m. It was a really good ride from Reece. He hasn’t had a lot of luck with the barriers on this filly, but the owners have stuck with him, and he repaid them today.

“I trained her mother, Myamira and she was a super mare, so I’m hoping this filly will keep improving.”

Love Rules earned late support to start $2.60 second favourite, over the Maher/Eustace runner-up Bay Of Kiel ($2.40), who despite being momentarily held up in the straight, appeared to have every chance. 

All About Ollie ($12) trained by Bruce Cross, was third. 

HMA MATERIALS HANDLING MAIDEN HANDICAP (1600m)

Irish import Awesome Wonder wasted no time making her impact on Australian racing, winning at her first start. 

The well-bred Galileo filly was unplaced at her three starts in Ireland before her move to the John O’Shea stables. 

She had three trials leading into the Wyong race and earned some support in the betting, sent out $4 third favourite.

Willie Pike settled her at the rear of the field and looked to have a task ahead of him before setting sail around the turn and storming down the outside to score a narrow victory. 

He ran down Ron Quinton’s Calm Down ($3.70) in the final stages, with the Widdup trained favourite Sneaky Island ($3) driving through on the line to secure second. 

O’Shea has a good opinion of Awesome Wonder and is targeting the Queensland Oaks.

“It was a really good performance today. It’s difficult to make up ground and she came from last. She’s got a really bright future and is a real delight to train. 

“She’s a full sister to a horse who was quite effective over the mile and half, and I didn’t think the distance would be a problem.”

The filly was purchased from Ireland by well-known owner/breeder Jason Abrahams who bred her mother, a Flemington Coolmore Stud Group 1 winner Nechita, who was sold on to Ireland.

HMA FLOW & INDUSTRIAL CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1600m)

A race to race double for John O’Shea and William Pike with Duke Of Gordon ($1.70) justifying his short price favouritism with a dominant win.

The Dissident gelding made it back-to-back Wyong victories relishing both the heavy track and distance. 

Pike placed the three-year-old just off the early pace, drawing level with the leader before the turn and drawing away in the straight to win by more than four lengths. 

O’Shea had been confident leading into the race, with Duke Of Gordon having improved since his Wyong win on April 14. 

“He had improved at home, was fit and adept on the ground so I was reasonably confident,” he said. 

“He relaxed a lot better today. It’s great for his ownership group, Go Racing, to have a progressive, young staying horse with a future. “

Ben Hill’s Allthehills ($11) put in another nice run finishing second, over another local runner, Launch Attack ($16) from the Damien Lane stable. 

HMA GEOTECHNICAL BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1350m)

Clarry Connors was surprised when his mare Segrill got the nod in the closest finish of the day. 

The five-year-old dived at the line to snatch victory over the short priced favourite Crazy Train to bring up her fifth career win. 

“I thought she was in front a stride before and for a stride after but wasn’t sure she got there on the line,” Connors said. “Winners are grinners, so we’ll take it. She’s a pretty honest mare who has put together a string of placings.”

Connors had been dodging heavy tracks with Segrill but decided to run at Wyong. 

“She’s not a heavy track horse and I scratched her the other day to come here. She needed to go around and has handled it well.”

Winning rider Tom Sherry agreed the heavy conditions had been a concern. 

“She’s got a bad record on heavy tracks but couldn’t avoid that today and Mr Connors had her in great order. 

“I thought as I turned into the straight, she still had a lot to offer, and she went on with it. There’s still a bit of improvement to come.”

Segrill ($7) beat the Dunn trained favourite Crazy Train ($1.80) who looked to have every chance, with the Perry trained Tupou ($16) putting in an improved performance for third. 

A strong meeting on an improving track, produced some impressive wins including the South Australian Derby bound Bastida. 

John Sargent’s three-year-old colt looks set for bigger things after dominating his rivals over the 2100m.

Gwenda Markwell had a successful trip north returning home to Kembla with two winners, Mentalism and Highballer, while Brenton Avdulla took out the riding honours with a double. 

After the meeting was in some doubt early following heavy rain, the track improved from a 10 to a heavy 8, earning the praise of participants. 

Race 1 – TAB.COM.AU BENCHMARK 64 (2000m): 

John Sargent’s Bastida stamped his credentials as both a stayer and mudlark with a strong win in the opening race over 2100m.

And the stable has big plans for the gelding planning to target black type staying races.

“The penny has dropped, and we have a couple of nice races planned for him at Flemington on Anzac Day and the South Australian Derby. He loves the soft tracks, so that’s a bonus,” stable representative Campbell Ashby said. 

“It was a race in two here today and he was always going to be able to outstay them.”

The Pierro three-year-old brought up his second victory in as many starts, coming off a Goulburn victory over the same distance on March 18. 

The win had come on a soft track and a previous second at Newcastle in the heavy, gave punters the confidence to send him out $2 favourite. 

Tim Clark stalked the John Cooper trained Arabolini ($2.80), in his customary role as leader, before hitting the front on straightening and drawing way to win by more than a length.

It was a pick-up ride for Clark, replacing his brother-in-law, Josh Parr.

The outsider of the small field, the Perry trained Into The Oblivion ($14) was third, more than seven lengths behind the winner. 

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Race 2 – WYONG RACE CLUB FUNCTION CENTRE MAIDEN (1600m): 

A gun ride by Willie Pike helped secure victory for the John O’Shea trained race favourite Duke Of Gordon ($2.60). 

The Dissident gelding, having his fourth career start, was coming off a third at Scone on March 16 over the same distance and track conditions.

Pike was able to position the three-year-old in the box seat just behind the barriers after a good start.

He got to the centre of the track on straightening and was able to hold off his rivals to win by a length and a half. 

Duke Of Gordon was an $80,000 Karaka yearling, by a Giant’s Causeway mare.

Taree galloper Preferred Choice ($31), trained by Mark Stewart, battled on well for second, over Gwenda Markwell’s Blackall ($4.20), who looked like the one to follow. 

There were excuses for the Hawkes trained Poetic Drama ($2.90) who had to work hard in the early stages when planted three and finished fourth.

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Race 3 – DE BORTOLI WINES 2YO MAIDEN (1000m): 

Annabel Neasham’s good opinion of Diamond City ($2.40fav) was franked with a strong debut win over the 1000m.

It was a race in one after Brenton Avdulla led throughout to win by almost three lengths.

The filly finished third in a three-way photo at Newcastle when resuming on a heavy track on March 31. 

Neasham had been impressed with the run giving her confidence heading into the Wyong race, and she wasn’t disappointed with the win never appearing in doubt with Avdulla’s positive ride.

“I’ve always had a lot of time for her,” Neasham said. “It was a good tough run that day at Newcastle in quite testing conditions.

“I was confident today in a small field Brenton would take luck out the equation and she’d be hard to beat.”

There were no excuses for the beaten brigade with Ron Quinton’s Light Press ($8.50) and Damien Lane’s Red Cobra ($7.50) filling the minor placings.

Diamond City, by Ilovethiscity out of a Danerich mare, was a $120,000 yearling purchase at the Inglis Melbourne Yearling sale. 

Race 4 – HUCKEL EXCAVATIONS 3YO MAIDEN (1200m): 

An ultimatum by Mark Newnham paid dividends with his Capitalist colt Mission Value breaking through for his first win at start three. 

Newnham had been disappointed with Mission Value’s last outing when resuming at Warwick Farm, finishing ninth over the 1100m some 10 lengths off the winner.

He had debuted with a third in stronger company in the Listed Inglis Nursery in December 2020 before a lengthy spell.

Newnham had planned to geld Mission Value if he failed to produce at Wyong, with that procedure now likely on hold. 

“He just didn’t seem to take much interest at Warwick Farm and was never in the race,” he said. 

“He had a fair bit of work and a jump out since then, so I thought it was time he showed us what he’s got.”

The Capitalist colt, a $70,000 yearling, drifted considerably in betting, starting at $10 after earlier being half those odds.

Tyler Schiller pinched the win with a good kick on the turn and was able to hold out the fast-finishing Hawkes debutant Airraid ($3.40). 

John Steinmetz’s Khumbu ($7) was third after earning late support, with both the minor placegetters not far off a win. 

The $2.15 favourite Island Lass was caught wide early and failed to run on.

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Race 5 – PBL LAW GROUP MAIDEN (1300m): 

Antonio Giovanni showed his class to take out the 1300m Maiden but had to fight hard on the line to win by the narrowest of margins. 

Kim Waugh’s Oxford Vison seemed to have the race won before Antonio Giovanni dived at the line late, with the judge required the separate the pair. 

Chris Waller’s All Too Hard colt got the nod, bringing up his first win at start six, in his first run for the stable. 

He was sent out $1.75 favourite, after having competed in two Victorian Group races in the spring. 

He looked primed for a good first up run with two good trials leading up Wyong race, the colt closing off nicely in both. 

Brenton Avdulla, who brought up a double, settled him just behind the lead pair throughout, coming with a sustained run in the straight to snatch victory on the line. 

Oxford Vision ($2.20) has now had three seconds and a third from four runs and deserves a win, while Sir Savaluca ($11) from the Pride stable, battled on for third.

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Race 6 – GO ELECTRICAL BENCHMARK 64 (1300m): 

Impending father Keegan Latham believes there could be more wins in store for Mentalism after the gelding notched up his second victory.

Latham’s partner was expected to give birth on Friday and the jockey was excited to ride a winner on the eve of the arrival of his first child.

He was impressed by the improvement in the Gwenda Markwell trained Mentalism ($9), who has partnered in four of his five runs this preparation. 

“He’s turned the corner quick and has been very consistent in his runs and improved a lot,” Latham said. “I’ve been looking forward to the 1300m today because I believe he is better suited over more ground.

“He was a bit keen early in his career and that’s why they kept running him over shorter trips.

“He’s really learned his trade well now, you can see by the way he won today and hopefully there are more wins to come.”

It was a good ride by Latham, who had to weave a passage in the straight before getting the spilt and racing through to win by a length and a half. 

Wild Chap, trained by Brett Lazzarini ($11) was the runner-up and looks close to a win, while Godolphin’s $3.20 favourite Brillar, was third and looked to have every chance. 

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Race 7 – CARLTON DRAUGHT BENCHMARK 64 (1000m): 

The Joe Pride trained Coal Crusher ($2.90fav) looks set for a good preparation on the strength of his first up win.

It was the third race victory for the super consistent son of Turffontein from nine starts, including five seconds. 

Pride had expected Coal Crusher to sprint well first up and Glynn Schofield gave him the perfect ride off the pace, before finding a gap in the straight and speeding away for a convincing win. 

“He’s a nice horse with a good future,” Pride said. “He’s not a 1000m horse but I was happy to see him finish off strongly with 61.5kg on his back. He’s in for a good preparation.”

It was an emotional victory for Pride with his son Brave on strapping duties for the first time. 

“I strapped my first Group 1 winner 21 years ago to the day,” he said. “It’s great to Brave get his first winner today.”

It was a real Pride family affair with Joe’s wife Kylie sharing ownership of the four-year-old.

Runner-up Suprina, from the Jarrod Austin stable, was attempting to bring up her fourth successive win which won’t be far off, while Charlie Porter’s Mr Polar ($20) put in a strong performance, coming from the rear of the field to finish third.

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Race 8 – WYONG’S NEXT RACE MEETING THURSDAY APRIL 28 PROVINCIAL CUP-CONDITIONAL CLASS 4 (1600m): 

A double to Gwenda Markwell and well-deserved victory to Highballer ($2.80fav), the four-year-old placed in four of his previous five starts this preparation. 

The ultra-consistent son of Teofilo was given a great ride by Rachel King, who had him positioned just behind the leader.

He hit the front on straightening and then the result was never in doubt, drawing away to win by more than a length. 

King was impressed with the victory. 

“He’s been really consistent, and I was able to get a nice run on speed today,” she said. “It was a nice tempo for him, and he let down really well late. 

“He races well on this track and did a great job.”

Highballer was coming off a second at Goulburn last start over the 1600m, beaten less than a length and punters kept the faith sending him out favourite. 

He beat the Snowden trained Vigorous Flow ($4.80), who was doing his best work late, with a much-improved performance by Tracey Bartley’s Kaaydeh ($81) for third. 

Ben Hill trained his first winner in almost two years courtesy of Allthehills who relished the heavy 10 track at Wyong to take out the 1350m Great Northern Provincial and Country Maiden. 

The Love Conquers All gelding has been a handful for Wyong based Hill who now seems to have found the key and his hopeful there will be more wins to come. 

With heavy rain falling throughout the day the meeting was postponed after the first four races due to poor visibility.

But fortunately for Hill his gelding took out the third race after running down Kim Waugh’s $1.40 favourite Oxford Vision on the line. 

It was a patient ride by local apprentice Pat Scorse, who settled the four-year-old just worse than midfield before peeling out around the turn and coming home strong to win by a long neck.

Hill had been unsure how Allthehills would get through the heavy track but the four-year-old had no issues. 

“We missed a run at Newcastle over 1800m and I scratched him on a heavy track. I thought we’ll come here today and give him a nice sound hit out on the heavy and see how we go, and he obviously got through it,” Hill said.

“Callum Bailey rides him in his work – he’s a bit hot headed for me. Cal has done a great job with him. He’s been a handful of a horse so hopefully he can go on with it now. 

“This will hopefully give him the confidence he needs. He was a very hot horse early on and we’ve had a few issues on the ground, no injuries at all, but hopefully the penny is starting to drop.”

Scorse said he believed Allthehills would get over more ground.

“I know Benny wants to get him over more ground and I don’t think he’ll have any trouble with that,” he said.

“We did have a nice run through today. I thought speed was quite a genuine tempo for a heavy rack and I got a nice trail a few pairs back. 

“He really switched on and get through ground good and when I ask him to improve, he gave me everything he had and finish the race off nicely.”

Allthehillis ($12) is raced by Hill and family members and was having his 10^th race start. 

It was an all-Wyong trifecta, with Wayne Seelin’s Supreme Play ($51) third.

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Sam Clipperton rode two of the four winners, taking out the 1350m Canadian Club Maiden on Mirra View for the Snowdens and the Vale Cam McBrien Maiden over 1000m on Prefer To Be Ready for Jay Hopkins. 

More Than Ready filly Mirra View was coming off a third at Newcastle on a slow track on March 17 and earned the confidence of punters, being sent out $1.30 favourite. 

She didn’t disappoint scoring by almost a length after Clipperton started his run around the 600m mark, circling the field and leading down the straight. 

Runner-up Roccaforte ($4) trained by Richard Litt, was strong late with a win not far off. 

Raging Climax ($15) trained by Kristen Buchanan, was third. 

Clipperton had partnered Mirra View in her previous start and had been confident coming into the race. 

“Her first up run was sound, and she went into that with only one trial,” he said. “She’s only a light filly and took plenty of improvement from that. 

“She looked the better horse in the race today, but she still had to get out there and do it.

“I thought being by More Than Ready she should handle the ground and she did.”

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Clipperton had also been confident about the chances of Prefer To Be Ready ($4.40) with the filly having previously been placed on a heavy track. 

Raced by a syndicate including Hopkins wife Hannah, the three-year-old had been runner in her two previous starts last preparation at Gosford and Tuncurry. 

Clipperton settled her just off the speed in the early stages and was able to get the best out of her in the straight, drawing away to win by a length and a half. 

“She’d had a good second on a heavy nine, so I thought she’d get through the ground. Jay had given her a good trial over 1000m, so I knew she’d be well primed for today.”

Brett Partelle’s Arion Story ($14) put in a nice run to finish second, over Kristen Buchanan’s debutant Tikitiboo ($5.50).

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Mark Newnham’s race favourite Sonic The Hedgehog was able to outstay his rivals in the 2000m TAB.COM.AU Maiden.

The American Pharoah gelding was having his fourth race start, after finishing third at Goulbourn on March 18 over the 2100m. 

It was a race in two in the final stages with Sonic The Hedgehog getting the better of John Sargent’s Essential Sky ($3.70) to win by a length. 

Josh Par was the winning rider, with the three-year-old gelding having no problems getting through the heavy 10 conditions. 

Sky Ace ($2.80) trained by Brad Widdup was third. 

A last-minute decision to run Barossa Rosa paid dividends for Tracey Bartley, the mare taking out the $150,000 Wyong Polytrack Provincial-Midway Qualifier. 

Consistent heavy rain caused the meeting to be transferred from Wyong to Newcastle, but Bartley had no complaints taking out the feature and the previous race, the 1200m BM68, with Sebrenco. 

Barossa Rosa is now the second of Bartley’s small team to qualify for the $500,000 final at Randwick on April 9, joining stablemate Kiss Sum. 

There was a great deal of uncertainty about the four-year-old making the final qualifier at Newcastle, after she suffered a stone bruise earlier in the week. 

Bartley and his team worked day and night to ensure she was fit for her shot at the rich series. 

“She trod on something and came out with a big stone bruise, and we worked morning and night to get her there,” Bartley said. 

“I was expecting to scratch her the morning of the race, but we trotted her up and she was fine.”

The rest as they say is history, but things didn’t quite to plan to plan, giving Bartley a few nervous moments during the race.

Normally a front running mare, jockey Jeff Penza landed toward the rear, unable to cross from the wide barrier. 

He had to come from last on the turn, but courtesy of a great rails hugging ride, was able to pull away to score by more than a length. 

“I’ve never seen this mare last in her life, so I was a bit worried,” Bartley conceded. “But she cut the corner and I think he saved six lengths. 

“All credit to Jeff and I hope he comes and rides her in the final.

“We’ve got two in the final now and it’s a great effort for stable with just 20 horses in work and a credit to our staff. 

“We’ve got some nice horses in work, and we look after them.”

Penza said that when things didn’t go to plan at the start, he opted to take a sit. 

“I had to take what we had, so I slipped over to the fence, and she really sprinted when I wanted her to. Once she got into clear running she hit the line well.”

Grande Rumore from the Lees stable was second, giving the powerful stable five runners in the final.

Kristen Buchanan’s Pandora Blue was brave in defeat finishing fourth, after leading for most of the race. 

The Waugh, Buchanan, Lane, Farley, Bartley and Munce stables all have horses nominated for the final shot at the series, the Wildcard at Newcastle this coming Thursday.