Fran

WYONG trainer Rodney Bailey spoiled the Domeland “party” at his home track today.

The affable Bailey was confident beforehand that a firmer surface would help lightly-raced Norton Road recapture winning form – and he did exactly that in the inaugural Domeland-sponsored Kulnura Cup (a Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap, 1300m) at $17.

Unfortunately for Domeland, Norton Road’s victory was at the expense of their only runner at the meeting, trainer Sara Ryan’s $2.60 favorite Spicy Hotpot.

Norton Road, a $7500 online buy in 2021 and raced by the trainer’s daughter Bridget, needed time before getting to the races and won his first two starts at Wyong and Newcastle in January and February.

Bailey sent him for a spell, but the Stratum Star gelding had failed to recapture that form in four starts since resuming.

However, his trainer was adamant wet tracks had played a role in that and also rued his decision to put winkers on him, which he quickly changed.

Rider Jenny Duggan had Norton Road smoothly into the box seat outside Global Empire and, after hitting the front in the straight, the now five-year-old kicked strongly to hold out the challenge of Spicy Hotpot, who began awkwardly but nonetheless had every chance.

Third placegetter Killer Kerr ($17) isn’t far off another win after being slow to begin. 

Norton Road’s return to winning form lift his earnings to nearly $67,000 – a tidy return indeed on his purchase price.

Fellow Wyong trainers Kim Waugh and Kristen Buchanan joined Bailey in the winning list, both making an excellent start to the new season.

Waugh followed her Hawkesbury victory last Thursday with stable newcomer Northern Eyes by landing the Limitless Lodge Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) with Doraskaya (Jay Ford).

A $6.50 chance, Doraskaya really surged in the closing stages to overhaul another local, Allan Kehoe’s Dreamdeel ($2.70 favorite), who had made the running and looked home when nicely clear in the straight.

A five-year-old daughter of Russian Revolution, Doraskaya won her third race and is part-owned by the trainer’s husband, Australian cricket legend Mark.

Buchanan followed her Newcastle victory yesterday with favorite Fioprospero ($2.15) by scoring with another punters’ elect – and a heavily backed one at that.

Four-year-old Kermadec mare Kervette had been placed on six occasions from 10 starts, and was backed from $2 to start $1.70 favorite in the Agrana Fruit Australia Provincial Maiden Handicap (1350m).

Gun apprentice Zac Lloyd took bad luck out of the equation, taking off on her approaching the home turn, and she quickly rounded up her rivals.

Kervette won stylishly from Noises ($10) and fellow local, Damien Lane’s Oakfield Blue Bell ($11).

“I expected her to beat hard to beat,” Buchanan said. “She drew well, had Zac (Lloyd) riding her and getting up to 1350m suited.

“We’ve got a lot of nice young horses coming through, so hopefully we’re set for another good season.”

Torie’s Rose ($5.50), racing in blinkers for the first time, was slowly away and did her best work at the end to finish fourth. 

Lloyd, last season’s Wyong apprentice premiership winner, made it a double in consecutive races when successful on his master James Cummings’ Rip Off ($2.70 favorite) in the Milangall Park Maiden Handicap (1100m).

The four-year-old daughter of Ribchester took eight starts to break through after three minor placings.

She finished a shade strongly for a gallant Conchierro ($19), who fought valiantly to hold on in the straight.

Talk about an excellent start to the season! Definitely none better than leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup, who scored with debutante Canny Queen ($8.50) in the Economy Waste Group 3YO Maiden Plate (1200m).

This was his eighth starter in the first four days of the new season – and he has won five races and finished second with the other three.

Owner John Cordina’s Summertime Thoroughbreds, for whom Widdup won with Party Doll at Hawkesbury last Thursday, purchased the three-year-old daughter of Victoria Derby winner Ace High for $20,000 as a yearling in New Zealand last year.

It looks to be a pretty astute decision, given Canny Queen’s dam Quella Finale is a daughter of the great staying influence Zabeel, and here she is winning first-up at 1200m.

Winning rider Tom Sherry had Canny Queen racing smoothly in third last place on the fence, and got a split between runners in time for the filly to pip Forrest Gum ($5.50) in the last few strides.

Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride got punters off to a good start when hotpot Elle Hudson ($1.35) took the Stone Real Estate Wyong Maiden Plate (1600m).

But not before they took a few deep breaths.

Elle Hudson (Regan Bayliss) needed the entire straight to run down Casterly Rock ($8.50) and break through for his first win.

“We bought him in New Zealand and he’s still learning his race craft,” Pride said.

“I’m sure he can win more races.”

Newcastle trainer David Atkins won the Sublime Aluminium & Glass Somersby Bracelet Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m) with Leave Me Some ($4.60).

Jockey Ash Morgan produced a brilliant ride, navigating a path between runners in the straight to deny $2.45 favorite Oceans One victory.

Age certainly isn’t worrying the nine-year-old mare.

This was her 59^th start and her ninth win, and she has also been placed 19 times.

Oceans One was gallant under his 61kg (after apprentice Zac Wadick’s 2kg claim), especially as he conceded the winner 5kg.

Rosehill Gardens trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou didn’t hesitate to take Incarcerated back to Wyong for the Mangrove Mountain Memorial Club Town Plate Class 1 Handicap (1100m) – and he made it two in a row at the track.

Having only his fourth start, four-year-old Incarcerated ($2.80 co-favorite) was clearly too nippy for his rivals and scored by nearly five lengths.

The other joint favorite She’s All It was second after trying to put pressure on the winner on the winner on the home turn.

Incarcerated had won a Super Maiden (1200m) at Wyong on July 20 by two lengths, and he was even more impressive this time.

Kim Waugh was pipped at the post for the Wyong Trainers Premiership with Snowden Racing grabbing the title at the last local meeting of the season. 

The trainers went into the day with 10 winners apiece and three runners each, but while Waugh failed to taste success, the well named Zousain Bolt was a winner for the Snowden’s. 

Waugh doesn’t end the 2023/24 season empty handed, and will take out the her seventh Wyong Premiership, for the most overall winners, next week. 

Tyler Schiller secured the senior Jockey’s title with a winner on the day giving him 11 for the season, while Zac Lloyd claimed the Apprentices Premiership with 11.

Matthew Smith took out the training honours with a double, including Scalextrics who brought up his fourth successive win in the 1600m BM64.

Jaden Lloyd has partnered the So You Think four-year-old to all four wins. 

Smith said a change up in training tactics had seen the gelding turn the corner. 

“He’s a bit of a lazy horse so we changed things up and he’s found very good form.”

Smith’s other win came with Lone Force in the 1300m Super Maiden.

A top Jay Ford ride helped secure victory for Sooboog gelding, 

Ford was able to get on the back of the favourite Spanish Fox throughout, before pulling away in the final stages to hold out his rivals. 

“He’s come back in good shape,” Smith said. “He should get out to seven furlongs and a mile and that will give him more opportunities.”

Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou continued their recent winning run at Wyong with well-bred two-year-old Lone Force taking out the 1300m 3Y0 Maiden.

The stable trained a double last Saturday, Lone Force giving them their third win in five days.

The $180,000 Magic Millions yearling was on debut, having performed well in the latest of his three trials at Rosehill on July 12. 

Tom Sherry partnered the Trapeze Artist colt to victory, with the stable having good expectations of him going forward. 

“It was a nice win,” representative Jason Thompson said. “He did a few things wrong, but that will come with race experience. There was plenty of positives to take out of the win today.”

Snowden Racing’s Zousain Bolt appreciated the drop back to two-year-old grade and was too strong in the second 1300m 2YO Maiden. 

Andrew Adkins, coming off a Wyong treble last Saturday, rode the Zousain colt to victory. 

“He’s starting to switch on that he’s a racehorse,” foreman Matt McCudden said. “It’s good to get the win out of the way and he will continue to improve when he gets over more ground.”

It was a tight three-way finish, with placegetters Cristal Clear and Komodo Dragon not far off a win.

Lonhro filly Waamil is another who looks to have a bright future, the three-year-old winning the 1600m Maiden with Tim Clark in the saddle. 

Waamil joined the Waterhouse Bott stable this preparation and was coming off a fourth at Scone on a heavy 10 track.

“The dry track made the difference today” Neil Paine said. “It was bottomless at Scone, so to come here on a good track over the mile was perfect. She’ll step up to 1900m, 2000m and will improve again.”

The favourite Rampazetto raced greenly in stages and will improve from the run. 

Stephen O’Halloran’s Albe Red is putting together an impressive resume, his latest win in the 1350m Provincial Class 1, his second in just five starts. 
The well-bred son of Autumn Sun was having only his second run for the stable and coming off a second at Goulburn on July 5.

Winning rider Shaun Guymer  is confident there are more wins to come. 

“It was a tough win today. He was wide for the majority of the race and performed exceptionally well. Once he puts it all together he should be able to get a string of wins,” he said.

Godolphin rarely go home from a Wyong meeting without a win and today was no exception, with Equipage too strong in the 1350m Conditional BM68.

Tommy Berry partnered the progressive Lonhro filly to her second career victory from 11 starts, with seven minor placings.

Despite a wide run throughout, Berry was able to get a kick in the straight and run down his rivals to win by a half-length. 

The Pride stable was confident about the chances of Global Empire in the 1200m BM64 and the four-year-old didn’t disappoint with a strong win. 

The son of I Am Invincible hit the front in the straight and was able to hold out fast finishing duo Trapeze Pleasure and Drama Dodger. 

Brave Pride said they were hopeful the win would give the gelding the confidence to win a few more races. 

There was plenty of late support for Global Empire, who started $3 favourite with Regan Bayliss in the saddle. 

The surname Ryan was prominent in the winners list at today’s Wyong meeting, master trainer Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou training a double and Blake Ryan unveiling a smart two-year-old in He’s In Like Flynn.

Blake Ryan has a big opinion of the well-bred Showtime gelding, a $350k Ready To Race purchase by Barlaine Racing.

He considers He’s In Like Flynn to be the best horse he’s had in his stable and plans to run him in a Stakes race if he successful in next start at Wyong on August 4.

Ryan had him primed for a strong debut performance in the 1000m Provincial Maiden after he won a Hawkesbury barrier trial on July 8 by more than five lengths. 

He was sent out $1.50 favourite and the win was never in doubt, Andrew Adkins drawing away in the final stages to post a four-length victory. 

Ryan had been excited to see if He’s In Like Flynn could transfer his trial form to a race and he didn’t disappoint. 

“His trials had been good last time in, and the other day was really good, but you never know what they can do under race pressure,” Ryan said. 

“Once he began well enough today, I knew they wouldn’t get past him. He was an expensive ready to run purchase and I was lucky enough to get him to train.” 

Ryan’s father Gerald and racing partner Alexiou had two Maiden horses break through, Press Statement gelding Incarcerated in the 1200m Super Maiden and Flying Artie three-year-old Contrived in the 1000m 3YO Maiden. 

Contrived, a $150k yearling, broke through at his third start, while stablemate Incarcerated was also having his third career start. 

Brandon Lerena partnered both the stable winners but it as Andrew Adkins who took out the riding honours with a treble. 

Along with He’s In Like Flynn, Adkins scored on Misty Legend, another impressive Maiden winner from the Hawkes racing stable, and Jason Coyle’s Bluff ‘N Bluster in the last. 

It’s been a fruitful month for Adkins with six winners to date including last Wednesday’s Listed Ramornie at Grafton with Ka Bling for the Snowdens.

Rodney Bailey snared a win for the locals, with Dreams Of Thunder taking out the 1200m Class 1 in impressive style. 

Ridden by Jenny Duggan, the Overshare three-year-old brought up his second win in the 1200m Class 1 at just his eighth career start. 

Lee Curtis was the other winner on the day, claiming the first race, the 1600m 2YO & 3YO Maiden with Laspirit Deeler. 

Race by a syndicate including prominent owner breeders Frank and Christine Cook, the three-year-old filly breaking through at just her second career start. 

ON A Domeland-sponsored day, what better than their sole representative getting the money!

Wyong trainer Sara Ryan could have run Aix En Provence at Hawkesbury on Tuesday, but understandably waited a couple of days for the DOMELAND – GAZILLION BUBBLES CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1600m) – and it paid off.

With regular rider Grant Buckley sidelined, Kerrin McEvoy gave Aix En Provence (3.60) a faultless ride, getting him away first from an inside draw, then taking a trail on the fence and having only to go around fellow Wyong representative, Damien Lane’s Externus ($10).

The Shalaa three-year-old, a $160,000 buy at the 2022 Inglis Premier yearling sale in Melbourne, edged away from Externus in the closing stages, with French import Barazin ($12) a luckless third, unable to be fully tested for the majority of the straight.

“He is a very honest boy, who has never been out of a place (seven starts for two wins and five placings),” Ryan said of Aix En Provence.

“The winkers seemed to make him fight that bit harder today.

“This is only his second preparation. I’ll see how he pulls up, but he might go for a spell.”

Ryan is enjoying clearly her best season in only her second full year of training. Aix En Provence was her 24^th winner, double last year’s tally.

Unfortunately for connections and punters who backed $1.75 favorite It’s A Wonder, who was never really a winning prospect and finished fifth, she bled from both nostrils and incurred the mandatory three months’ ban.

GODOLPHIN two-year-old Last Druid’s breakthrough victory in the DOMELAND THANKS STABLEHANDS MAIDEN PLATE (1000m) revived memories of the recently deceased champion Lonhro.

The Brazen Beau colt is the sixth foal of Lonhro’s sister Shannara (by Octagonal), a four-times winner, including the Dark Jewel Classic at Scone in 2011.

Giving gun stable apprentice Zac Lloyd a double (he had scored earlier on hotpot Euromaster), Last Druid ($2.20 favorite) gave away a year’s age but was still good enough to defeat three-year-olds, debutante Patience Is Virtue ($3.60), and well-backed Brokerage ($3).

The trio had the race to themselves in the straight, and it was Last Druid who had the drop on the placegetters and was strongest to the line.

“He’s got a classic look about him,” said Godolphin spokesman, former champion jockey Darren Beadman.

“Last Druid is still learning his craft, but changed stride when he got out into the clear on straightening and charged to the line with purpose.

“We put a tongue tie on him because he was a bit thick in the wind after his last trial at Warwick Farm 10 days ago.

“That was only his third start and first since February.”

ZAC Lloyd’s earlier success on $1.35 favorite Euromaster in the DOMELAND SUPPORTS EQUIMILLIONS MIDWAY MAIDEN PLATE (1350m) ended the lightly-raced four-year-old’s frustrating run of four previous seconds.

And he made no mistake, giving him a perfect ride, getting away from the fence at the right time to enjoy the run of the race and thus allowing him to build momentum.

Euromaster was too strong at the end for Can Expect Greater ($9), who began awkwardly and lost several lengths, and Steve Schofield’s Elusive Mission ($41), who was having her 25^th start and indicated perhaps a win isn’t far away with a stout finish, though beaten clearly.

Warwick Farm trainer Ron Leemon, who won the 2011 Group 1 Golden Rose with Manawanui, secured Euromaster for $20,000 at the 2021 Inglis HTBA sale in Sydney.

Lloyd afterwards had a “tip” for connections. “I think he will benefit from some headgear to switch him on a touch,” he said.

WHEN you’re hot, you’re hot!

Sydney apprentice Molly Bourke came off a Warwick Farm double a day earlier to repeat the feat.

She scored on La Belle Claire ($3 favorite) in the DOMELAND CONGRATULATES LES STARKEY FOR 30 YEARS SUPER MAIDEN PLATE (1600m), and four races later picked up a replacement mount from fellow apprentice Angus Villiers on OSMAN ($4), who landed the DOMELAND RACING BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1350m).

Bourke took La Belle Claire to the front, and was never headed.

The Highland Reel three-year-old filly was strong through the line and easily defeated Dalio ($9.50) and Ample Time ($18) in an all-Warwick Farm result.

“We were a bit concerned La Belle Claire might find the 1600m a shade too far, but Molly took bad luck out of the equation,” co-trainer Martha Cave said.

“That win hopefully will give the filly plenty of confidence.”

Osman, a five-year-old by American Pharoah, has won eight races – and this was his first at the provincials.

“He is a very honest horse, and looked well placed,” said Mudgee trainer Mack Griffith.

“Osman had a few issues last time and trained off, but we sorted them out and he’s really good this time in work.

“With his pedigree, he should be a Sydney Saturday horse, but we’re happy to poke along and take each race as they come.”

Osman, last year’s Parkes Cup winner, defeated recent Wyong winner Bonus Tempus ($8), who would have made matters interesting had he got clear earlier.

Steve Schofield’s nine-times winner Mosht Up was a late withdrawal from this race with a near fetlock injury, and her trainer advised RacingNSW stewards she would be retired.

NEWCASTLE’S star apprentice Dylan Gibbons is becoming something of a front-running specialist.

He has won two races recently at Wyong and Hawkesbury on the Kembla Grange-trained Verbek by leading throughout, and turned in another beauty on Tenniel ($6) in the DOMELAND SUPPORTS THE NATIONAL JOCKEYS TRUST CLASS 1/MAIDEN PLATE (2000m).

The Annabel Neasham-trained three-year-old daughter of Tarzino might have a bright future as a stayer.

She ran second last preparation over 2000m at Queanbeyan, and was never going to lose this race.

Tenniel was having only her fifth start, and followed an excellent first-up fourth over a shorter 1600m at Wyong on June 13.

She had a clear margin to spare at the finish over $3 favorite Lygon Street, who chased hard and didn’t stop trying.

PUNTERS were on the mark early when they backed Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s Mostro ($3) to defeat $2.60 favorite Pink Shalala in the SKY RACING 3YO MAIDEN HANDICAP (1350m).

Jockey Regan Bayliss ensured there was no chance for excuses by taking the three-year-old to the front, and he was never seriously threatened.

Try as Pink Shalala did in the straight, she could not overhaul Mostro, who broke through at his fourth start.

“Mostro has always shown some ability, and ran second to a smart filly (Arctic Glamour) at Rosehill Gardens last September at only his second start,” stable spokesman Neil Paine said.

“I think he’ll get further; his dam (Allaboutus) won up to 1800m at Randwick.”

ICONIC Newcastle trainer Paul Perry and Hawkesbury apprentice Zac Wadick combined to win with favorite Curcl Curl at Newcastle on June 15, and did it again, this time with Cosy Corner in the DOMELAND WISHES PARRY SOUND AN ENJOYABLE RETIREMENT BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1000m).

Whilst Cosy Corner ($4) was crowded for room soon after the start and did a good job to score, Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan’s runner-up Drama Dodger ($13) caught the eye.

Drama Dodger was slow to begin and came from last on the turn with a determined burst on the inside to go under narrowly.

The heavily-backed $2.50 favorite Morpheus Bragi (Jason Collett), with 62kg topweight, struck trouble on a couple of occasions before finishing seventh.

Stewards reported a veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities other than a small speedy cut to the off-fore cannon.

WYONG has been a happy hunting ground for Kris Lees.  

Aside from his beloved home track at Broadmeadow, Wyong is the leading Newcastle trainer’s second most successful provincial track with 155 winners, including the 2016 Gold Cup (2100m) with import Slow Pace, ridden by Robert Thompson.

Now he is banking on another couple of imports adding to his record there on Thursday at the Domeland sponsored meeting.

Lees will start Lygon Street in the Class 1/Maiden Plate (2100m) and Barazin in the Class 1 Handicap (1600m).

Kerrin McEvoy will ride Lygon Street, and stable apprentice Ben Osmond partners Barazin to lessen his 61.5kg topweight to 58.5kg.

Both horses recently made their debuts for their new stable; Lygon Street when runner-up at Wyong on June 13 in a Provincial Class 1/Maiden Plate (2000m), and Barazin ran fourth in a 1400m Class 1 Handicap at Newcastle on June 1.

Lygon Street, a four-year-old son of 2014 Epsom Derby winner Australia, had his first five starts in Ireland for one placing at Gowran Park over 1911m in June last year.

He hadn’t raced since August when he lined up at Wyong, and stable spokesman Danny Greer says he has taken good improvement from his first run for the stable.

“Kerrin (McEvoy) rode him then, and was happy to stay with him,” Greer said.

“Lygon Street ran well first-up, but found one better (Rico Suave) on the day.

“He gives the impression he will stay all day, and going an extra 100m will suit him, and he is getting fitter.”

Barazin, who raced in the Australian Bloodstock colours, is fronting up for his fourth start after having his first three starts in France.

The four-year-old son of Siyouni won a 3YO Maiden over 1800m on debut in April last year before being placed at Lyon-Parilly (1600m) and Saint-Cloud (2000m).

“Barazin’s first-up run for us was sound enough at 1400m, and Kris has given him three and a half weeks before starting him again,” Greer said.

“On his French form and the fact he has also taken improvement from the June 1 race suggests stepping up to 1600m is definitely more suitable.

“That plus the fact he drops 3kg on the weight he carried at Newcastle are in his favour.”

Locally-trained Aix En Provence will be a tough rival for Barazin to crack.

With Domeland sponsoring, their Wyong trainer Sara Ryan chose to bypass a Hawkesbury engagement on Tuesday with Aix En Provence to oppose Barazin in the Class 1 Handicap.

And whereas Kerrin McEvoy was in the Lees’ camp earlier with Lygon Street, he is in the Domeland corner this time, partnering Aix En Provence.

The three-year-old is a model of consistency, having not missed a placing in his six career starts, including a breakthrough victory in a Kembla Grange Super Maiden Plate (1400m) on May 18.

He subsequently was narrowly beaten by Bonus Tempus in a Midway Class 1 Handicap (1500m) there on June 4.

Whilst Aix En Provence wears ear muffs pre-race, Ryan has decided to add winkers for this assignment.

Star apprentices Dylan Gibbons and Zac Lloyd, with nine wins each, are locked in a tight battle for junior riding honours this season.

Both have already tasted Group 1 success; Gibbons twice on Explosive Jack in last year’s Sydney Cup and Kalapour in the Tancred Stakes at Rosehill Gardens earlier this year, whilst Lloyd won the recent Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on Stefi Magnetica.

The jockeys and trainers premierships also are evenly poised, with only meetings on July 16 and 25 remaining after Thursday.

Jockey Tyler Schiller (10 wins) lead Keagan Latham and Ash Morgan by two, whilst Wyong’s Kim Waugh and Sydney’s Peter and Paul Snowden currently top the trainers’ table with 10 winners a piece.