BUCHANAN CHASING DREAMS

BUCHANAN CHASING DREAMS 1

Kristen Buchanan has no doubt Jazzland will have to bring his A game to Friday’s Carlton Draught Wyong Gold Cup.

The six-year-old is among a strong field of 13 stayers making up this year’s $160,000 Listed feature. 

Jazzland will carry the hopes of the locals, and while Buchanan concedes it is a tough task, she doesn’t believe it is beyond his capabilities. 

“I haven’t got my head stuck in the clouds. I know he is going to be meeting some very nice horses here, but the track suits him and for a big horse he really handles Wyong very well,” Buchanan said.

“He loves the track and knows where the finishing post is. He clicks into gear himself at the 600m and really knows what he’s doing here.”

So strong is the six-year-old’s affinity with his home track, that he is unbeaten in four starts, two of those over the 2100m Cup distance. 

He has been in good form leading into the race, claiming the South Grafton Cup over 1600m in July, before a sixth in the Coffs Harbour Cup and most recently a third in the Taree Cup over 2100m.

“He’s unbeaten at home and that does give me confidence, but it’s relative to the grade he’s been running in. 

“I believe he is well and truly capable of winning, absolutely. He’s got a terrific cruising speed but he’s a hard horse to ride. If you give him the right run at the right tempo, he can really run to his strengths.

“Bucko (Grant Buckley) has ridden him before and been sweating on riding him again and we are more than happy to have him on. 

“We will be looking for him to lead or be there abouts. He loves to dictate but not at all costs. He can’t run his race at both ends.”

Buchanan said while she always knew Jazzland had potential, it has taken a while to work him out.

“He’s got all the ability in the world, but he can really chuck the towel in and have a proper tantrum if he wants to. He’s grown out of it a lot and we know how to keep him happy now.”

Buchanan is super excited about having her first Wyong Cup runner.

“It’s been on the bucket list to be able to have a horse good enough to run in our home track Cup.

“The owners are lovely people and have been very good to train for. 

“They are a bit more conservative and feel safer going to country cups. This is definitely my dream come true and they’ve come along for the ride.”

Jazzland will have to beat some heavy hitters in the staying ranks to claim the Wyong Cup.

The Kris Lees trained Attention Run, last year’s Newcastle Cup runner-up, is the $3.60 favourite over stablemate Raheen House ($6), who was third in the Sydney Cup.

Chris Waller, shooting for his eighth Cup in 10 years, saddles up Savacool, also on the $6 line, The Lord Mayor $8 and Toryjoy, an $11 chance.

Last year’s Wyong Cup runner-up Hush Writer, from the Waterhouse/Bott stable is listed at $16.

The John Sargent trained Emeralds, is the early favourite for the $140,000 Listed Collins Accounts Mona Lisa Stakes, over the Lees trained Miss Fabulass, $4.80.

The first of eight races gets underway at 12.55pm.

SELECTIONS:

Race 1 – 12.55pm: PRIORITY BUSINESS LAWYERS 4YO&UP MAIDEN (1350m): 1 KISS AND TELL, 2 Explosive Truth, 3 Kowloon Treasure, 4 Sisseck.

Race 2 – 1.35pm: WINNING COMMERCIAL BM64 (1600m): 1 ELISA CAROLINA, 2 Rules Don’t Apply, 3 Hubble, 4 High Court.

Race 3 – 2.10pm: CENTRAL COAST COOLROOMS CLASS 1 (1100m): 1 BADIA, 2 Archery Butts, 3 Isalute, 4 Parachuter.

Race 4 – 2.45pm: AUSTRALIAN BLOODSTOCK MAIDEN (1200m): 1 O’TARTAN LASS, 2 Astero, 3 Sammy, 1 Not Another Reiby.

Race 5 – 3.20pm: HOOLIHAN PARTNERS DA VINCI – 3&4YO BM64 (1300m): 1 CELANDINE, 2 Regimental Band, 3 Skymist, 4 Snippy Fox.

Race 6 – 3.55pm: BISHOP COLLINS ACCOUNTANTS MONA LISA STAKES (1350m): 1 MISS FABULASS, 2 Missybeel, 3 Wandabaa, 4 In Lighten Me.

Race 7 – 4.35pm: 2020 CARLTON DRAUGHT WYONG GOLD CUP (2100m): 1 RAHEEN HOUSE, 2 Kiss The Bride, 3 Attention Run, 4 Savacool. 

Race 8 – 5.10pm: THE DOYLO SPRINGTIME CONDITIONAL BM68 (1100m): 1 PEARL ROAN, 2 Partners, 3 The Drake, 4 Rifles. 

WALLER HUNTING EIGHTH WYONG CUP

WALLER HUNTING EIGHTH WYONG CUP 2

Chris Waller could have a three-pronged attack at this Friday’s $160,000 Listed Carlton Draught Wyong Gold Cup. 

The Waller stable has dominated the Cup in recent years, winning seven of the past ten, and has three top class stayers in the nominations released today. 

Savacool, who was placed four times at Group level in the Spring and Winter, before taking out the Listed Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury first up, heads the Waller trio. 

At her most recent outing on Saturday she finished strongly in the Group 3 Premiers Cup over 1900m, with the step up to 2100m looking ideal. 

Stablemate The Lord Mayor, who was second in the Grafton Cup over 2350m in July, resumed over 1600m at Eagle Farm on August 15 and strong from around the 2100m.

Completing the Waller trio is six-year-old Street Cry mare Torjoy, who at her last outing was fourth behind Savacool in the Rowley Mile, beaten less than a length. 

The Kris Lees/Australian Bloodstock team also has a strong representation including Irish import Raheen House, who has impressive staying credentials taking out the Group 2 Chairman’s Quality at Randwick in the Autumn, before finishing a close third in the Group 1 Sydney Cup over 3200m. 

He resumed with a fifth in the Premiers Cup Prelude over 1800m on August 15.

Attention Run, runner-up in last year’s Newcastle Cup, is another of the Lees contingent who has been in good form, her last run a second in the Premiers Cup Prelude. 

She is the early favourite in betting markets.

Veteran stayer Big Duke is the third of the Lees team, the nine-year-old having finished fourth in his last outing in the Premiers Cup Prelude.

With a Group 2 and two Group 3 wins to his name, along with multiple Group placings, he would be among the chances at his best form. 

Kiss The Bride, from the in-form Bjorn Baker stable, is among the nominations, the five-year-old having won his past two starts over 1800m and 2400m at Randwick.

The Waterhouse/Bott stable will be hoping last year’s Wyong Cup runner-up Hush Writer can go one better. 

The six-year-old went on to win the Group 3 Newcastle Cup and St Leger in 2019 but was unsuccessful in four runs in the Autumn. 

He has had four trials and would be primed for a strong first up performance over the 2100m.

Local trainers Kristen Buchanan, Jazzland and Stan Thomas, Ondo Pasa are among the 15 nominations, which have been extended to 11am Tuesday.

The $140,000 Mona Lisa has attracted 20 nominations included Bjorn Baker’s Group 2 winning mare, Positive Peace, who put together five successive Metropolitan wins last preparation.

Nominations have been extended for several races on the eight-race card. 

https://racing.racingnsw.com.au/FreeFields/Nominations.aspx?Key=2020Sep04,NSW,Wyong

FRENZIED TOO STRONG IN CUP PRELUDE

FRENZIED TOO STRONG IN CUP PRELUDE 3

The formidable combination of Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott and Nash Rawiller, struck again at Wyong with the well supported Frenzied taking out the CARLTON DRAUGHT WYONG CUP PRELUDE – BENCHMARK 68. 

The Americain gelding outstayed his opposition over the 2100m, courtesy of a great ride by Rawiller and a well-planned preparation by the stable. 

The 2019 Bong Bong Cup winner, raced by Dynamic Syndications, broke his maiden at Wyong in May last year over 1600m and has continued to improve as he steps up in distance. 

“Gai and Adrian had him spot on today,” stable representative Neil Paine said. 

“It was perfectly planned to kick him off over 1500m, then to 1850m and on to this. 

“It turned out perfectly today. 

“The way Nash rode him today was an absolute treat.

“What a terrific treble they are.”

Paine said it was a tough performance by the five-year-old.

“He carried 59kg and everything else was around the 55kg or less. It really was a tough win. 

“This horse has just realised his potential. He is getting better and better with each campaign.”

Paine was unsure if the stable would push on to Friday’s Carlton Draught Wyong Gold Cup, with the victory earning Frenzied automatic entry. 

Gai Waterhouse combined with Nash Rawiller to win the Wyong Cup in 2012 and 2008 with Julienas and Bianca, respectively.

Frenzied, a $85,000 yearling, started $2 favourite in the Cup Prelude and led all the way, with a beautifully rated, front running ride by Rawiller. 

It was a race in two in the straight with Frenzied holding out Prince Of Arragon ($2.60) trained by Stephen O’Halloran, with Itsa Fait Accompli ($61) from the Daniel and Rocky Simonetta stable, third. 

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The in-form Robbie Dolan dominated the riding ranks with a treble, the WYONG RACE CLUB LA GIOCONDA – F&M BENCHMARK 68 bringing up his third win with Happy Candy. 

The Mark Newnham trained gelding defied a strong betting drift to score his third career win at start 11 over the 1600m. 

The Smart Missile mare pinged the gates, allowing Dolan to ease her to the front from the outside barrier. 

He settled her in the lead and was able to control the pace, drawing away to win by half a length, holding out the fast finishing local galloper Ondo Pasa. 

A $40,000 yearling, Happy Candy beat the Stan Thomas trained Ondo Pasa ($9.50) by half a length, with Sensacova ($8) from the Marc Connors stable, third. 

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Elon caused an upset in the COCA-COLA CLASS 1 over 1600m, giving a welcome boost to Warwick Farm based trainer Gary Nickson and his family.

Nickson’s wife, an owner in the Exceed and Excel gelding, is currently being treated for cancer. 

It was the first leg of the winning treble by Dolan.

Stable foreman Mark Galea said the win would mean a lot for the Nickson family.

“Gary’s wife is crook at the moment with cancer and this will give her a good boost,” Galea said. 

“The horse has been working good and we thought she’d win today.”

At $16, Elon was the second outsider in the small field, but defied his odds to score a narrow win, courtesy of a great ride by Dolan. 

He took the four-year-old to an early lead, dictating terms throughout. 

Despite looking under pressure on the turn, Elon fought on to hold off the fast finishing Grand Acheva ($9) to win by a long neck. 

The Jason Coyle trained Lunar Rain ($9) was third.

A $260,000 yearling, Elon brought up his second career win at start 12. 

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The John Sargent trained Elizabeel defied a better drift to take out the 1200m TEAM THOROUGHBRED NSW 3YO MAIDEN, securing a double for Robbie Dolan. 

The three-year-old filly, by Great Britain sire Power, had been racing in metropolitan grade in her past three starts, with two seconds and a third to her name.

She was coming off a second on a heavy track at Canterbury over the same distance on August 19 and looked like a major contender in the Wyong race. 

Dolan settled Elizabeel ($3.40) just behind the leader and $2.50 favourite Wuddacuddashudda, drawing level in the straight before pulling away in the final stages to win by more than a length.

Sargent has had a good opinion of the filly and believes she will get out over more distance.

He said she had been “knocking at the door” in her previous runs. 

“I think she’ll get out to a mile or more later in her career,” he said.

Matthew Dunn trained the runner-up Wuddacuddashudda, with Echo Point ($16) from the Waterhouse/Bott stable, third.

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Jockey Keagan Latham was able to get the best out of Miss Japan in the final stages of the TAB.COM.AU PROV & CTRY MAIDEN, with the mare claiming victory in a head bobbing finish. 

Trained by Stephen O’Halloran, for Waratah Thoroughbreds, the four-year-old was coming off a poor performance on her home track at Goulburn, where she finished a long last in a field of nine. 

Punters were forgiving and Miss Japan was sent out $4 second favourite and didn’t disappoint. 

Latham settled the mare midfield in the 1600m race, bringing her to the outside in the final stages of the straight where she was able to run down the Peter Cheers trained, I Am Flying ($13) to win by a short half head.

The $2.50 favourite Stark, from the Widdup stable, was a length behind in third. 

“I’m really happy with that performance from her, particularly coming off a bad run last start,” O’Halloran said. 

“I put that down to a very heavy track. I think she appreciated getting on the better ground and she put in right on the line.

“She’s obviously a good grown horse but there’s not much of her. I think she’ll get over more ground. She’s bred to do so. 

“I’m really happy with her win today.”

Miss Japan was O’Halloran’s first runner at Wyong. The long-time Waterhouse/Bott racing manager took on the job as head trainer for Waratah Thoroughbreds, earlier this year. 

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A strong ride by the in-form Jason Collett secured victory for Numbers Game, a debutante from the Bjorn Baker stable. 

The New Zealand bred four-year-old only arrived in Australia last month and has wasted no time in stamping himself as a gelding with a future. 

Collett gave the Per Incanto gelding a great rails run, after settling him just off the speed in the early stages. 

He stuck to the rails in the straight and responded to hard riding by Collett, to win the TRACSIDE AUTOMOTIVE 4YO&UP MAIDEN over 1100m by half a length. 

“It was definitely a good start to his career,” racing manager Stephen McLean said.

“Full credit to Mickey and Lauren Brennan in NZ. He arrived in great order six weeks ago. 

“We came here with a bit of confidence and he didn’t disappoint.”

McLean said it was a tough win by the $130,000 yearling. 

“I don’t think he had it easy in any part of the race. Jason had to use him early to hold his position. It was really good to see him get the job done today.”

Numbers Game ($3.10), coming off a trial win at Warwick Farm on August 21,

beat Maccomo ($12) trained by Joe Pride, with stablemate Oslo, the $1.85 race favourite, a length behind in third. 

McLean described Oslo as a “very promising horse.”

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Classy filly Miss Fox continued her winning run with a dominant victory in the 1100m DE BORTOLI WINES BENCHMARK 64. 

Trained by Adam Duggan, the Mossman mare was resuming from a spell. 

She was sent out the $2.25 favourite and didn’t disappoint with jockey Tim Clark settling her just behind the leaders. 

She came to the outside on straightening, going on to win by a length. 

It was the fourth career win for the promising four-year-old from just five starts. 

She was narrowly beaten on debut at Muswellbrook, before stringing together two successive wins at Taree and a home track victory at Gosford. 

She trialled impressively at Gosford on August 3 and looked primed for a good first up performance. 

She beat the Tony Ball trained Boom Queen ($13), with Crackneck ($17) from the Allan Kehoe stable, a close third. 

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Apprentice Cejay Graham continued a winning weekend, riding Wild Chap to victory in the WYONG’S NEXT RACE DAY FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 4 IS CUP DAY BENCHMARK 64 over 1350m.

Graham booted home a double at Kembla on Saturday, including Delileo for the Brett Lazzarini stable.

The pair combined again at Wyong with Wild Chap and were again in the winner’s circle. 

It was a great, front running ride by the apprentice, who dictated terms in front drawing two lengths clear of her opponents on straightening, maintaining the margin to the post. 

Wild Chap ($11), an $80,000 yearling, was having his third start for the Lazzarini stable. 

He was coming off a second at Kembla on August 6 over the 1200m and responded well to the freshen up. 

Lazzarini had been confident leading into the race.

“He’s a very handy galloper,” he said. 

“He is lightly-framed so you can’t get a lot of work into him but there is plenty of ability there.

“It is not a hard 1350m at Wyong so I thought he would run a big race.”

Wild Chap beat the Grant Marshall trained Achi Baba ($41), with Aspect Ratio ($4.40) third. 

O’HALLORAN BANKING ON FIRST TIME LUCKY

O’HALLORAN BANKING ON FIRST TIME LUCKY 4

Stephen O’Halloran has made the trip to Wyong countless times as racing manager for the Waterhouse/Bott stable, but on Sunday he will saddle up runners for the first time in his own name.

O’Halloran spent 17 years as a vital cog for the leading Sydney stable, but earlier this year stepped out on his own to become a trainer for Moss Vale based Waratah Thoroughbreds. 

He will start the consistent Prince Arragon in the 2100m Carlton Draught Wyong Gold Cup Prelude and the lightly raced Miss Japan in the 1600m Provincial and Country Maiden.

“Gai was a big supporter of sending horses to Wyong, especially with the ones heading towards Magic Millions, so I had plenty of trips up there over the years,” O’Halloran said.

“Sunday will be my first runners at the track in my own right.

“It’s been a big change for me but I’m enjoying it.

“It’s obviously a lot different from just being based at Randwick and running the stable for Gai.

“I’m making my own decisions now, but we have a beautiful property down here in the Southern Highlands which is great for the horses. 

“Riot Act has won two for me over the last couple of weeks so it 

was good to get the monkey off my back, so to speak. 

“I have 29 horses in work and will try and get them all out running in the next few weeks.”

O’Halloran believes Prince Arragon has a good chance in the Wyong Cup Prelude.

The More Than Ready four-year-old, who has a win and four placings from 10 starts, will have his first attempt at the 2100m. 

“He’s been going really well and came out of his last start good,” he said. 

“The extra ground is going to suit him, and he’s been crying out for a dry track. 

“It looks like he will get the ideal conditions and I expect him to run out the distance.

“Last start he was over the 1875m at Newcastle and he was just beaten. 

“Keagan (Latham) was really happy with him and believes he will have no problems with the 2100m.

“I think on his racing style, he relaxes really easy, goes to sleep underneath you and has that turn of foot that you need over a staying trip.

“Keagan is pretty comfortable he will run the distance, especially on a good track.”

O’Halloran also expects a much better showing from his mare Miss Japan, who is coming off a last at Goulburn over 1500m on August 14. 

She lines up in the 1600m Provincial and Country Maiden and will also be ridden by Latham. 

“She was very disappointing last start, but we are putting it down to the heavy track at Goulburn.

“We are looking forward to a big improvement from her being on top of the ground. 

“Her work has been good since the run and I expect her to race well.”

The Cup Prelude has attracted a field of nine, with Frenzied from the Waterhouse/Bott stable and Malfy, trained by Mark Newnham among the top chances. 

The 1200m 3YO Maiden has attracted a capacity field, with plenty of classy debutants including Van Gogh, a $170,000 yearling from the Waterhouse/Bott stable, who was impressive in two recent trials.

The first of eight races gets underway at 12.50pm. 

SELECTIONS: 

Race 1 – 12.50pm: COCA-COLA CLASS 1 (1600m): 1 EMTHREE, 2 Rockness Angel, 3 Now Or Never, 4 Lunar Rain.

Race 2 – 1.25pm: TAB.COM.AU PROV & CTRY MAIDEN (1600m): 1 STARK, 2 Omaka, 3 Alanton’s Treaty, 4 Miss Japan.

Race 3 – 2pm: TRACSIDE AUTOMOTIVE 4YO&UP MAIDEN (1100m): 1 KISS AND TELL, 2 Oslo, 3 Maccomo, 4 Sublime Lady.

Race 4 – 2.36pm: TEAM THOROUGHBRED NSW 3YO MAIDEN (1200m): 1 VAN GOGH, 2 Loveland, 3 Wuddacuddashudda, 4 Hypnosis.

Race 5 – 3.11pm: WYONG RACE CLUB LA GIOCONDA – F&M BM68 (1600m): 1 HARD LADY, 2 Happy Candy, 3 Time To Dazzle, 4 Our Winnie.

Race 6 – 3.46pm: CARLTON DRAUGHT WYONG CUP PRELUDE – BM68 (2100m): 1 FRENZIED, 2 Malfy, 3 Continuation, 4 Prince of Arragon.

Race 7 – 4.21pm: DE BORTOLI WINES BM64 (1000m): 1 MISS FOX, 2 Archery Butts, 3 Galaxial, 4 Gidgee Guy.

Race 8 – 4.56pm: WYONG’S NEXT RACE DAY FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 4 IS CUP DAY BM64 (1350m): CULTURAL AMNESIA, 2 Mo The Great, 3 Patagonian, 4 Invincible Dash.