Fran

A bit of homework and plenty of patience paid off for Rodney Bailey yesterday when his promising four-year-old Norton Road was a dominant winner on debut at his home track.

Bailey purchased the son of Stratum Star from an Inglis online sale in March 2021 for the bargain price of $7500. 

He had been impressed with the bloodlines on the mare Ransack’s side, who was sired by Lonhro. 

“I did a fair bit of homework on him when I saw him listed for sale and was impressed with the breeding, particularly on the mare’s side. I knew they had picked a well-bred mare to put to the stallion, to get him going along a bit. He was a good type and definitely a bargain buy,” Bailey said. 

“He was very immature when we got him home and I knew he would take time. Then he kept going shin sore, so we had to give him a few preparations before we got him right.”

Bailey unveiled Norton Road at a trial at Rosehill on December 29, instructing jockey Reece Jones to give him a quite trial. 

“Reece said he jumped out of the barriers and just sped away. I knew he was a speedy type and he really showed it that day.”

Bailey opted to start him in the 1200m DE BORTOLI WINES PROVINCIAL MAIDEN at Wyong and he was sent out $2.45fav on the strength of his eye-catching trial. 

He didn’t disappoint, apprentice Anna Roper taking him to the lead and maintaining it throughout, kicking away in the straight to win by more than two lengths. 

“He’s got a fair bit of ability and hopefully he might go on with it. It was exciting today and I’ll give him three or four weeks off now before deciding where we will go.

“He’s got a high cruising speed and big, long stride, so I’m sure he will get over more ground.”

Norton Road’s win was celebrated by the entire Bailey family, with his daughter Bridget the official owner, in her first foray into horse ownership. 

Favourites dominated the first five races on the program with Lee and Cherie Curtis’ Still Alice ($2.40) setting the tone in the first race, the 1000m PBL LAW GROUP MIDWAY MAIDEN.

Jay Ford gave the Epaulette filly, a $300k yearling, a perfect front running ride to bring up her first win at start two. 

Curtis said he expects the filly to get up to city grade and over more ground, 

“She’s got a bit of class, I think she’s a nice filly and we’ve always thought a lot of her, but she was always a bit behind and needed a bit of time,” he said. “I think she’ll keep improving and get up to at least city grade.”

Another well rated ride saw Up And Comer ($5EF) win the 1600m SKY CHANNEL SUPER MAIDEN for Annabel Neasham and Chad Schofield. 

Up And Comer came from mid-field on the turn, Schofield circling the field and hitting the front on straightening, holding off his rivals to win by a half-length. 

Riley Loy, representing the stable, said they had been confident the Press Statement filly would run a good race. 

“We’d been happy with her work out and pretty confident today she’d run a nice race. She definitely suits a mile and could look to go a bit further.”

The fast-finishing Morton Pier looks like one to follow. 

Joe Pride is excited about the prospects of his filly Cosmanova ($2.70fav), who made it back-to-back wins in the 1100m TABCORP F&M BENCHMARK 64.

“She’s a filly with a stack of improvement to come,” he said. “She’ll head to the paddock now but over time as she gets older, she’ll get better as her pedigree comes through.

“There’s a bit to look forward to, with two wins on the bounce. We’ll give her a little break to strengthen up more and then see her at the end of the season.”

New Zealand bred mare Dawla bucked the favourite trend when she came from behind to win the CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES CLASS 1 over 1200m.

Apprentice Zac Wadick took advantage of the slow tempo, coming from the rear on the turn and storming home to win by three quarters of a lengths. 

It was Wadick’s second win for his boss Brad Widdup, since joining the stable in December. 

Scone visitor Innervoice returned double figure odds ($13), upsetting the more favoured runners in the 1350m GO ELECTRICAL F&M BENCHMARK 64.

The six-year-old Poet’s Voice mare, trained by Lyle Chandler, scored her third career win at start 32. 

Winning rider Mitchell Bell said there were excuses for her last start performance at Scone. 

“We weren’t afforded the runs we needed at Scone, going up the inside didn’t suit her. There was good speed today and from the wide draw we were able to get momentum up around the 600m and keep it. She’s a different horse again once she gets to the outside of them, a lot more confident and she hit the line well.”

Mark Minervini’s Star Impact $5, fought on strongly for second, while there appeared to be no excuses for the Maher/Eustace favorite Lady boss ($3.60) who finished third. 

Another upset in the last with the short priced favourite Katsumoto ($1.55) well beaten by the Con Karakatsanis trained Black Duke ($11).

The Fiorente six-year-old, brought up his fourth win at start 40, with the stable believing the addition of blinkers and 3kg claim for Zac Wadick helped get the job done. 

The dominant victory in the 1350m WYONG LEAGUES GROUP CG&E BENCHMARK 64 bringing up a double for Wadick & the riding honours for the day.

Stewards reporting Katsumoto had pulled up lame in the near-fore fetlock, requiring a vet certificate before resuming racing. 

Damien Lane completed a successful week with a home track victory, Oakfield Mahogany giving him his third win in just seven days and 19^th for the current season. 
Lane is enjoying one of his best runs in recent years and it was fitting the latest win came from one of his biggest supporters Bruce McKenzie.

The Capitalist gelding was second up from a spell and while Lane gave him a chance of breaking through for win number four, he felt he may have needed another run. 

He preferred the chances of stablemate Wealthy Investor in the 1200m DE BORTOLI WINES PROVINCIAL BM68 but Oakfield Mahogany ($9) and jockey Andrew Atkins had other ideas. 

Atkins let the speed go out of the race, popping off the fence on the turn and racing away in the straight to win by over a length. Stablemate Wealthy Investor ($3.80) finishing fourth.

“He’s a big gross boy and I thought me might need another run, but he proved me wrong,” Lane said. 

“He resumed on a wet track at Gosford and knocked up over 1100m. It was great to see him get the job done today.”

Super ($12) looked sharp storming home to finish second, also appreciating the better ground, while the $2.35 favorite Extreme Cat appeared to have every chance, finishing third. 

It was an Irishman stole the show in the riding ranks with Darragh Keenan bagging a double and bringing up his 200^thcareer win. 

Keenan was having only his second ride at Wyong when he lifted Dunbelievin’($3.60) to victory in the SKY CHANNEL SUPER MAIDEN (1600m).

And it didn’t stop there, the 23-year-old bringing up a double on another Maher runner, Cape Byron ($3.40fav) in the last. 

Keenan relocated to Australia from the UK in early December linking with the Maher stable.  

He had posted two wins since relocating before Saturday, Dunbelievin’ the first at Wyong. It wasn’t an easy task, the well-bred Dundeel three-year-old beating Beach Party in the smallest of margins. 

The judge found it difficult to split the two after Keenan lifted the gelding on the line, with the result eventually going his way. 

Keenan came from behind again in the last, running down the leaders to win the 1300m SENPOS MAIDEN HCP on the well supported Cape Byron.

The Capitalist gelding resuming from a spell to bring up his first win at start three.

It wasn’t all celebrations with Keenan earning the wrath of the stewards for his ride on Cape Byron, copping a four-day suspension for careless riding.  

Tim Martin was very confident heading into the 1300m CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES F&M CLASS 1, and that confidence was rewarded with Give Me Joy ($2.20) bringing up her second career win. 

It was back-to-back victories on the Wyong track, with the four-year-old daughter of Caravaggio having broken her maiden with a five length win on December 23. 

She took up where she left off, with apprentice Hannah Williams piloting her to a front running victory. 

The race wasn’t without controversy, Andrew Gibbons, riding the Lees trained second favorite Imposant protesting alleging interference in the final stages. 

The protest was dismissed with a relieved Martin, a co-owner of Give Me Joy, banking the winner’s cheque.

“I thought she should win and that’s how it panned out,” Martin said. “She’s a big, scopey mare and when she starts putting things together, she should be pretty good.”

At a subsequent inquiry, Williams pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding and was suspended for four days. 

Class prevailed in the TABCORP BM 64 HCP with John’s Thompson’s well bred mare California Grass ($2.35fav) returning to the winner’s circle after a run of placings. 

Keegan Latham put in a well-timed ride to chase down the leader Supertrail and score a half length win. 

A lightly raced Al Maher mare, California Grass was coming off a second at Warwick Farm on December 23. 

She was given a great run off the speed in the early stages, Latham circling the field before the turn and going head-to-head with Supertrail in the straight, getting the better of the Brett Cavanough trained second favorite, Supertrail on the line. 

There was an eventful finish to the 1000m MERCURE KOOINDAH WATERS RESORT MIDWAY MAIDEN with the short priced favorite Russian Snitzel running off on the turn after looking the winner. 

The Russian Revolution filly was sent out a $1.90 on the strength of two impressive  trial wins, but things didn’t go according to plan when she ran off the track, taking second favorite Ballet D’Esprit ($3.70) with her. 

This enabled Maddie Owen on Parmenio ($15) to rail through and kick away in the straight, holding out the fast-finishing Battlefield to win by a half head. 

Trained by Anthony Cummings, the winner was resuming from a spell having been gelded. 

“He has come back this time in as a gelding and I think that has made a big difference to him,” Cummings said.

Ballet D’Esprit was impressive, storming home to finish third, while stewards sent Russian Snitzel back to the trials. 

The Snowden trained Kadall ($4.40) was given a great ride by Alysha Collett to bring up his second win in just five starts in the 1300m DIMENSION ONE GLASS FENCING CG&E CLASS 1.

Collett sat just behind the leader throughout, drawing clear in the straight and holding out the fast-finishing Canadian Ruler ($7) to win by a long neck. 

An $80,000 yearling, Kadall raced by Triple Crown Syndications, was coming off a second at Hawkesbury in the same grade. 

Stephen Farley’s $3.90 favorite Lease was ridden toward the rear and failed to make up ground in the straight. 

With Christmas fast approaching Wyong’s Denim Wynen would love to celebrate with a home track win or two. 

The young trainer, and mother to two, has three good chances heading into the club’s Saturday meeting.

“I’m probably most excited to see Emphatic Bel back at the track,” Wynen said. 

“She had an operation to remove chips from her knees after her Wyong win in June and she seems to have come back a lot stronger.”

The Belardo mare starts in the Class 1over 1000m, coming off an impressive trial at Wyong on December 15. She blitzed her opposition by more than five lengths in good time. 

“I expected her to trial well but not as well as she did and against pretty good opposition. She’s a funny sort of horse and see’s ghosts when she’s working on her own, shying at nothing.

“Put her with a mate or in a race and she really gets her mind on the job.”

Wynen said she would step Emphatic Bel up to 1350m this preparation. 

“When she was with David Payne, they were trying to get her to stay but she likes to go forward, and I think she’s more of a sprinter. 

“She has a high cruising speed but if we can get her to settle, she will hopefully run up to 1350m. 

“Anna Roper has been riding her work and she will ride her on Saturday.”

Roper is also aboard Obvious Step, raced by the same ownership group. 

The six-year-old daughter of Sidestep drops back in grade, lining up in the 1600m Provincial BM64. 

“She got smashed at Warwick Farm last start, but it was still a pretty good run. That was over 1400m, and I think she will appreciate getting over more ground. 

“She has won over a mile before she came to me and the way she worked on Tuesday I think she’s in for a good run.”

And while Wynen’s owners will be on track on Saturday, she probably feels the most pressure from her third runner Magic Stella.

“She’s owned by my partner Reece Partington,” Wynen said. “If she can win it will be a nice Christmas present for us.

“She is up to 1350m on Saturday, and I can’t wait to see her over more ground. We will hold her up and hopefully she can find the line. The sting out of the ground will also help.”

The three-year-old Grunt filly will be ridden by Lee McGorrian in the 1350m Class 1. 

“It’s been flat out lately with the kids, Eli 10 and Indi, seven on holidays, along with the horses and Christmas. It will be all worthwhile if we can get a winner.”

The first of seven races gets underway at 1.25pm.

SELECTIONS: 

Race 1 –  1.25pm: WYONG EQUINE CLINIC CONDITIONAL BM68 (1200m): 1 THE KING, 2 Akaka Falls, 3 Don Pedro, 4 Surfers Royale.

Race 2 – 2.00pm:  DE BORTOLI WINES PROVINCIAL BM64 (1600m): 1 BOOMINARTIE, 2 Bak Da Man, 3 Socrates, 4 Dresden.

Race 3 – 2.35pm: CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES 4YO & UP MIADEN (1300m): 1 GIVE ME JOY, 2 Beach Party, 3 Bobby’s Fling, 4 Beauty Bound.

Race 4 – 3.10pm: TABCORP CLASS 1 (1000m): 1 EMPHATIC BEL, 2 Coco Dreaming, 3 Ringdembells, 4 Willingale.

Race 5 – 3.45pm: SKY CHANNEL SUPER 4YO & UP MAIDEN (1100m): 1 ZARAGOZA, 2 Hawkwind, 3 Ausbred Mimosa, 4 Fruiting Habit.

Race 6 – 4.25pm: RYAN’S METAL ROOFING MIDWAY 3YO MAIDEN (1100m): 1 TOYGER, 2 Edited By, 3 Taxpayer, 4 Dayu.

Race 7 – 5.05pm: WYONG LEAGUES GROUP CLASS 1 (1350m): 1 LADY BOSS, 2 Pogacar, 3 Turbulent, 4 Little Cointreau.

Favorite backers were in the queue, but Tommy Berry had other ideas, his mount Highness running down favourite Spywire in the straight to take out the 2023 Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic. 

The impeccably bred colt, a son of Snitzel from Diana’s Star and a $900k yearling, went into the $200,000 feature as $4.40 chance. 

As the 1100m race evolved it looked like the Maher/Eustace stable had bagged a feature double, before Highness stormed home in the final stages to claim a narrow victory in a thrilling finish.

Trainer Michael Freedman was delighted with the win, believing the colt still has plenty to offer. 

“He’s such a laid-back character, a bit showy in condition and still learning to be a racehorse,” Freedman said. “He did a lot of that today on raw ability and if he comes out if it well, we have ticket to the Gold Coast. 

“He ran a good time which is a great indication with two-year-olds. He’ll need a trial between now and the Gold Coast race to keep him up to the mark.”

Berry said Highness was as “underdone as you’re going to see him” and has plenty more to give. 

“The Gold Coast is going to suit him a bit better and winning this should switch him on.”

The winner sported the same colours as champion colt Capitalist and will be hoping to emulate his success taking out the 2YO Magic Millions Classic in January.

Runner up Spywire ($2.05) is also likely to push onto the Gold Coast, with Waterhouse/Bott runner Toque ($3.10) finishing third. Highness is now a $8 bet for the Gold Coast Classic on January 13. 

The race wasn’t without controversy, Racing NSW stewards questioning Spywire’s jockey Tyler Schiller about his riding out his mount in the final 100m, before giving him the benefit of the doubt due to the margin but warning him about such actions in the future.

Spywire returned lame upon examination will require a veterinary clearance before any future trial or race.

While Maher/Eustace may have been denied a feature double, they trained the quinella in the $150,000 Magic Millions 3YO & 4YO Stakes with classy mare Royal Merchant staving off her fast-finishing stablemate Semana on the line. 

Jason Collett partnered the winner, a $160,000 MM yearling, who has now amassed $725,970 in prizemoney. 

He had the four-year-old mare perfectly positioned throughout, hitting the front in the straight and holding out a late challenge by Semana. 

The Wyong win was Royal Merchant’s fifth from just 17 starts, including a Group 1 victory in The Goodwood at Morphetville in May before going out for spell. 

The Wyong race looked a perfect starting point, and the mare didn’t disappoint pleasing both her stable and rider. 

Assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said class had prevailed. 

“She had blinkers for the first time, ended up in the perfect spot, travelled well and was good late,” he said. ‘Semana shows us nothing at trials or in trackwork but is a different horse on race day. 

“They will both head to the Magic Millions now.”

Collett said Royal Merchant was “very sharp.”

“She’s had a let up and a trial and the set weights really suited her. She was well placed in this race.”

Royal Merchant was sent out $1.40 favorite, with Semana ($12) and Silentsar ($8.50) who was doing his best work late, third. 

Kim Waugh had a memorable day training a double with Linguee ($26) taking out the 1300m WYONG LEAGUES CLUB GROUP PROVINCIAL BM68 & Bojangles ($3.50) the PBL LAW GROUP Midway BM64 over 1100m, the latter giving Berry a race to race double. 

Waugh had been frustrated with Linguee continually drawing wide barriers but despite drawing wide in nine she decided to start her. 

“She’s a lovely filly but she always draws terrible, it all worked out for her today. Tom (Sherry) rode her a treat. The owners deserve every winner they get. They put a lot of money into racing and it’s a nice Xmas present.” 

She was equally impressed with progressive three-year-old Bojangles, who showed a super turn of foot in the final stages to grab victory on the line. 

 “She’s a good little horse. We bred him, my owners John Stewart & Robert Roulston, and I’m so happy they got a good horse.

 “I don’t know how good he is yet, he’s impressive. Going from a maiden to a BM64 didn’t worry him, he’s a cool little cat.”

Waugh continued a great run with nine winners in just over a month and 14 for the season.

Sara Ryan kicked off the Magic Millions program with a winner in the first, her debutant How Much Better ($7.50) taking out the 1350m STAINLESS FX MAIDEN. 

The All Too Hard colt is a half-brother to Ryan’s six-year-old Much Much Better, who has amassed more than $558,000 in his 32 starts. 

“I only hope he’s as good as his brother,” Ryan said after the victory. “It was a gritty win today and there is still plenty of improvement to come. He’s a good horse and I’m excited about his future.”

The $220,000 yearling giving Ryan her 13^th win for the season.

Rachel King put on a masterclass in the 2100m PRIDE EXCAVATIONS BM64 on the Brett Cavanough trained Supertrail ($10). 

King rated the So You Think four-year-old perfectly, pinching a gap on her rivals around the 1000m mark, before going to the line strongly to win by a length. 

Cavananaugh describing Supertrail after the race as a “progressive stayer.”

The $2.15 favorite Youthful finished strongly in second and is not far off another win. 

More Than Ready mare Mistress dominated the 1600m GOLD COAST YEARLING SALE 3 – 16 JAN BM64 courtesy of a cool ride by Tyler Schiller. 

Schiller struck a wall of horses as he turned into the straight but waited patiently until a gap appeared, the four-year-old showing a great turn of foot to speed away and win by two lengths. 

“She’s a really good progressive filly, and hopefully she can get going now,” Schiller said. 

Trained by John O’Shea, Mistress brought up her second win at start eight.

The $300,000 Magic Millions yearling, is raced by Milburn Creek’s John and Trish Muir, 

There was plenty of praise for the condition of the track, with credit due to Phil Robinson & his team.

MARK Minervini rued he could have had an even bigger celebration had a storm not cost him the chance to clinch a Wyong double today.

Whilst the Newcastle trainer was naturally delighted to win a race on his birthday – for the second time in three years – with Smiling Prophet ($8.50) in the NO EXCUSE FOR ABUSE F&M BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1100m), he didn’t get the chance to also win the DIMENSION ONE GLASS FENCING CG&E BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1100m) with Soobooco.

RacingNSW stewards called off the last two races due to ongoing storm activity, with lightning present and no imminent signs of improvement in the conditions. 

“It was bad luck because Soobooco has started twice previously at Wyong for a win and a second,” Minervini said.

“He likes soft ground, and there was enough give in the trackafter the storm hit to suit him.

“I thought he was the better chance of my two runners.”

Minervini’s success with Smiling Prophet rekindled a successful association with the mare’s jockey Kerrin McEvoy. Both are expatriate South Australians, and the trainer recalled McEvoy winning a race for him on John’s Brother ($7) in an Open Handicap (1050m) at Morphettville on April 20, 2002.

McEvoy went even further back. “Minners put me on a horse at Morphettville when I was a kid and apprenticed to Russell Cameron on loan,” he said.

“I’ve had a few rides for Mark without getting the money since he relocated to New South Wales, so it was good to get that win for him on his birthday.

“The mare did a good job after being a bit steady into stride.”

Minervini also won a race with Quick Tempo (a 1000m Benchmark 66 Handicap) at Taree on his birthday two years ago.

He paid $35,000 for Smiling Prophet at the 2021 Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association yearling sale, and the now four-year-old mare has more than recouped her purchase price.

Today’s win was her third, following earlier victories at Newcastle and Scone, and she has earned nearly $100,000 (including a BOBS bonus).

“Smiling Prophet is built like a quarter horse, but is a really good mare on her day,” Minervini said.

“She has been a little bit in and out, but appreciated the fast pace up front and it was good to see her do it.”

Fancied pair Chilli Filly ($2 favorite) and Flying Rani ($3) took each other on in front, and were sitting shots in the straight.

After being last settling down on Smiling Prophet, McEvoy saved ground near the inside before switching her around the three horses in front after straightening.

Just as runner-up Maz Kanata ($8) burst through on the inside and was being hailed the winner, Smiling Prophet swooped and won convincingly.

Punters had crashed in the first three races when the favoritesall bit the dust.

Newcastle three-year-old Uncle Harry ($1.80) was never a winning factor when third in the MERCURE KOOINDAH WATERS CLASS 1/MAIDEN PLATE (2100m).

Gun apprentice Dylan Gibbons, who won the recent Four Pillars at Rosehill Gardens for Sydney trainer David Payne, again produced the goods to score on $13 chance Mist Of Battle.

Payne had wanted Mist Of Battle to be ridden more forward, and Gibbons did exactly that and produced a comprehensive victory over Shemran ($7.50).

Things didn’t go Uncle Harry’s way, and he didn’t get into the clear until it was too late, so his third placing should be forgiven.

Coincidentally, Mist Of Battle also started at $13 in his only previous win – in a Gosford Maiden (1900m) 12 months ago, when Gibbons also had the mount.

Locally-trained Red Cobra ($2.80 favorite) couldn’t reproduce his home track breakthrough on November 11, and both he and second favorite Avonview ($3.20) never got into the picture in the STOP ABUSE AT THE START MIDWAY CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1600m), finishing seventh and fifth respectively.

Jockey Jay Ford “stole” the race, getting his own way out in front on Kembla Grange mare Justela ($8), who easily defeated Really Motivated ($14) and Flying Step ($7.50).

The first three placegetters raced in those positions virtually throughout, so it was little wonder backmarkers weren’t able to make their presence felt.

Winning trainer Kerry Parker said the plan was to quicken from the 600m, but Ford was able to control the race and everything worked out well.

“Justela has been going well but her last couple of runs were in slowly run races and she wasn’t able to outsprint them,” he said.

Purchased online in September last year as an unraced early four-year-old for only $1250, Justela has won two races under Parker’s care and earned nearly $58,000.

Racing’s unkindest cut of all seemingly has done the trick for Vomo Island, who broke through in the 1800 RESPECT SUPER 3YO MAIDEN PLATE (1200m).

Returning as a gelding, he justified his $1.70 favorite quote by defeating Mathkhoora ($4.40) and One Last Shot ($6.50).

“The stallion dream is over,” said Snowden Racing’s Colum McCullagh. “He is a racehorse now, and looks a lot more genuine.

“Vomo Island had trialled up pretty well, and we were pretty confident he could win his first race.”

Kerrin McEvoy, who won the previous race on Smiling Prophet, said he had hoped to settle closer on Vomo Island, going on how he had shaped in his recent trials.

“His best work was the last part of the race, and I’m sure he is open to going a bit further in distance,” he added.

A son of Dundeel, Vomo Island had raced five times as a colt for four placings. His sole unplaced run was when unplaced in the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens in early September, after which he was gelded.

Trainer Jarrod Austin says the best is yet to come from Look At Moi Kim ($3.30 favorite) in the CONGRATULATIONS TEAM WYONG EQUIMILLIONS 4YO & UP MAIDEN HANDICAP (1350m).

“She has always shown some ability, and there’s a fair bit more to come,” Austin said after the daughter of Smart Missile broke through at her sixth start, relegating Princess Thalia ($4.60) and Meerut ($3.40) into the minor placings in a close finish.

“Look At Moi Kim wobbled around at her first two runs back at Kembla Grange and wasn’t beaten all that far, and then ran off the track at Bathurst when runner-up.

“Once she has filled out and matured, I feel she will be a very nice horse in 12 months’ time.”

Stewards dismissed a protest lodged by Princess Thalia’s rider Jason Collett against the winner, alleging interference over the concluding stages.

Third placegetter Meerut was game after being forced to race wide throughout, and deserves a change of luck.

There was no more impressive winner than Bojangles in the WELCOME KINGSTON INGLIS PROVINCIAL MAIDENPLATE (1100m); the last race run before the storm arrived.

The lightly-raced three-year-old, prepared locally by Kim Waugh, was having only his third start and first since July, and justified his short quote ($1.40 favorite).

Held up for clear running rounding the home turn, Bojangles sprinted quickly once Tommy Berry got him into the clear and his win was “soft” at the end over another local, Damien Lane’s All Too Zatso ($11), who also was held up for clear running at a similar stage, and Rum Diary ($4.80).

“He is only a little fella, and we tipped him out after his first two runs,” Waugh said. “He had a setback after one nice trial (third on the Beaumont track on October 24), but had a jumpout last week and showed he was back on track.”

There was extra significance for Waugh getting Bojangles’ maiden victory out of the way. He is a son of her former good mare Hetty Heights, who won a heat of the Provincial Championships at home in 2016 and was black type placed.

“Bojangles has a very similar personality to Hetty Heights, and I’m sure he will end up as good as her,” she said.