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When the Chris Waller trained Tough Larry won his maiden on debut on the Kensington track last September there were tears all round.

The horse was bought by the late Matt Callander and there were tears from all the family, including his father, the former top racing journalist Ken and brother Richard.

There were also tears from the family of the late test cricketer Phillip Hughes who also share in the ownership of the three-year-old.

Tough Larry had one more run after that but failed on a heavy track at Randwick and was sent to the paddock.

He resumed at Wyong on Sunday in the Complete Roofing Warehouse Benchmark 64 (1000m) and carried 60kgs to break the class record and score an easy win to give Kathy O’Hara the second leg of a winning double.

There were no tears this time, just plenty of cheering and talk of where the son of Fast ‘n Famous might be headed.

“We know he is a city class horse because they have to be special to win a maiden in town on debut,” Richard said.

“He is a Saturday class horse for sure.”

It was only decided at 7.28 on race morning to run Tough Larry in this race.

Waller had accepted with him in two races at Wyong and in another at Warwick Farm on Monday.

“This race was last on the list of priorities and Chris rang from New Zealand this morning and wanted to run at Warwick Farm because it is 1200 metres and that is his best distance,” Richard said.

“However, we had a discussion and decided this was the most appropriate race first up.

“That was a nice kill and will give him a lot of confidence.”

O’Hara settled Tough Larry on the outside of the leader Miss Fisher but once they turned for home, he kicked away to win by one- and three-quarter lengths in 57.10 seconds.

***

The Gerald Ryan trained problem horse, Mameli (James Innes), defied a betting drift and an unusual preparation to lead all the way and win the SEA FM Showstopper Maiden (1000m) on debut.

Memeli opened an odds-on favourite but drifted to start at $3.10 after going into the race on the back of just two gallops.

However, he just managed to hold off a late challenge from the well backed $2.10 favourite Temple Run (Jay Ford) to win by a short head.

“He is a difficult horse to train because he has had so many issues,” Ryan said.

“He has had two knee operations and a tie back on his throat and went into this race with a jump out and a trial.

“The rest of his work has been trotting and cantering and in the pool.”

Glenn and Viive Williams paid $70,000 for Memali at a breeze up.

“He was my third pick but the first two went for prices outside our range,” Glenn Williams said.

“At one stage I was regretting buying him because of the problems but we always had faith in him and Gerald has done an amazing job.”

Glenn and Viive Williams race the horse in partnership with former top jockey Neville Voigt and his wife Jenny.

“We had horses with Neville when he was training and we have remained friends after he closed his stable,” Glenn said.

“We convinced them to come into this horse and we bought three yearlings at the Gold Coast and I am going to try and talk them into coming into or two of them with us.”

That was the first leg of a double for Ryan who won the following race, the Club Toukley’s Harry Trotters Maiden (1350m) with another first starter in the beautifully bred Miss Belief (Glyn Schofield), a $350,000 yearling buy.

Miss Belief, the 2.60 favourite, is by Snitzel from Divine Rebel which ran two seconds in Sydney cups.

“Jay Ford had been riding her in a lot of her work and he thinks we will see the best of her when she gets to 1600 metres or 2000 metres,” Ryan said.

“She showed us a lot in her first preparation and I put her out but she came back and was going awful so I put her out again.

“This time in she has been going really well.”

Schofield settled her sixth place and she showed a great turn of foot when he asked her to go forward.

She was the widest runner on the turn and accelerated quickly to shake off Poseidon Star (7.50) and win by three quarters of a length.

***

Another filly to stamp herself as a potential middle-distance galloper is the Anthony Cummings trained Turakina (Adam Hyeronimus) which caused something of an upset in winning the United Tools Maiden (1600m).

Turakina ($5.50) exploded away in the straight to easily put paid to the odds-on favourite Deelbraka ($1.40) to beat him by two and a quarter lengths.

“This is the first time we have put blinkers on Turakina and she really needed them,” stable representative, Harry Cruickshank, said.

“Her previous two starts over 1350 metres here showed she was crying out for the blinkers and the extra distance.

“We think she is going to make a nice middle-distance galloper.”

Hyeronimus settled Turakina in fifth place and tracked the favourite all the way.

Soon after straightening it was apparent the favourite was in trouble and Turakina strolled away to win easily.

***

A brilliant ride from Kathy O’Hara and equally brilliant gate speed from Spiritual Pursuit led to the filly scoring an all the way win in the Floormaster Maiden (1000m) for trainer Jason Coyle.

Spiritual Pursuit ran a class record of 57 seconds for the win, coming home last 600 metres in 33.22 seconds.

The filly is by Snitzel from the Shamardal mare Happy Hippy and is a family that Coyle is well acquainted with.

He trained Happy Hippy to win a Taree maiden for Nathan Tinkler before the filly was switched to John Thompson at Randwick.

“She was the first Australian winner for Shamardal,” Coyle said.

Happy Hippy was a two-time Listed winner and was placed several times at Group level.

“Spiritual Pursuit is by Australia’s leading sire and with that breeding you just hope they can gallop,” Coyle said.

“She had three starts last preparation including one here at Wyong and she was just weak so I gave her a good break and she came back far stronger and more mature.”

Spiritual Pursuit ($3.20) was having her first start back from that break with the benefit of two trials.

She started from the outside barrier but easily won the start and O’Hara was able to use her natural early speed to get across and on to the fence.

She was strong the whole way and went to the line full of running to win by one-and-three-quarter lengths from You And You Alone ($9).

***

The David Pfieffer-trained Fluidity made it two starts for two wins when he prevailed in the MI Property Benchmark 64 (2100m).

The mare, ridden by Jason Collett, won her maiden over a similar distance at Gosford earlier this month and turned in another true staying test to win here.

Collett had the $3 favourite last before taking off at the 700 metres to circle the field and join Fraudulent (Kathy O’Hara) in the lead.

That pair kicked away from the rest and it became a two-horse war in the straight.

Fraudulent took the lead but at the 200 metres Fluidity kicked away at the 100 metres to win by two lengths.

***

The strength of English jockey Tom Marquand got the Scott Singleton trained Partners home in the Job Centre Class One (1100m).

Marquand did a great job to jump Partners ($3.70) straight to the lead from his outside gate and dictate terms and then hold off the Kim Waugh trained Mighty Marmalade ($5.50).

“It was Tom’s strength that got him home,” former jockey Benny Vassallo said.

“He is a pretty fair horse and Scott has done a good job with him.

“We bought a yearling at the Magic Millions which will go to Scott while we are also going to the Easter sales as well.”

Vassallo is the racing manager for B K Racing and Breeding which owns Partners.

Marquand said he had been worried half way down the straight.

“I could hear the other horse coming and I thought we were going to be swamped but he dug deep, it was a tough win,” he said.

***

Salsa Man continued his good form at Wyong when he proved far too strong, second up, in the Bendigo Bank Wyong Benchmark 64 (1600m).

The son of I Am Invincible, bought for $300,000 at the 2017 Premier Yearling Sale, looks destined for a good preparation this time in.

“He was racing well in mid-week company in Sydney last preparation which was good form for a race like this,” foreman Nathan Perry said.

“He was gelded then spelled and has matured and improved.”

In three starts at Wyong Salsa Man has scored two wins and run a close second, first up, 17 days ago.

Chad Lever let Salsa Man ($6) drop out to second last then started to work forward from the 700 metres, circled the field and was the widest runner in the straight to win by half a length from the $2.30 favourite Nindamos.

Scott Singleton hopes he will be celebrating from New Zealand if one or both of his horses can post a win at Sunday’s Wyong race meeting.

Hawkesbury based Singleton has two runners at the club’s SEA FM Family Race Day but will be across the Tasman at the Karaka Bloodstock yearling sales.

“I’ll be cheering them home from there and it would be great to get a win,” he said. “But then again it might be a bit dangerous because I’ll be at the sales. I might put my hand up a little bit more,” he laughed.

Singleton considers Partners to have the best chance of the two but, is also expecting a good performance from stablemate Itasca.

Nicconi gelding Partners, was an $80,000 yearling purchase for prominent racing identity Brad Hunt, from BK Racing.

The three-year-old is coming off a second at Gosford on January 17 and despite drawing the extreme outside, Singleton is confident he can go one better on Sunday in the 1100m Class 1.

“It’s not an ideal barrier but he’s got plenty of speed,” he said. “Depending on how he jumps, if he’s not ultra-quick, he’s better off out there because he can take his time to come across. It’s not too bad for a horse like him.”

Singleton said he felt Partners was unlucky last start at Gosford.

“There was one horse in there that drew underneath him and had the same speed early. I think if you take it out he probably would have won the race but that’s just him. He goes hard and keeps at it.

“He’s racing in good heart and I don’t see why he can’t go to Wyong and do something similar.”

He said Partners was a horse with plenty of upside.

“He’s always been such a hard-going horse. He’s his own worst enemy but I think he’s just starting to come back a bit and his two runs this prep, at Gosford and Randwick, I’ve been pretty happy with.

“I think there is still a chance for him to go somewhere. He did win over 1300m but he was just too good for them that day in a maiden but he’s a short course horse for sure.”

Singleton has engaged inform English jockey Tom Marquand, who rode Partners last start.

“Tom is on him again. He seems to ride him good. He’s a nice rider and they know he’s on them, that’s for sure.”

Christian Reith partners Itasca in the 1600m Benchmark 64.

The five-year-old Tickets gelding finished fourth at Orange when resuming on December 30, beaten less than half a length.

“He’s come back well. I thought his first up run was really good and he’s in pretty good order this prep,” Singleton said.

“It’s one of those races where he looks one of the chances. He raced over 1400m first up and was strong late. He will be looking for further after Sunday and has won at 2000m.

“He didn’t have a bad prep last prep but without winning. He wasn’t far away on a few occasions in strong enough races, but I think he’s come back a bit better this time in.

“I don’t think he’s ever gone as good first up as he did the other day. He’s sort of always been a narrow horse but he actually looks a bit strong at the moment so hopefully he can put another good run in on Sunday and get him up in distance.”

Singleton is hoping for a change of luck with a pretty quiet start to the season.

“Things have been a little quiet, but we’ve got some babies coming through, four or five trialled last week and some others ready to come back. Hopefully we can start getting a few more winners.”

Selections:

Race 1 – 1.20pm: THE SEA FM SHOWSTOPPER CG&E MAIDEN (1000m): 1 BASTILLE GREY, 2 Temple Run, 3 Superbowl Sunday, 4 Vosti.

Race 2 – 1.55pm: CLUB TOUKLEY’S HARRY TROTTERS MAIDEN (1350m): 1 MISS BELIEF, 2 Poseidon Star, 3 Marisabel, 4 Loveseat.

Race 3 – 2.30pm: UNITED TOOLS MAIDEN (1600m): 1 DEELBRAKA, 2 Commander’s Watch, 3 Prince Silence, 4 Chief Command.

Race 4 – 3.05pm: FLOORMASTER F&M MAIDEN (1000m): 1 SWIZELER, 2 Modernity, 3 Ivira, 4 Joyous Times.

Race 5 – 3.45pm: MI PROPERTY GROUP BENCHMARK 64 (2100m): 1 DYLAN’S ROMANCE, 2 Triple Hero, 3 Pickelhaube, 4 Fluidity.

Race 6 – 4.20pm: COMPLETE ROOFING WAREHOUSE BENCHMARK 64 (1000m): 1 TOUGH LARRY, 2 Kedah, 3 Miss Fisher, 4 Disgraceful.

Race 7 – 5.00pm: JOB CENTRE CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1000m): 1 RECTITUDE, 2 Mighty Marmalade, 3 Tikkitala, 4 Miss Einstein.

Race 8 – 5.35pm: BENDIGO BANK WYONG BENCHMARK 64 (1600m): 1 NINDAMOS, 2 McMahon, 3 Salsa Man, 4 Chalk.

Wyong has advertised just advertised the newly created position of General Manager. The successful applicant will have a key business development role to play at the Wyong Race Club (Club) to maintain and deliver all aspects of the Club’s strategy.

The primary role of the position is to provide ongoing support to the CEO, while leading the management team on a day to day basis across all areas of the Club’s business.

The role will include working closely with the current CEO and Board to implement the Club’s strategic plan through what promises to be an exciting new era for the Club.

Chairman Garry Whitaker explains that the Board is looking to make this appointment as part of its succession planning for the future. Mr Whittaker said current CEO David Jewell will continue to lead the business,  but over the next 6-12 months it is planned that David will have a greater focus on a couple of major projects currently under development, with the new GM taking over the day to day management of the business.

The newly created General Manager position incorporates responsibilities across all aspects of the Club’s day to day operations including – Business planning and development, Community and stakeholder management, Risk Management, Financial oversight and analysis, Event (raceday) Management, Sales and Marketing, Membership and Sponsorship. An interest or knowledge of the Thoroughbred Racing industry while advantageous is not a prerequisite to your employment in the role. See link below for more details:

Employment Opportunity: General Manager – Wyong Race Club

Kris Lees looks to have another couple of smart three-year-old fillies in his stable after Evalina and Power Rush won their respective races.

In a stable littered with three-year-old stars like Miss Fabulass and Smart Melody, foreman Keyren Forbes believes the two Wyong winners could both have bright futures. “It’s exciting times for the stables with so many talented fillies and I believe these two have plenty of ability,” he said.

Evalina ($3) put on a dominant performance to win the 1200m SE RENTALS FOR SMEETHY Maiden.

The I Am Invincible filly, raced by Leb Petagna who also owned Lees’ multipe group winning mare Lucia Valentina, was a $280,000 purchase at the 2017 Easter Yearling sales.

Evalina was having her third race start, coming off a fifth at Newcastle over 900m on August 16 when resuming.

The win brought up a race to race double for leading rider Brenton Avdulla.

He said Lees had found the right race for the filly and believed she would improve further off the win.

“Going back to the trials the other day Aaron (Bullock) gave her a good bit of education. He rode her quiet and went back through them,” Avdulla said. “Today in a slowly run race she over-raced for me a little bit early but I was always confident.

“I was happy to ride my race and hit the front at the top of the straight and kick her home and she was good enough to get the job done.”

Stable foreman Keyren Forbes described Evalina as a “really nice filly who is only going to go forward.”

“It’s very exciting. She hit the line very hard and was very keen. She’s going the right way and that’s great.”

Godolphin runner Segalas ($8) was a length behind in second, with the Clare Cunningham trained Coppergate ($4), third.

Power Rush ($3fav) was equally impressive taking out the 1000m EVERYTHING SPORTS & PERPETUAL CONVEYANCING CLASS 1.

Jason Collett, who brought up a winning double on the filly, settled her just behind the speed, taking a rails run in the straight to win by a half-length.

The filly was coming off a last start win at Tamworth on debut, and Forbes said it was great to see her take to the next step to provincial class.

“She’s got plenty of ability and it will be interesting to see how she progresses. She’s doing everything right and that is a great sign.”

Miss Invincible ($4.20) from the Bjorn Baker stable was second, with Venture Capital ($13) trained by Brett Partelle, a close third.

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Into The Oblivion ($2.90fav) is headed for a Melbourne Spring campaign after his impressive win in the 1600m JIMMY JURD FOR SMEETHY 3YO Maiden.

The Paul Perry trained gelding made short work of his opposition in the final stages of the straight, drawing away for a half-length win.

Perry will now target the feature distance races, if he continues to show ability in lead-up races in Melbourne.

“That will be the goal, but we will see how he goes,” stable foreman Mick Rowland said.

“I’d say Paul will start him in a few minor races but that will be up to him.”

Jockey Jay Ford had settled the three-year-old near the rear of the field, before bringing him to the outside on straightening and finishing strongly.

The Hinchinbrook gelding is raced by a syndicate that includes Danny and Barbara Grant, long-time supporters of the Perry stable, who raced Group 1 winner The Mission.

Rowland said he had been concerned when Into The Oblivion was settled back in the field.

“I was having palpitations, but he got him going early and got a nice cart into the race off the back of Miss Moama,” he said.

“He loomed up in the straight and made short work of them.

“He put them away like a good horse in the end and he just eased him down on the line.”

Ford said the horse had to earn his money the “hard way” but in the end was too strong for his opposition.

“He resumed with a really eye-catching run and was a tad unlucky so it’s good to see him come her today and put them to bed,” Ford said.

“He put himself to sleep and was struggling to keep up, so that will put him in good stead when he gets over further.

“Once I shook him up he took a while to wind up but his class was too strong over the last furlong.”

Into The Oblivion beat the John Sargent trained Miss Moana ($5), with Northern Voyage ($3.20) from the Waterhouse/Bott stable, third.

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Robbie Dolan continued his great association with Victory Anthem bringing up his fourth win on the Darci Brahma gelding.

The pair combined to take out the 1600m MINGARA AND PKF FOR SMEETHY BENCHMARK 64, securing the win for Dolan’s boss Mark Newnham.

Dolan has combined with Victory Anthem for all his four career wins and all but one of his five placings.

His latest victory brought up a double on the program for the in-form apprentice.

Against his normal pattern, Victory Anthem ($5.50) settled to the rear of the field, but showed good determination when hitting the front in the straight to hold out his opposition and record a narrow win.

Dolan said the pace in the early stages of the race had been quick, leaving him further back in the field.

“He’s a better horse when you can get him on the bridle and build up his confidence,” he said.

“He showed in the finish he had that little bit extra with plenty of determination.”

Paula Newnham, representing the stable, said Mark had questioned if the horse had the ability to step up to provincial grade following his last start Nowra win.

“He took that next step today. Robbie has done a great job and we are absolutely thrilled,” she said.

“He is a stable favourite and just keeps putting in. It’s great to see him win like this today.”

The $2.80 favourite Zabeel’s Choice, from the Bjorn Baker stable was second, ahead of the Lees trained Hermosa Reward ($3.40).

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A thrilling three-way finish in the 1000m THE ENTRANCE LEAGUES FOR SMEETHY CONDITIONAL BENCHMARK 70 saw Josh Adams snatch the narrowest of wins for his close mate Luke Thomas.

Adams crossed the line on Princess Lottie ($5.50), just a nose ahead of Stone Cold ($9), with another Muswellbrook runner Eminent Duke ($3.50) behind in third.

An excited Adams said it was great to win for Thomas and his family.

“I’ve known Luke for a long time through riding horses. We were mates before he got his trainers licence and I’ve been able to get a couple of winners for him since.

“This was the one I’ve been wanting to win on, so it was great to get the result.”

Adams joked that Thomas’s daughter had made him a lucky bracelet in the colours of Princess Lottie and he would leave it on.

“It worked a charm today, so I’ll probably keep wearing it,” he laughed.

Thomas was also excited to get another winner with Adams.

“Josh is a good mate of mine. We’ve been friends for a long time. Six months ago I was struggling to get him on horses because I didn’t have much,” he said.

“I’ve got some nicer horses coming through now and I’ve finally got him on. It’s terrific.

“I’ve always thought Lottie’s got a turn of foot. Sometimes she goes a bit hard early, but I took the blinkers off her and she’s been flying on the training tracks.

“I’m rapt for her and rapt for Josh.”

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Owners Sarah English and John Horn had plenty to celebrate after their gelding Soir De Lune ($3.70) broke through for his first win in the ROILY AND BOOTHY FOR SMEETHY Maiden over 1350m.

Trainer Clare Cunningham said the Wyong straight had never seemed so long after Jason Collett took the four-year-old to the lead on the turn.

He kicked away by more than two lengths but had to hold out the fast finishing Jarhead ($4.80) and the $2 race favourite Starvino to score a narrow win.

“Wyong’s not a long straight but it was today,” Cunningham laughed.

“It was a very good ride and good to get the job done straight off the bat. He was knocking on the door last prep and trialled well coming into this.”

Cunningham said the owners had brought Soir De Lune at a tried horse sale, unaware he had suffered a serious injury earlier in his career.

“He did a four out of five suspensory and didn’t even make it to the track with his first trainer,” she said.

“They didn’t know that when they brought him, but they love the horse and would of given him a home even if he didn’t race.

“They will be very excited today.”

Cunningham said she would look at putting the gelding up in distance and add a couple of gear changes.

“He is pretty dour and a set of blinkers will help him in the future.

“He’s not a superstar but we will try and find races like this.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

There was plenty of emotion in the enclosure after Bobbing ($3.20) came from the rear of the field to win the REAL ESTATE ACADEMY FOR SMEETHY Class 1 for Hawkesbury trainer Bernie Kelly.

Kelly and his wife Anne bred the Beneteau gelding, with Bernie delivering him outside the couple’s bedroom window.

“It’s very special,” an emotional Anne Kelly said.

“We raced both Mum and Dad and Bernie delivered this one.

“He was born the week after our 26-year-old pony Bob died so that’s how he got the name.”

The $2.40 race favourite Our Royal Egyptian looked to have the race won, pulling away for a four-length lead on straightening.

Under strong riding by apprentice Robbie Dolan, Bobbing made up considerable ground in the straight to run down the leader on the line for a three-quarter length win.

Kelly said he hadn’t expected the five-year-old to be so far back in the run.

“I’d given up on him half way through the race,” he said.

“I thought he might run last at one stage, so it was good to see him get to the line.

“Being first up I thought he might race a bit keener. He has a good turn of foot so its onwards and upwards from here.”

Dolan said Bobbing was going to be a ‘nice horse.’

The winner was resuming following his maiden win at Hawkesbury in July. Single Intent ($9.50) from the Damien Lane stable, was third.

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A drop in grade and strong ride by Brenton Avdulla proved to be the winning formula for the James Cummings trained Fallgood ($2.50fav), who held off the swoopers to take out the 1000m JA TIGHE PLUMBING & WHOLESALE APPLIANCES Maiden.

The Exceed and Excel gelding didn’t get it all her own way with the Matthew Smith trained Bentley Magic ($21) and Fallgood’s stablemate Hiemal ($4), challenging late.

Fallgood scored by a short neck, with Godolphin stable foreman Darren Beadman describing it as a “deserving win.”

“She’s been knocking on the door in her last few starts and it’s nice to get that maiden out of the way,” he said.

“She had a few challengers there at the 100m mark, but she is quite a determined filly, which has been her Achilles heel, in the sense that she just wants to overdo it all the time.

“Brenton gave her a lovely ride today, produced her late and it was a solid win.”

Avdulla said Cummings had been “pretty bullish” about the chances of Fallgold.

“He said if I kept her out of trouble she would probably win.

“She gave me a good ride, nice and comfortable and was able to stick her head out and get the job done. “

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Three months ago Wyong trainer, Jeff Englebrecht, decided that while Profiler might be eight years old it might not be too late to try something new with a horse that up until then had been solely a   sprinter.

On Sunday at Wyong Profiler will tackle 1600 metres for the first time in the Mingara and PKF For Smeethy Benchmark 64.

His four previous runs, all over 1400 metres, produced a third at Warwick Farm, a third at Taree, an eighth on a soft track at Mudgee and a good effort when fourth at Newcastle after racing keenly in the early and middle stages.

“He is fast but he can run on,” Englebrecht said.

“However, in those shorter races he doesn’t have the time to finish them off.

“If nothing else wants to lead Serg (Lisnyy) can use his speed and go to the lead and then let him run on.

“I was happy with three of his four runs over 1400 metres.

“Forget the run at Mudgee because he does not like soft tracks.

“The run at Newcastle convinced me we should try him over 1600m metres because despite over racing early he really got home well.”

Profiler started his career at Gosford but after three runs was switched to Stephen Lee at Ballina and won seven races including one at Doomben and the Grafton heat of the 2016 Country Championship before a luckless 12^th in the final at Randwick after starting from an outside barrier.

The horse was later switched to Englebrecht and while he is yet to win for that trainer in nine starts he has turned in several promising runs, particularly now that he has been stepped up in distance.

Meanwhile the Mark Newnham trained Victory Anthem is a proven 1600 metre performer and will be aiming for his third win over that distance in this race.

He resumed from a freshen up to score an easy win over the distance at Nowra. In fact all three of his wins have been on that track.

In 2005 Taree trainer Bob Milligan scored an important win when his top-class stayer Carael Boy won the Wyong cup before going on to win the Newcastle Cup.

Milligan can’t return to Wyong on Sunday but will be watching from his bed in Taree hospital when Malea Magic (Andrew Adkins) runs in the Everything Sports and Perpetual Conveyancing Class One (1000m).

Malea Magic resumed to score a run-away maiden win at Tamworth late last month at only her second start and is going to Wyong to allow connections to decide if they should consider preparing her for a tilt at next year’s Country Championships.

She led for much of the Tamworth race to win by five and a half lengths in smart time on a track rated a soft 7.

“We have always had an opinion of her but we need to know how good she might be and the only way to find out is to throw her in at the deep end,” Milligan’s son and foreman, Glenn, said.

“The Country Championships is something we have talked about and if she wins or runs a big race on Sunday we will need to give her a break then get her back and get her ready.”

Glenn, a licensed trainer, is running the stable following the serious accident his father suffered in April after he was found face down in the wash bay at Taree with serious facial injuries.

No one has been able to establish what happened.

Milligan has had a tough six months since then, first at Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital where he had to overcome two heart attacks and pneumonia and now at Taree Base Hospital where he still has a tube in his throat.

“The accident damaged his vocal chords among other things and he cannot swallow properly which is why the tube is still in,” Glenn said.

“We are hoping that eventually it will come out.

“Dad is still doing what he can to be involved but he still has some challenges ahead of him as does Mum when she gets him home.

“We need to keep Dad involved with the horses because it’s his passion, it’s his one interest and a winner or two on Sunday would certainly help lift his spirits.”

Glenn’s wife, Vicki, will take Malea Magic to Wyong while Glenn will saddle up two runners at Port Macquarie.

SELECTIONS:

1-1.00, ROILY AND BOOTHY FOR SMEETHY MAIDEN, 1350m: COLTRANE 1, Starvino 2, Soir De Lune 3, Lamplight Lili 4.

2-1.40, JIMMY JURD FOR SMEETHY 3YO MAIDEN, 1600m: INTO THE OBLIVION 2, Moss Moana 2, Pyro 3, Lady Cuvee 4.

3-2.20, REAL ESTATE ACADEMY FOR SMEETHY CLASS ONE, 1350m: OUR ROYAL EGYPTIAN 1, Bobbing 2, Etheridge 3, Auchentoman 4.

4-2.55, JA TIGHE PLUMBING AND WHOLESALE APPLIANCES MAIDEN, 1000m: FALLGOLD 1, Hiemai 2, Nobody’s Puppet 3, Hubble 4.

5-3.30, SE RENTALS FOR SMEETHY MAIDEN, 1200m: COPPERGATE 1, Evalina 2, Ambleve 3, Akeed 4.

6-4.05, MINGARA AND PKF FOR SMEETHY BENCHMARK 64, 1600m: PROFILER 1, Victory Anthem 2, Zabeel’s Choice 3, Twilighter 4.

7-4.40, THE ENTRANCE LEAGUES FOR SMEETHY BENCHMARK 70, 1000m: PATRON BLACK 1, Second Island 2, Stone Cold 3, Rastafarian 4.

8-5.15, EVERYTHING SPORTS AND PERPETUAL CONVEYANCING CLASS ONE, 1000m: POWER RUSH 1, Miss Invincible 2, Malea Magic 3, Celer 4.

Best Bets: Coppergate, Patron Black.