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 59th 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.
