There was plenty of expectation about Joe Pride’s Think About It and Waller’s debutant Narito leading into the meeting, and they didn’t disappoint, both winning in impressive style.
Mark Newnham and Chris Waller shared the trainer’s honours with doubles, while Brenton Avdulla was the leading rider, also with a double.
There was plenty of praise for the track, with an upgrade midway through the afternoon.
A few nervous moments for favourite backers in the 2100m WYONG TRAINERS’ PREMIERSHIP WINNER KIM WAUGH MAIDEN, with $1.80fav Piempurr holding on to win by a narrow margin.
The Mark Newnham trained daughter of Pierro, earned strong support on the back of her consistent provincial form, her latest outing a fourth at Kembla over 2000m in stronger company.
Tim Clark was happy to settle the four-year-old just off the lead in the early stages before taking her to the front around the 1100m mark.
She fought on in the straight under vigorous riding by Clark and was able to hold out the late challengers to win by a neck.
Clark said he didn’t believe Piempurr was at her best, given a ‘quickish” back up from Kembla but it was a great job for her to still get the win.
Local galloper Dragon Storm ($26) trained by Allan Kehoe finished strongly in 2nd after not much luck in the straight, while Selvam ($26) from the Jeremy Sylvester yard was doing his best work on the line.
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It was a case of third time lucky for the Waller trained I Am Geronimo who broke through for his first win at his third attempt on the Wyong track.
The I Am Invincible gelding started $1.45 favourite and didn’t disappoint beating his stablemate Nano Star ($6) by a length.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Brenton Avdulla after I Am Geronimo missed the start in 1350m 2022 TRAINERS’ PREMIERSHIP WINNERS GAI WATERHOUSE & ADRIAN BOTT MAIDEN.
“That wasn’t the plan,” Avdulla said. “He hasn’t done that the two previous times I’ve ridden him, but luckily it was a race that lacked pressure and I was able to keep him wide and keep him going. There is some upside to him and if he can learn to relax it will help.”
Nano Star fought on well in the straight and it was a much-improved run by Rodney Bailey’s Single Babe ($41) to finish third.
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Joe Pride is excited about the prospects of his four-year-old Think About It who brought up his second win from start two in the 1350m 2022 WYONG JOCKEYS’ PREMIERSHIP WINNER JASON COLLETT CLASS 1.
The $70k yearling looks to have a bright future, with both Pride and winning rider Rory Hutchings believing there is plenty of improvement to come.
Think About It looked good scoring on debut at Kembla on July 30, with both placegetters’ subsequent winners.
“He’s a pretty smart horse and he’s shown that in his two starts now,” Pride said. “He’s nowhere near the finished article. When he has a spell and puts on some weight he’ll further improve. Rory is a fantastic jockey, but he won’t get an easier ride than that.”
In an effortless win, Think About It ($1.40) beat the Neasham trained Flying Witness ($4.40) by a length and a half, with Warren Ganderton’s Poetic Miss ($16) third.
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An exciting finish to the 1600m 2022 LEADING APPRENTICE JOCKEY REECE JONES AND TOM SHERRYCLASS 1 with Brynner ($4.80) getting the bob on the line.
The son of Contributor wound up in the final stages of the straight to run down the Joe Burges trained Mr Eighty Eight ($9.50) on the line.
Trained by Jason Coyle and ridden by Kathy O’Hara, Brynner brought up his second win at start 12.
O’Hara said the four-year-old would improve off the run.
“He’s a progressive sort of a horse who is going through his grades nicely. He still doesn’t know how to put them away but hopefully next preparation.”
The Replicant ($2.80) from the Pride stable, finished third, and isn’t far off another win, while the $2.50 race favourite Believe So, trained by Anthony Cummings, had difficulty getting clear running in the straight and could be the one to follow.
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Another exciting prospect unveiled in the 1100m LAURAINE BUCHANAN BEST MUM EVER CG&E MAIDEN PLATE with the Waller trained Narito.
There was plenty of hype surrounding the Maurice four-year-old, who was having his first race start, coming off a Rosehill barrier trial in late July.
He was sent out $2.35 favourite and the win never looked in doubt courtesy of a great James McDonald ride.
He settled the four-year-old just off the speed, bringing him to the lead in the straight where he was able to run down the front-runner to score by two lengths.
“He’s a really nice horse,” McDonald said. “He’s very progressive and would have learned plenty from today. He’s got plenty of untapped ability and they’ve taken their time with him. He’s got a lot of pace and I’d love to see him over more ground.”
Mark Minnervini’s Soobooco ($11), put in another honest run to finish second, while the Pride trained Sacred Field ($3.60) was third, after being slow to begin.
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A tough win by Crystalene ($4.40) in the 1100m FAREWELL WRC RACING & OPERATIONS MANAGER DEAN GROGAN F&M MAIDEN brought up a double for the Mark Newnham stable.
The Snitzel filly was on debut and impressed with a strong win, toughing it out in the straight to get the bob on her rivals in an exciting three-way finish.
She impressed jockey Tom Sherry, who believes there are more wins to come.
“She’s got a brilliant attitude and great temperament. There is plenty of improvement left in her and this win will stand her in good stead going forward,” he said.
Raced by relative newcomers Iron, Crystalene was a $475,000 yearling.
She beat the Cummings trained Perpignan ($4.60), who isn’t far off a win, with Edna ($9.50) trained by Craig Carmody, third after pulling in the early stages.
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Nathan Doyle’s honest mare Bullinachinashop made the step up to provincial grade in great style, taking out the CARLTON WYONG GOLD CUP FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 2 CONDITIONAL BENCHMARK 68 over 1100m.
The victory was the second consecutive win for the daughter of Bull Point, and her fourth career victory from just 10 starts.
There was some late support for Bullinachinashop, who started at $10.
Dylan Gibbons gave the four-year-old the perfect ride, sitting just off the leader, before hitting the front midway down the straight and pulling away to win by almost a length.
Runner-up, Brad Widdup’s Unyielding Spirit ($11) fought on well, with Moralist ($4.20) trained by Matthew Smith, third.
“She’s a little ripper,” Gibbons said after the race. “She’s as tough as they come, and she really dug deep today. She’s got that killer desire and they keep raising the bar and she responds.”
The $2.80 favourite Belladeel missed the start and failed to run on.
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Dijon appreciated the drop back in distance to bring up a dominant win in the 1000m WYONG’S NEXT RACE DAY SUNDAY AUGUST 28 CLASS 1.
The Headwater gelding had too much speed on his rivals, the win bringing up a double for Brenton Avdulla.
He took luck out the of the equation leading throughout, pulling away in the final stages to win by a length.
Co trainer Gerald Ryan said the four-year-old was more genuine since he was gelded.
“He’s very sharp, not top class but very fast and if we keep placing him right, we’ll win more races. I think he’s up to a midweek in town,” he said.
Dijon ($4.40) beat Michael Freedman’s $3.50 favourite Insurrection, who appeared to have every chance, with Fire And Ice ($3.70) from the Minervini stable, third.
