Coming off one of the biggest highlights in her 17-year training career, Kristen Buchanan saddles up a large team of home track runners at this Saturday’s Central Coast Kids In Need Charity Race Day.
Buchanan admits she is still on a high after Oakfield Arrow’s win in the Four Pillars at Rosehill last Saturday but will be switching to business mode when she saddles up eight runners across the eight Wyong races.
And she is targeting another feature race, the 2022 Sky Racing Provincial Series with Ready’s Girl, a six-year-old Better Than Ready mare who she hopes can regain her winning form.
“It’s been a big week and it was such a thrill to win the Four Pillars. Oakfield Arrow is such a beautiful mare, and we will target the Provincial Series after a spell,” she said. “I think at her best Ready’s Girl is more than capable of winning a race like this on Saturday. I’ve freshened her right up and she has drawn nicely. She really gels with the girls, so Louise Day takes the ride.
“To be honest she’s been a little disappointing, but I think returning to her home track and on a good surface, will hopefully bring out the best of her.”
Buchanan is very excited about the prospects of Oakfield Triumph, currently the second emergency in the 1000m BM64.
The Capitalist four-year-old went out a winner at his only start and looked good trialling at Rosehill on October 21.
“I really love this horse and I just hope he gets a run. He’s got a lot of ability and his trial was pretty impressive. I really think he’ll be in the finish if he runs.”
She hopes the addition of blinkers on Tikitiboo will improve her chances in the 1350m Fillies & Mares Maiden.
“She’s a beautifully moving filly and I’ve put the blinkers on to help her focus. She’s got a high cruising speed and hopefully the blinkers will help her stick on.”
Geldings Penfold Park and Oakfield Waratah line up in the 1350m CGE Maiden.
“Penfold Park is a lovely horse on debut and whatever he does on Saturday he will improve on. We’ve been taking our time with Oakfield Waratah, and he’s finally drawn a good gate. The tight track is a query, but he’s raced well at Wyong in the past.”
Rounding out Buchanan’s runners are first starters Andiamo Luce, Bilquis and Zara’s Hope in the 1000m Maiden.
“Andiamo Luce is a lovely filly but has a horror draw. Bilquis has had a lot of trials and improved in her latest. She’s still a baby and switching on, so we’ve had to be a bit patient with her. The good surface is vital, and I think she’ll be running home.
“Zara’s Hope is a really nice filly, quite small but she’s trialled really well in Sydney. I expect her to race well but she will also be better later on.”
The first of eight races gets underway at 1.20pm.
SELECTIONS:
Race 1 – 1.20pm: GOSFORD MASONIC CENTRE MAIDEN (1600m): 1 EMRYS, 2 Kovalica, 3 Bader, 4 Astral Thoughts
Race 2 – 1.55pm: GARY TURNER MEMORIAL – ABBEY TIMBER CG&E MAIDEN (1350m): 1 SHIHAB, 2 Cosmic Legend, 3 Bobby’s Fling, 4 Just An Upstart
Race 3 – 2.35pm: THE ROOS FOUNDATION F&M MAIDEN (1350m): 1 GLOWING GOLD, 2 Concordia, 3 Rangitikei, 4 Classic Deel
Race 4 – 3.15pm: PETER MACE AUTOMOTIVE CLASS 1 & MAIDEN: 1 RAFFISH, 2 Summit Special, 3 Kingdom Of Gold, 4 Brave Boy
Race 5 – 3.55pm: FREEMASONS ON THE CENTRAL COAST CLASS 1 (1350m): 1 PRINCIPESSA, 2 Field Marshall, 3 Bionic, 4 Dreamdeel
Race 6 – 4.35pm: CENTRAL COAS UNITY BANK MIDWAY MAIDEN (1000m): 1 OAKFIELD BLUE BELL, 2 Hard To Say, 3 Zara’s Hope, 4 Charity Joy
Race 7 – 5.05pm: SKY RACING SUMMER PROVINCIAL SERIES HEAT 1 – CLASS 5 PLATE (1350m): 1 SHOWTIME LADY, 2 Dream Eclipse, 3 La Jolie Fille, 4 Bethencourt
Race 8 – 5.45pm: WIDELINE WINDOWS AND DOORS BM64 (1000m): 1 OAKFIELD TRIUMPH, 2 Spinosaurus, 3 Sussu, 4 Flying Tyrol
