A win in the last race by the Damien Lane trained Helensburg Ham continued a great run for the stable and brought up a double for Wyong trainers.
Earlier on the program Kevin Miller’s Sunset Jewel won the 1600m Class 1.
Helensburg Ham ($4.60) brought up his fourth career win with taking out the 1350m KERNICK LAW CG&E BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP by almost two lengths.
He beat the Kris Lees trained Kool Vinnie ($3fav) denying the stable a treble, with Jimarni ($13) trained by Jason Attard third.
Damien was full of praise for in-form apprentice Jean Van Overmeire who rode Helensburg Ham. “He is a really good kid. He has had around 10 rides for me for six wins. He just gives everything a chance,” Damien said.
“I didn’t want him to get into a speed battle and fortunately everything fell into place and he was able to get into the lead without much drama.
“I haven’t looked too far ahead with him so I will see what is about. It would be nice to get another Provincial win but we will probably have to go to town.
“There were excuses for him at Randwick last start when he finished last because he went way too hard.
“We have been having a good run of late but these things happen in runs.
“While they are winning we will keep doing our best.”
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Veteran trainer Kevin Miller believes his filly Sunset Jewel will be competitive in next year’s Provincial Championship series following her tough win in the NAILED IT PROJECTS CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1600m).
The three-year-old by Al Maher was a narrow half neck winner over the short-priced favourite Danzie ($1.80) returning the juicy odds of $18.90.
The win made it two successive victories for the filly who was a last start winner at Wyong on June 8.
Kevin, who has one horse in work at Wyong, said he had been very confident going into the race.
“I couldn’t believe the price they were betting. She is such a tough little horse.
“There isn’t much of her she is only 460kg but she is as tough as an old boot.
“Her last win here was on a heavy track and she’s come out today and shown us she can do the same in slow conditions.
“I will probably spell her now. The long term plan is the Provincial Championships next year.
“It’s fantastic to get another win today.”
Jockey Mitchell Bell said Sunset Jewel had “done it all herself.”
“I wanted to expose her early so she could want to do it herself and that is how it worked out. “
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A well-deserved win for the Hawkes trained favourite Yeas and Nays ($1.70) breaking through for his first victory after five placings in his first five runs.
The Poet’s Voice filly scored a length victory over Apache Dude ($3) in the 1000m BEST SIGNS AND SOLVERE WEALTH 3YO MAIDEN PLATE with My Ella Girl third.
Brenton Avdulla had to work hard in the straight after the three-year-old raced greenly before drawing away in the final stages.
“I was confident before the bend that I had the race won,” he said, “but she lost a bit of interest and I had to stoke her up. “She kept trying and was strong on the line.”
Owned by the Taylor family, Yeas and Nays was heavily supported due to her recent form coming off successive seconds at Hawkesbury and Gosford.
Forewoman Millie Beardsmore said they would likely keep Yeas and Nays in the Provincial grade and hope for back to back wins.
“Brenton knew she was fit and he had her in a good position early on,” she said.
“She hung out a bit in the straight but put her head down and got on with it over the last 50 metres.
“We will look for a similar type race for her next start.”
Owners Katrina, Graham and James Taylor welcomed the filly when she returned to scale, grateful for the breakthrough win. “We have a lot of horses and it is always great to get a win,” Katrina said.
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A well-rated front running ride by Jay Ford saw the Peter Robl trained Weston ($ 4.70) score a break through win in the 1350m HUCKEL EXCAVATIONS MAIDEN PLATE.
He beat the Joe Pride trained Ivoryman ($4), with The Patrician ($3.20) trained by Robert Pearse third.
A three-year-old by Myboycharlie, Weston was narrowly beaten at Goulburn at his last start on June 19.
Peter Robl instructed Jay to take the gelding to the lead and was full of praise for the winning ride.
“He followed my instructions to the letter and it was good to get a win,” Peter said.
“He has been a very frustrating horse and really tested our patience. He works so well but hasn’t been able to bring that to the races until today. “
Jay said he felt the 1350m was as far as Weston would go.
“He got a bit tired in the end so I really think the 1300m would be ideal for him,” he said.
“He has been racing very consistently and the Wyong track really suits him.
“We got a nice kick in the straight and were able to hang on.”
Owner Christine Cook had a share in both the winner and the second horse.
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A change of riding tactics proved to be the telling factor with the Bjorn Baker trained Seething Jackal ($3.70) upsetting the heavily supported favourite to win the CENTRAL COAST BULLDOGS MASTERS RUGBY LEAGUE MAIDEN HANDICAP (1100m).
Jockey Tye Angland settled the Choisir filly just behind the leader Tears Of Gold ($1.55fav), taking her to the front around the 200m mark and drawing away for a length victory.Stable foreman Jason Patrick said the filly had been taken on at her last start at Newcastle which had brought her undone.
“There was more speed today and the plan was to settle just behind the leaders. It went off well and she really stuck on,” Jason said.
“She got a beautiful trail in behind and the short straight at Wyong really suited her.”
Tye Angland said he believed Seething Jackal would get further following her strong win.
“I think she will get 1200m even up to 1300m and will probably finish off strong,” he said.
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A dominant victory by the Kris Lees trained Rhymes ($1.60) brought up a winning double for Brenton Avdulla in the CASANOVA OYSTERS & SEAFOOD F&M BENCHMARK 65 HANDICAP (1350m).
The Australian Bloodstock filly scored her second career win beating Rosettas Whey ($4.60) trained by Gerald Ryan, by more than three lengths with the Garry White trained Lady Chalfont ($6) just over a length behind in third.
Lees Racing stable foreman Cameron Swan described the win as “pretty soft in the end.”
“Brenton summed up the race pretty quickly and she travelled all the way through,” he said.
“She has been ultra consistent and it is great to get a win for Australian Bloodstock who are great supporters of ours.
“When you look at her form she has only been out of a place once in seven starts so that says it all. “
Brenton said Rhymes had looked like the winner on paper.
“Kris had her in good order and it looked like the right race for her.
“I was positive with her and she was strong coming home,” he said.
A three-year-old by Medaglia D’Oro, Rhymes was an $80,000 purchase at the 2015 Magic Million Sales.
Melbourne Cup winning owners Wally and Robbie Power look to have unveiled another smart galloper with their two-year-old filly Power Command ($2.40) taking out the THE PROPERTY MARKET PROV & CTRY MAIDEN PLATE (1100m) in a close finish.
By Commands, the $200,000 filly held off a last minute challenge by the Ben Smith trained Our Girl Hollie ($3) to win by a head. More than three lengths behind in third was the Paul Perry trained Bucasia ($4.80).
The win brought up a training double for Kris Lees.
Foreman Cameron Swan said there had been excuses for Power Command at her first start at Newcastle on June 17 and the stable had been confident of a strong showing.
“She was a bit of an eye catcher at Newcastle and the step up to 1100m helped today,” he said.
“We didn’t expect her to be leading but that’s why you put the good jockeys on and Glyn did a great job making the right decision.
“She was a two-year-old taking on the older horses and there was a lot of merit in the win.”
Glyn said when it didn’t look like any other jockey wanted to lead he made the decision to go forward.
“I gave her a kick along and she responded well. When she got to the front she wanted to look around but she gave another kick on straightening and it was a nice, solid win.”
Wally and Robbie Power were part of a syndicate that raced Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist.
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Star Crossed ($2.50) is heading for a mid-week Canterbury race following his impressive win in the 1100m GIVE ME 5 FOR KIDS CHARITY CUP CLASS 2 HANDICAP.
Trained by Phillip Atkins and ridden by apprentice Nick Heywood, the Starcraft gelding was resuming from a spell and brought up his second win from five starts.
Phillip said he was surprised Nick was able to get to the lead so easily.
“I think the horse thought he was back to the trials. He was able to bowl along in front,” he said.
“When he was getting it that easy he was always going to be hard to beat.
“He got a bit tired in the end but managed to hang on.”
Nick Heywood said there was still plenty of improvement in Star Crossed, who was his only ride at the meeting.
“There is a lot of improvement there and I think he will get over further ground later this preparation,” he said.
The winner scored by almost a length over the fast finishing Yarrapower ($6) trained by Kris Lees, with the Matthew Smith trained Kings Of Leon ($2.50) third.
Star Crossed is owned by Lee Rowan who raced In Cahoots with Phillip, a Bradbury’s Luck gelding who won more than $400,000 in prizemoney before breaking down.
