Kylie Gavenlock hopes to start the new racing season with a bang.
The Gosford based trainer has three runners entered for Friday’s H & H Group Race Day and believes all have genuine chances.
“We’ve had a pretty quiet season for various reasons, but I think the new season will be much bigger,” Gavenlock said.
“We have quite a few nice young ones coming through and they all look handy.
“It would be nice to start with a winner and I’m hoping one or more of the Wyong runners can do that.”
Gavenlock saddles up consistent filly Lightning Alley in the Class 1 over 1200m.
The Magic Albert three-year-old is resuming from a spell after putting together a win and three placings in her first preparation.
She looked to have returned to good order finishing second in a trial at Wyong on July 26.
“She had a lovely preparation first time in and trialled nicely last Friday,” Gavenlock said.
“I think she’s up to this class and possibly metropolitan a bit further down the track. The right day, the right race I think she could get away with a city win.
“She’ll probably end up getting 1400m, possibly a mile next year if she settles down a bit.
“I’m very happy with the way everything is going with her.”
Gavenlock is interested to see the progress of Little Nikkas, a new addition to the stable, in the 1100m Benchmark 64.
Previously trained in Queensland by Michael Kosta, the four-year-old mare has had a win and three placings from four starts.
“She had a couple of soundness issues, so the owners decided to send her down to me to have a go.
“I had a lot of luck with her brother, Nikkas ‘N’ A Twist. He won five out of 20 starts and was very progressive but he hurt himself badly one night and wasn’t able to race on.
“The mare trialled okay but in saying that I don’t thinks she’s a real sprint horse. We will step her up after this race, I think she will be like her brother. He got over a mile and we thought he’d get up to 2000m.
“At this stage everything is good with her and she has raced well first up previously.”
Gavenlock has a high opinion of Estroverto, who resumes in the 1100m 4YO & Up Maiden Plate.
“He’s a nice horse on his way. He’s will be better suited over 1300m to 1400m. He had a lovely trialled, went really well and drawing a nice barrier with him will help.”
Estroverto, a Pierro gelding raced by the Kolivos family, has been placed at Newcastle and Hawkesbury in his nine starts.
The Waugh stable is confident about the chances of Orbis Bloodstock three-year-old Succendam, who was runner up on debut at Scone over 1300m.
Waugh said the imported gelding had no luck in the Scone race and should have won. He looks well suited in the 1600m Maiden with Brenton Avdulla in the saddle.
SELECTIONS:
Race 1 – 12.30pm: DE BORTOLI 4YO&UP MAIDEN PLATE (1100m): 1 SPLENDID SURPRISE, 2 Estroverto, 3 Super Pins, 4 Mikhail.
Race 2 – 1.05pm: CARLTON DRAUGHT 3YO MAIDEN PLATE (1350m): 1 ANTARTIC OCEAN, 2 Kuzco Lad, 3 Manhattan Marvel, 4 Capitoline Lady.
Race 3 – 1.40pm: H & M GROUP 4YO&UP MAIDEN HANDICAP (1350m): 1 PROSPERO, 2 Bold and Wild, 3 Heir Presumptive, 4 Nijinska.
Race 4 – 2.20pm: RAPID CLEAN CENTRAL COAST MAIDEN HANDICAP (1350m): 1 SUCCENDAM, 2 War Deck, 3 Havana Storm, 4 Miss Kokkinakis.
Race 5 – 2.55pm: FRESKO FRUIT CONDITIONAL BENCHMARK 70 HANDICAP (1600m): 1 POSITIVE PEACE, 2 Clevanicc, 3 Hermosa Reward, 4 Balius.
Race 6 – 3.35pm: SOMERSBY GARDENS ESTATE CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1200m): 1 BATTLE CRY, 2 Segalas, 3 Reveal The Magic, 4 Lightning Ally.
Race 7 – 4.10pm: H&M CATERING BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1100m): 1 SOPHIELLA, 2 Little Nikkas, 3 Johnny Roo Boy, 4 Defeat.
Race 8 – 4.50pm: GOLDFISH BAR & KITCHEN BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1350m): 1 ONE OF THE KIND, 2 The Outcast, 3 Neruda, 4 Star Of O’Reilly.
