Race Preview

Saturday looms as a big day for Wayne Seelin with the Wyong based trainer saddling up more than half his stable at two venues.

His consistent galloper Cliff’s Choice and maiden Doin’ Shots will be racing on their home track, while veteran Isorich and speedy mare Invincible Kiss line up at the Kensington meeting.

 “It will be a busy day and be great to see them all run well,” Seelin said.

“We have been enjoying a nice little patch at the moment with a few winners, so it would be good if that can continue.

“I’m training about seven horses at present and happy with that number. I do them all myself so don’t want to get much bigger and I’ve got a good bunch of owners at the moment.”

Seelin believes Cliff’s Choice, coming off a fifth at Wyong last start, should run well over his ideal distance.

He lines up from barrier seven in the 1350m BM64, with Winona Costin in the saddle.

“He jarred up a bit last run and I would have liked to have seen a bit of rain but unfortunately that didn’t happen. We’ve been doing a bit with him but he’s going alright now.

“His best distance is anywhere between 1200m to 1400m and he goes well around Wyong.

“I’d probably like to see him just off the speed, in the first five or six, that’s when he seems to finish off well.”

Seelin said if Cliff’s Choice continued to improve, he would consider a metropolitan start.

“They all get their turn if they deserve it, but they have to earn the right to go. “He’s doing everything right at this stage.”

Seelin isn’t as upbeat about the chances of his maiden runner Doin’ Shots, a Shooting To Win gelding who has been unplaced in eight starts.

“He’s a big horse and it’s taking a bit to get him fit,” he said. “He’s been struggling in his races, but he is bred to stay.

“He’s over the 1600m on Saturday and I’ll continue stepping him up but if he doesn’t show us something, he might have a limited future.”

At Kensington, Seelin considers both his runners’ chances.

“Isorich has drawn the outside gate again but I’m not too worried. He will push forward and be a chance.

“The other little one is flying at the minute and with no weight and barrier one, she will be a sneaky chance too.”

Wyong’s Summer Festival Of Racing, continues with a seven race meeting, getting underway at 12.59pm.

SELECTIONS:

 Race 1 – 12.59pm: WWW.TAB.COM.AU 4YO & UP MAIDEN (1200m): 1  CANZONET, 2 Monstrosity, 3 Lake Marion, 4 Supra Marnium.

Race 2 – 1.34pm: HIT 101.3 FAMILY RACE DAY JANUARY 26 CLASS 1 (1100m): 1 MANDIRIGMA, 2 Deepfield’s Raine, 3 Bushido, 4 Belle Of Clonmel.

Race 3 – 2.09pm: CENTRAL COAST BUILDING MAIDEN (1600m): 1MCGRAW, 2 Sayl, 3 Completed, 4 Keen On Gold.

Race 4 – 2.44pm: RYAN’S METAL ROOFING MAIDEN (1350m): 1 CHANTING, 2 First Crown, 3 California August, 4 Lady Legend.

Race 5 – 3.16pm: CANADIAN CLUB CLASS 2 (1600m): 1 FAIRY ME HOME, 2 Highjacker, 3 Judicator, 4 Mowanjum.

Race 6 – 3.56pm: MECURE KOOINDAH WATERS GOLF & SPA RESORT F&M BENCHMARK 64 (1350m): 1 MONEY HEIST, 2 Oxford Bella, 3 Rebukes, 4 Nines Enough.

Race 7 – 4.36pm: JIM BEAM CG&E BENCHMARK 64 (1350m):  1TRENGGANU, 2 Quick Finance, 3 The Raid, 4 Salsa Man.

Kristen Buchanan concedes Jazzland is a “work in progress” but is hoping the gelding can return to winning form in Thursday’s $50,000 heat of the Provincial Series at Wyong.

The race, to be run over 1600m, has attracted a strong field of nine, with the top three progressing to the $150,000 series final at Gosford on December 27.

“It looks an ideal race for him, and I think he really needs to drop back to the 1600m at this stage,” Buchanan said.

“Last start he went too hard in the lead over the 2000m. He was pressured with another horse to lead, and if you look at his sectional times, he’s run pretty much 11’s throughout and then stopped.

“The horse has taken me a bit by surprise this time around. He is a lot fresher, is a lot more switched on and has a lot more toe. That’s why we’ve freshened him up and brought him back to the mile and I won’t step him up to the 2000m again until he indicates that’s what he needs.

“Last preparation he indicated he needed 2400m, so I’ve had to reassess.

“He’s a work in progress and is developing more and getting more switched on. I feel in hindsight I was a bit hasty to step him up to the 2000m when he didn’t really need to just yet.”

Buchanan said while Jazzland looks well suited in the race, the Kris Lees trained Mr Garcia would be hard to beat.

“The Class 5 conditions with the set weights means Kris Lees horse gets in in good order considering his benchmark, but it does look a nice race for Jazzland, that horse aside. We’d love to get into the final and have a crack at that as well.

“Josh (Parr) is riding him and knows him so well. He hasn’t missed a beat on him at Wyong.”

Jazzland has an unblemished record in his three starts on his home track, with Parr in the saddle for each win.

He will also partner Buchanan’s other runner, Ocean Go, in the 1350m Class 2.

The Ocean Park gelding has had one start for the stable, a second at Newcastle over 1200m on December 1, since transferring from New Zealand.

“He’s a really lovely horse, a beautiful animal and is showing a lot of promise,” Buchanan said.

“I was very pleased with him first up. He’s definitely a mile, 2000m horse in the long run, but he was very good over the 1200m at Newcastle and I think the step up to 1350m will be ideal for him.

“I’ve had a long association with the Hong Kong based owners and it was my luck they decided to send him my way. He will race very well.

“It’s been a good season so far and we have a lot of nice new horses coming through the stable, so it’s looking good.”

The first of seven races, at Wyong’s Christmas At The Races Day, gets underway at 1.50pm.

SELECTIONS:

Race 1 – 1.50pm: SM CONCRETE CONSTRUCTIONS KYLE’S RUN CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1600m): 1 CYMBALIC, 2 Satirical Knight, 3 Mowanjum, 4 Bernson.

Race 2 – 2.25pm: DNR AIRCONDITIONING & ELECTRICAL 4YO & UP MAIDEN HANDICAP (1350m): 1 SEA ECHO, 2 Flying Mojo, 3 Lady Legend, 4 Disco Mo.

Race 3 – 3.05pm: WYONG EQUINE CLINIC BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1000m): 1 NORTH, 2 Invincible Kiss, 3 Happy Mo, 4 Thermosa.

Race 4 – 3.45pm: FIGTREE GROUP MAIDEN PLATE (1000m): 1 PIZZLY, 2 Miss Dior, 3 Shadow Colour, 4 Enamour.

Race 5 – 4.20pm: SKY RACING SUMMER PROVINCIAL SERIES – HEAT 5 WYONG (1600m): 1 CALABASAS, 2 Jazzland, 3 Mr Garcia, 4 Django Unreined.

Race 6 – 4.55pm: ROKBUILT CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1200m): 1 ABSOLUTE TRUST, 2 Lillemor, 3 Belle Of Clonmel, 4 Pace Stick.

Race 6 – 5.35pm: TWIN LAKES AIR AND SOLAR CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1350m): 1 BRUNETTA, 2 Ocean Go, 3 Quick Finance, 4 Flying Mojo.

Mark Newnham saddles up the favourites in the two feature races at Wyong’s Magic Millions raceday on Thursday and is confident both will be hard to beat.

Every Rose has been favourite for the $2m Gold Coast Classic since her impressive debut win in the Gimcrack Stakes in October and continued to please her trainer with an eye-catching trial win at Randwick on November 26.

Not surprisingly she is expected to take out the $200,000 Wyong 2YO Classic with the in-form Rachel King in the saddle, having drawn nicely in barrier three. 

Stablemate Diamond Thunder will contest the $100,000 MM 3YO and 4YO Stakes and be ridden by Josh Parr.

“The Magic Millions has been their specific targets with Wyong part of the journey,” Newnham said.

“Josh rode them both work on Saturday. They had a good blow out and I was very happy with them.”

He said Every Rose, a $240,000 yearling, had shown good versatility in her race and trials.

“It is good to have drawn a nice barrier with her but she’s shown even in her first trial before she raced that she can take a sit and finish off if need be,” he said.

“When she needed to in the Gimcrack, she led them up. She’s versatile enough to make do with whatever the conditions are.”

Newnham said Every Rose, is raced by an all-female Darby Racing syndicate.

They will be eligible for the $250,000 Women’s Bonus if the filly is one of the first four raced by a female syndicate, to cross the line. 

“It is exciting for them being a ladies syndicate with the Gold Coast becoming a race within a race. It will be good if it comes off.

“She looks an ideal Magic Millions type and being a ladies syndicate horse there is some incentive there as well.

“There will be a fair few of them coming to Wyong so you might need to top up the champagne.”

Newnham said while Rachel King will ride the filly at Wyong, Josh Parr has been booked for the Gold Coast.

“She doesn’t have enough weight for Josh in this race, but he will take over on the Gold Coast.”

Craig Williams returns to Wyong to partner the Maher/Eustace trained Rathlin in the race, the Fastnet Rock colt was narrowly beaten in the MM Classic at Ballarat on November 23.

Newnham’s Diamond Thunder also looks ideally drawn in four, in a field of eight which includes in-form Godolphin filly Exhilerates.

“Diamond Thunder is just a really tough, consistent horse with good ability,” he said.

“I just needed to give him that one run in the spring to keep him ticking over for this otherwise he would have been out too long. He was able to win that race and this summer was really his target with Thursday, then up to Queensland in a couple of weeks’ time where he will start on the 28^th and then the Magic Millions 3YO.”

Josh Parr also partners Newnham’s other runner Exceed The Stars, resuming in the 1000m Class 1.

“He is first up over the 1000m. He might just need one run and he’s going quite well,” he said.

The first of seven races gets underway at 1.50pm.

SELECTIONS:

RACE 1 – 1.50pm: MAINSTREAM TAXATION & ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES MAIDEN (1350m): 1 MISS SURE SHOT, 2 Sea Echo, 3 My Desire, 4 Completed.

RACE 2 – 2.25pm: GREAT NORTHERN BREWING CO METRO & PROV MAIDEN (1600m): 1 DIAMONDS AND RUST, 2 Petrus, 3 Submission, 4 McGraw.

RACE 3 – 3.05pm: MAGIC MILLIONS GOLD COAST IN JANUARY CLASS 1 & MAIDEN (2100m): 1 LADY HIGHLY, 2 Savvy Valentino, 3 Little Arnie, 4 Into The Oblivion.

RACE 4 – 3.40pm: MAGIC MILLIONS WYONG 3YO & 4YO STAKES (1200m): 1 DIAMOND THUNDER, 2 Exhilerates, 3 Leviathan, 4 Think Free.

RACE 5 – 4.15pm: WYONG COAL CLASS 1 (1000m): 1 AUXIN, 2 Exceed The Stars, 3 Designated. 4 Lolliepop.

RACE 6 – 4.50pm: MAGIC MILLIONS WYONG 2YO CLASSIC (1100m): 1 EVERY ROSE, 2 Strike, 3 Farnan, 4 Kavak.

RACE 7 – 5.25pm: MECURE KOOINDAH WATERS GOLF & SPA RESORT BM64 (1600m): 1 FAIRY ME HOME, 2 Evard, 3 Disgraceful, 4 Terroir.

Gai Waterhouse has claimed the most Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic titles since the inception of the race in 2003.

With two entries among the 16 nominations for this year’s feature, the now Waterhouse/Bott stable will be hoping to make it back to back wins following Unite And Conquer’s victory last year.

The stable has nominated last start Canberra winner Farnan and Vancouver filly, Found Our Thrill, who was fourth on debut at Kembla last month.

Mark Newnham’s filly Every Rose looks the standout, resuming from her dominant win in the Gimcrack Stakes, with an impressive five length barrier trial win at Randwick on November 26.

The Maher/Eustace stable has six two-year-olds nominated including last start Morphetville winner Unstoppable.

Chris Munce, who won several Wyong feature races as a jockey, has nominated Kavak, a $145,000 yearling purchase. The colt is an Eagle Farm winner and was runner up on the Gold Coast in late November.

The Newnham stable could also hold the key to the $100,000 Magic Millions 3YO & 4YO Stakes with exciting three-year-old Diamond Thunder.

The Dawn Approach gelding has put together an impressive resume with four wins, including two Listed races, and a placing from six starts.

Australian Bloodstock’s Think Free, from the Lees stable, is among the 21 nominations, the So You Think mare having won five of her ten starts, with two placings.

Acceptances for Thursday’s meeting close at 9am on Tuesday.

Peter Snowden is planning a two-pronged attack at next Thursday’s Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

The stable will saddle up Eagle Farm winner Strike and Written Tycoon colt Remorseless in the $200,000 feature over 1100m.

Strike, a $150,000 yearling, was an impressive winner on debut at Eagle Farm on October 12.

He was then spelled and looks to have returned in good order taking out his trial at Randwick on December 2.

Remorseless, a $350,000 yearling, also debuted at Eagle Farm in October, finishing sixth over the 1000m.

“We sent them both to Brisbane early last preparation and Strike was able to get a win on the board,” Snowden said.

“They both went out and came back and the same time and trialled well the other day.

“The Wyong race looks ideal at this stage and hopefully they can qualify for the Gold Coast.”

Snowden last tasted success in the Wyong MM 2YO in 2015 with Capitalist, also by Written Tycoon, who went on to win both the Gold Coast feature and the Golden Slipper the following year.

Hightail, who finished third in last year’s Gold Coast MM 2YO Classic and Zoustar gelding Leviathan, will both contest the $100,000 Wyong MM 3YO & 4YO Stakes for the Snowden stable.

Nominations for the meeting close at 11am tomorrow.

https://racing.racingnsw.com.au/FreeFields/RaceProgram.aspx?Key=2019Dec12,NSW,Wyong

Mark Newnham’s impressive filly Every Rose will be a definite starter at Wyong’s upcoming $200,000 Magic Millions 2YO Classic on December 12.

The Choisir filly caught the eye on debut with an impressive win in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick on October 5 over 1000m and has been installed as the early favourite for the $2m Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

Newnham sent the $160,000 yearling purchase straight out for a break after her debut win and she will trial at Randwick next week in preparation for her Magic Millions campaign.

“She’ll trial and then go to Wyong,” Newnham said. “I’ll also have Diamond Thunder in the 3YO and 4YO Wyong race after he trials at Randwick on the same day.”

Newnham was impressed with Every Rose following the Gimcrack win, describing her as having a disposition like a “kid’s pony.”

The filly is sure to draw a crowd to Wyong, with 18 female owners keen to cheer her home.

Raced by Darby Syndications, the filly is vying for half a million dollars in prizemoney if she can be one of the first four horses over the line owned by female syndicates.

Stablemate Diamond Thunder has had four wins from his six starts, his latest being the Brian Crowley Listed on October 26 over 1200m.

Nominations for the Wyong Magic Million race day close on Friday, December 6.

It’s no secret Joe Pride is a big fan of Wyong.

Coming off a treble of winners at the October 10 meeting, Pride has six runners lining up at Sunday’s Central Coast Men Of Football Raceday.

“I love racing at Wyong and hopefully we can have another winning day on Sunday,” Pride said.

“I’ve got some good chances and I’m confident they will all run well.”

All Too Hard gelding Galahad’s Quest is shooting for his fifth straight win in the 1350m Benchmark 70 and Pride sees no reason why he can’t get the job done.

“I don’t mind saying this horse has surprised me,” he said. “He’s a horse that was dead and buried at the end of his last preparation, but I decided to give him another go.

“He’s racing really well. It’s another nice race for him and he will be very hard to beat.”

Pride also considers Big Bad Bruce, raced by Triple Crown Syndications, is capable of bringing up two successive wins.

The four-year-old, by Not A Single Doubt, steps up to 1300m in the Benchmark 64 Handicap.

A newcomer to the Pride stable, the gelding has had two starts for a win and a third for his new trainer.

“He finally came good with a win at Goulburn last start which was great,” he said.

“It was a really strong win so he’s not out of place in this field. He should go well and he’s probably one of the better chances on the day.”

Pride saddles up Star Witness mare Threeood and Tavistock gelding Stockman, in the 1350m Maiden.

He believes Threeood could atone for her previous two starts on the track.

“Threeood hasn’t had much luck in her last two starts at Wyong, particularly the last one when she had no luck at all,” he said.

“We will try and ride her a bit handier over the 1350m and she has pleased me at home. She’s a bit of a quirky horse but has the ability to win this, no problems.

“I love Stockman, he’s a beauty. He’s a really nice horse and is going to run 2000m plus. He’s got a lot of quality about him.

“It was a good first start in a race, a bit of a hidden one there first up. It was a very good effort and he’s continued to train on. Probably of all the horses I’ve got up there on Sunday, he’s the horse to follow going forward.”

Pride said Romalette, who resumes from a spell in the 1200m Class 1, will be better next start.

The Epaulette mare won her last start at Wyong on April 24 and has had two trials coming off a spell.

“She’s a lovely mare. She won really impressively there at Wyong in her second start but probably needs this run. She’s a big strong girl and I’d say she will have ‘back me next start’ written all over her after this race.

“She was well held in both trials and she’s got a nice manner.”

Completing the stable’s runner is first starter Cash Is The Deal who lines up in the 1200m Maiden.

“She’s got a decent future but she’s a Dundeel filly so we are thinking she’s going to need a bit of ground. She has trialled up like you would expect a Dundeel horse too, not that sharp. She will probably need the education and the run on Sunday.”

SELECTIONS:

Race 1 – 1.25pm: MEN OF FOOTBALL CENTRAL COAST MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200m): 1 GISELLE ANNE, 2 Deitra, 3 Darleb, 4 Little Rocket Man.

Race 2 – 2pm: MEN OF FOOTBALL CENTRAL COAST CHAPTER MAIDEN HANDICAP (1350m): 1 STOCKMAN, 2 Sky Diamonds, 3 Shaibanat, 4 Forgiato.

Race 3 – 2.35pm: TWO FLIES PUNTERS CLUB 3YO MAIDEN PLATE (1000m): 1 DESIGNATED, 2 Fortnite, 3 Brookwyn, 4 Amelika.

Race 4 – 3.10pm: MEN OF FOOTBALL CENTRAL COAST MEMBERS CONDITIONAL BENCHMARK 70 HANDICAP (1350m): 1 GALAHAD’S QUEST, 2 Brix, 3 Mister McIlroy, 4 Salsa Man.

Race 5 – 3.45pm: MEN OF FOOTBALL CENTRAL COAST COMMITTEE BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1300m): 1 BIG BAD BRUCE, 2 Zell, 3 Wounded Soldier, 4 Isorich.

Race 6 – 4.20pm: MEN OF FOOTBALL CENTRAL COAST RACE DAY BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1600m): 1 DEELBRAKA, 2 Elusive Nature, 3 Brilliant Mind, 4 Trescha.

Race 7 – 5.00pm: PETRO NATIONAL CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1200m): 1 IRESIGN, 2 Palurien, 3 Romalette, 4 Game Of Thorns.

Race 8 – 5.40pm: MEN OF FOOTBALL METRO & PROV MAIDEN PLATE (1600m): 1 HIGHBURY, 2 Marise, 3 Premier Rose, 4 Mr Costigan.

BARTLEY ON A ROLL

Tracey Bartley is enjoying one of his best starts to a season with eight winners in the first two months.

He has his small team firing with a winning strike rate just under 25 percent and hopes to continue that run with his two starters at Wyong on Thursday.

“It’s the best start I’ve had in recent years that’s for sure,” Bartley said.

“When I first moved over from Mudgee in 2010, we had a really good season with 28 winners. I came with a lot of horses who had won in the bush, but their ratings were really low, and they kept winning over here.

“I think this year I have better quality horses. They are horses we have bred or picked out at the sales and we have some clients that have given us some nice horses.

“The strike rate is terrific, and I hope we can keep that going.

“We have a really nice number of horses and it certainly makes it easier to get out of bed when they are going well, no risk in the world.”

He looks certain to better his last season’s tally of 19 winners and considers his two Wyong runners are both genuine chances.

Bartley believes a senior rider could turn around the form of his mare Bare Naked Lady, who lines up in the 1100m Class 2.

He is hoping the four-year-old, who has two wins and six placings from 13 starts, can hit back from her last on the Kensington track over 1100m on October 2.

“She was disappointing at Randwick last start. I think she is having a lend of the apprentices so that’s why we’ve opted for a senior rider.

“She didn’t look real genuine when Chris Williams went for her that day. We’ve dropped her back in class here and put Josh Parr on. If she goes to her old form, she will be hard to beat around here.

“She just needed a run at her first start back at Hawkesbury and knocked up. I was really happy going into the other day and I thought she was entitled to give a better kick when he asked for it. When the others got to her, she tried to go but she had no room, so there was an excuse there.”

Bartley also saddles up last start winner Trescha in the 1600m Class 2.

The Albrecht four-year-old has had two wins over 1400m from nine starts and Bartley believes she will handle the extra distance.

“She’s been racing really well in the bush and this is a step up in company for her,” he said.

“I think she’s earned her chance and should run really well.”

The first of eight races at the club’s Go Electrical Raceday, gets underway at 1.25pm.

SELECTIONS:

Race 1 – 1.25pm: CABAC-PRYSMIAN-PIERLITE CG&E MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200m): 1 SPACEBOY, 2 Syncline, 3 Innisbrook, 4 Oslo.

Race 2 – 2.05pm: HANECO CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (2100m): 1 URBINO, 2 Prospero, 3 Canasta, 4 Gweilo Tantrum.

Race 3 – 2.40pm: HAGER-ELECTRA-OMNI 4YO&UP MAIDEN PLATE (1600m): 1 LA GRISA, 2 Alam Mo Na, 3 Is That So, 4 Prospero.

Race 4 – 3.20pm: CLIPSAL BY SCHNEIDER MAIDEN PLATE (1350m): 1 SCHEMER, 2 Katona, 3 Moreno, 4 Developed.

Race 5 – 3.55pm: AUSSIE DUCT-IPD-SAL-PSA F&M MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200m): 1 DUENNA, 2 Furlana, 3 Akari, 4 Fight For Love.

Race 6 – 4.35pm: LEGRAND AUST CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1600m): 1 TOROSO, 2 Classy Fella, 3 Aesop’s Fable, 4 Brigid Of Kilcare.

Race 7 – 5.10pm: OMEGA-TRADER-MATCHMASTER 4YO&UP BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1350m): 1 MO THE GREAT, 2 Great Danger, 3 Chief In Command, 4 Arrogant Lass.

Race 8 – 5.45pm: REPELEC-LEVEY AGENCIES-BRILLIANT CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1100m): 1 MADAM OAKS, 2 Interram, 3 Bare Naked Lady, 4 Bentley Magic.