Chris Waller’s stranglehold on the $250,000 Listed Wyong Leagues Group Cup could continue with the stable saddling up three good chances on Friday.
Waller has taken home the prestigious trophy eight times since his first win with Hawk Island in 2010.
He last tasted success in 2022 with Durston, ridden by James McDonald.
Making up Waller’s trio of stayers for this year’s race is New Zealand import Medatsu, Mazoice and Etna Rosso, an Irish import, all three well supported in early betting.
Tommy Berry is yet to win a Wyong cup despite having ridden in the race a number of times but is well served to break the hoodoo this year on Waller’s Medatsu.
The lightly raced four-year-old by Japanese sire Staphanos, will be shooting for his third successive win in the 2100m feature.
Berry has partnered him in his past two victories, a Benchmark 72 over the 1500m at Rosehill on August 3 and 1600m Benchmark 78 at Randwick on August 24.
The gelding was unplaced in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick last October before a lengthy spell, resuming with the two metropolitan wins.
Waller has given Medatus the perfect preparation for the Wyong Cup, with Berry confident he could be the horse to give him his first cup victory.
“This is one of the few cups I haven’t won, so hopefully I can get the job done with Medatsu,” he said.
“He’s an impressive horse going forward. The stable has always had a high opinion of him, but he’s taken a while to mature.
“I think he has the ability to get him over the line, despite a wide barrier draw he has quality on his side.”
Tyler Schiller will ride Manzoice, whose two race wins include the 2500m Group 1 Victorian Derby at Flemington in October 22. The five-year-old is coming off a second in the Premier’s Cup Prelude at Randwick over 1800m on August 10.
Etna Rosso looked impressive taking out the 19000m BM78 at Rosehill on August 17, his three career wins all coming over a staying distance. The favourite in early markets, he has the advantage of in-form jockey Kerrin McEvoy.
Sara Ryan’s Roma Avenue and Kim Waugh’s Camaguey represent our Wyong trainers in the Cup, a win by either trainer would be the first by a local in 18 years.
The Cup will be run at 4.35pm, with the first of eight races at 12.50pm.
SELECTIONS:
RACE 1 – 12.50pm: READY’S @ THE DOYLO SUPER MAIDEN (1200m): 1 YOSHINOBU, 2 Tautoum 3 Bradken Blu, 4 Polymnia.
RACE 2 – 1.25pm: WYONG LEAGUES GROUP MIDWAY 4YO&UP MAIDEN (1350m): 1 THE BENTLEY, 2 Classic Poetry, 3 Show County, 4 Hongkong Harmony.
RACE 3 – 2.05pm: CENTRAL COAST COOLROOMS DA VINCI – 3&4YO BM64 (1300m): 1 DRACO’S FIRE, 2 Weeping Woman, 3 Bit Of Banter, 4 Zedari.
RACE 4 – 2.40pm: BISHOP COLLINS CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS SPRINGTIME CONDITIONAL BM64 (1200m): 1 EDITED BY, 2 Norton Road, 3 I’m A Steel, 4 Cohesive.
RACE 5 – 3.20pm: HUNTER PETROLEUM PRODUCTS F&M BM 66 (1600m): 1 AUNTY RENE, 2 Noises, 3 Doraskaya, 4 No Second Thoughts.
RACE 6 – 3.55pm: CARLTON DRAUGHT PROVINCIAL BM64 (1600m): 1 RUSH ATTACK, 2 Kervette, 3 Dubai Flyer, 4 Doraskaya.
RACE 7 – 4.35pm: WYONG LEAGUES GROUP WYONG CUP (2100m): 1MEDATSU, 2 Etna Rosso, 3 Lion’s Roar, 4 Age Of Sail.
RACE 8 – 5.10pm: SENPOS POINT OF SALE CLASS 1 (1100m): 1 BRAVEHEART, 2 Agenda Setter, 3 Catch The Glory, 4 Savoldi.
