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By Frances O'Shea

It’s been almost seven years since Mark Newnham trained his first career winner, taking out a maiden at Wyong with four-year-old gelding Boaz.

In the ensuing time Randwick-based Newnham has gone on to taste considerable success and become one of the most respected trainers in the game, with more than 400 victories to his name including four Group 1 wins.

Sonic The Hedgehog (Josh Parr) wins in the rain at Wyong. Image by Bradley Photographers

On Thursday he will saddle up his final runners at Wyong as he prepares to relocate to Hong Kong, and it would be fitting if he could go out a winner.

“I trained my first winner there at Wyong, so it would be nice we could have a winner with the last. I think they are both winning chances,” he said.

The track has been somewhat of a happy hunting ground for Newnham who has trained 33 winners from 158 runners, his 20.9% winning Wyong strike rate his best of all the Provincial tracks.

Stayer, Sonic The Hedgehog ($6.50 on TAB) provides the stable with a winning hope in the 2100m Class 1 and Maiden.

The four-year-old by American Pharaoh, is getting back to his ideal distance, having previously won over the 2000m at Wyong in April last year.

Sonic The Hedgehog, finished fourth at Gosford over 1900m on April 25 beaten just over a length, and will appreciate the 2100m.

“It looks like a suitable race for him,” Newnham said. “Sonic is fully fit now after a couple of runs back and he won his maiden over this track and distance," Newnham said.

Newnham also has a good opinion of Mindspace ($8.50) who represents the stable in the 1600m BM64. His last two runs have been over 2000m, but Newnham said he hasn’t run out the distance.

“He’ll be better suited over the 1600m and on the better ground. His last couple of runs have been on rain-affected tracks and I think he’s better on top of the ground.

“From the nice inside gate he should sit mid-field and be strong late.”

Mindspace, who was a $310,000 yearling, is raced in partnership by Newnham. He has had a win and a third from his previous six starts and Newnham is confident he can make it two wins on Thursday.

The first of eight races at the club’s The Wyong Roos Foundation Raceday gets underway at 12.20pm.

SELECTIONS
Race 1 – 12.20pm: ACCOLADE WINES PROVINCIAL 3YO MAIDEN (1350m): 1 EPICUS, 2 Jo Jo Sun, 3 Burrowa, 4 Always In.
Race 2 – 12.55pm: AUSTBROKERS AND BISHOP COLLINS MAIDEN (1350m): 1 LITTLE COINTREAU, 2 Dishin ‘N’ Dancin, 3 Slipstreaming, 4 Commando Jack.
Race 3 – 1.35pm: COCA COLA EUROPACIFIC PARTNERS AND HOSPITALITY SUPPLIES EPXRESS 2YO MAIDEN (1100m): SNATCHREAILLY, 2 Absolute Power, 3 Frenemy, 4 Kovanos.
Race 4 – 2.10pm: NESTLE PROFESSIONAL AND WE CARE CONNECT MAIDEN (1100m): 1 KAPUNDA, 2 Woodlander, 3 Consenza, 4 Silent Russian.
Race 5 – 2.50pm: HARVEY NORMAN COMMERCIAL AND CENTRAL COAST VOLUNTEER RESCUE ASSOCIATION CLASS 1 & MDN (2100m): 1 ITSAGOODDEEL, 2 The Englishman, 3 Thornycroft, 4 Sonic The Hedgehog.
Race 6 – 3.25pm: ARCADE TRADER AND CENTRAL COAST KIDS IN NEED BM64 (1350m): 1 MATRONYMIC, 2 Rockstar Boy, 3 Isorich, 4 Oakfield Waratah.
Race 7 – 4.05pm: WYONG ROOS FOUNDATION MIDWAY BM64 (1100m): 1 RESTRICTIONS, 2 Wondereach, 3 Chief Conductor, 4 Tinka’s Lad.
Race 8 – 4.40pm: CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES AND REGNIS REFRIGERATION BM64 (1600m): 1 MINDSPACE, 2 Reginald, 3 Flexing, 4 Tip Top Timing.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Wyong here