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By Frances O'Shea

Once bitten, twice shy! Wyong trainer Mark Cross regrets he took blinkers off Victorian purchase River Tycoon ($2.70 on TAB) at his last start when he failed on his home track on June 17 after an encouraging second there a fortnight earlier.

But he won’t make the same mistake on Thursday when the lightly-raced four-year-old lines up in the Sky Racing 4YO & Up Maiden Handicap (1350m) – and with a new rider.

River Tycoon (Patrick Scorse) parades. Image by Bradley Photographers

Cross has booked Rachel King to partner the Written Tycoon gelding and is confident he can break through at his eighth start, and fourth for him.

“We bought him earlier in the year (he had been placed over 1400m at Bendigo in February), and I took a fair bit of gear off him but put blinkers on when he led and ran fourth at Newcastle in May at his first start for us,” Cross said today.

“I made an error and took the blinkers off him after he ran second over 1350m at Wyong on June 3, and it backfired when he ran last of seven over 1600m there a fortnight later.

“The blinkers go back on this time, and his recent work in them has been better than ever. He has topweight (58.5kg) to carry, but I’m confident he will be hard to beat.”

River Tycoon is an early $2.70 second favourite with TAB.com.au behind fellow Wyong trainer Rod Bailey’s Mister Ripley ($2.40).

Cross also runs another recent purchase Sian (Louise Day, $16) in the Wyong’s Next Race Meeting Sunday August 29 Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350m).

Previously prepared by Kris Lees at Newcastle, Cross secured the Pride Of Dubai three-year-old online after he had won over 1600m on his former home track on May 18.

At his first start for his new trainer, he finished seventh to dead-heaters Budhwar and General Dubai in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350m) at Wyong on June 17.

“I have put blinkers back on him and also ear muffs,” Cross said. “The ear muffs help keep him calm, and I have been happy with his work since he has been galloping in them.

“I feel he can run a nice race, but it won’t be easy to win with 60kg topweight. River Tycoon is definitely the pick of our pair.”

The first of eight races gets underway at 12.25pm.

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