Latest News

By Gary Harley

Ultra consistent three-year-old The King should get punters off on the right leg when he contests the opening event, the Wyong Equine Clinic Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200m) at Wyong Race Club’s meeting on Saturday.

The colt from the Snowden stable has outstanding credentials for this event with Rory Hutchings to ride from a positive inside draw. He is an on-pace sprinter and didn’t have luck halfway down the straight in a benchmark 72 at Rosehill last start on November 15.

The King was third on the rails from the outset but was held up for 100m in the straight and when he got clear the bird had flown. He finished fourth, 2.4 lengths from the winner Step Aside which would be at short odds to win this race.

Two starts back The King led all the way and bolted in with a Benchmark 64 at Kembla and he was runner-up at Gosford and Hawkesbury in September.

The colt's only start at Wyong was on September 1 when he walked out the barrier two lengths behind the field. He flashed home along the rail to finish second 1.88 lengths behind the smart Jedibeel. He has won on a heavy track but he has good form on Good 3 and 4 surfaces.

Lightly raced 4yo mare Coco reaming resumes from a spell in the Tabcorp Class 1 Handicap (1000m) and she is the one to beat. She debuted at Wyong on August 3 and won a 1000m maiden impressively.

Andrew Gibbons had the mount and after beginning well he allowed her to drift back to the second last. The mare stormed home down the centre of the track in the straight to win by 0.89 lengths.

Coco Dreaming’s only other start was at Hawkesbury on August 17 when a $2.30 favourite. James McDonald rode her and gave her a gun ride one out one back. She finished second 0.78 lengths behind Flying Destiny.

Gosford trainer Angela Davies then sent her to the paddock and she has had her only trial at Wyong on December 15. Gibbons, who has the mount on Saturday, was aboard in the trial and he never let Coco Dreaming off the bit, hitting the line nicely.

Lohnro 3yo Toyger, placed in four of seven starts, has been set for a first-up win in the Ryan’s Metal Roofing Midway 3yo Maiden Plate (1100m). His trainer Mark Minervini, based at Newcastle, has had a successful year and Toyger is another ride for Gibbons.

This horse had a huge wrap on him after winning a trial by 4 lengths at Newcastle in December last year. Last preparation he was placed twice at Newcastle, less than a length from the winner.

Toyger was an easy trial winner on this track on December 15. The gelding is pretty quick and the barrier is ok.

Race 1 - Wyong Equine Clinic Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200m): The King is in good form and draws nicely. He has genuine speed, was unlucky in his only Wyong start. His last 5 starts have resulted in a win, three seconds and close fourth at Rosehill when held up. Don Pedro was narrowly beaten in a Randwick Benchmark 78 over 1800m in July and he could sprint well first-up. General Soho, the topweight, has won seven races and could run well fresh.
SELECTIONS: 2 The King, 4 Don Pedro, 1 General Soho

Race 2 - De Bortoli Wines benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m): Bak Da Man has won three from five second-up and he ran on well over 1600m when fifth at Gosford first-up. He was runner-up in his only start on this track over this trip and both trainer and jockey are flying. Boominartie, a former Victorian, has a solid record and he just missed first-up for Kristen Buchaman at Newcastle on December 2. Socrates is the class runner and raced well wen placed in is only start at Wyong.
SELECTIONS: 2 Bak Da Man, 4 Boominartie, 1 Socrates

Race 3 - Carlton United Breweries Maiden Handicap (1300m): Beach Party is ready to win after a fast finishing third less than a length from the winner at Gosford first-up on December 7. She was placed in her only Wyong start in June and the mare is looking for this trip. Beauty Bound was an odds-on favourite when beaten 10.54 lengths at Hawkesbury on December 10. She was first-up after trialling well and expect a form reversal here as she was narrowly beaten in her only other start at Wyong on March. Give Me Joy finished second at Hawkesbury on debut recently.
SELECTIONS: 6 Beach Party, 4 Beauty Bound, 2 Give Me Joy

Race 4 - Tabcorp Class 1 Handicap (1000m): Coco Dreaming resumes here and is pretty smart. The mare was very impressive winning on debut at Wyong on August 3. She was beaten on her merits at Hawkesbury in her only other stat before heading to the paddock. The mare was never off the bit in a quiet trial on this track recently. Costa Smeraldo has had one start for a win on this track and resumes without a trials. Willingale has a win and two seconds from her three starts to date.
SELECTIONS: 2 Coco Dreaming, 6 Costa Smeralda, 7 Willingale

Race 5 - Sky Channel Maiden Handicap (1100m): Godolphin 4yo Zaragoza has only had one start when beaten 2.25 lengths at Warwick Farm on December 6. He got back and moved up to challenge in the straight but tired late. He will be fitter and his trials in November were good. Ausbred Mimosa ran on strong late when placed at Warwick Farm first-up and will be hard to beat. Hawkwind has been runner-up at her only two starts.
SELECTIONS: 2 Zaragoza, 3 Ausbred Mimosa, 6 Hawkwind

Race 6 - Ryan’s Metal Roofing 3yo Maiden Plate (1100m): Toyger resumes from a spell and he has been consistent and recent preps. Both recent trials have been impressive and he bolted in with a recent Wyong trial. He has been placed in four of seven starts and has natural speed. Edited By resumes here after two trials and last start he was a close third in a feature 2yo race at Muswellbrook. Dayu on his home track has a place chance.
SELECTIONS: 4 Toyger, 2 Edited By, 1 Dayu

Race 7- Wyong Leagues Group Class 1 Handicap (1250m): Little Cointreau was heavily backed when an impressive Hawkesbury winner first-up on December 3. He was placed in all four starts in previous preparations and has raced well on wet or dry tracks. Pogacar was a Doomben winner in June last yeard and has only had one starts since. He was a recent Newcastle trials. Turbulent won first-up at Newcastle and was then placed at Hawkesbury.
SELECTIONS: 2 Little Cointreau, 1 Pogacar, 4 Turbulent

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