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Trainer Kim Waugh is hoping for big things from promising filly Misaquilina after she resumed from a spell with a tearaway win at Wyong on Australia Day.
Photo by Racing and Sports
"I have always had an opinion of this filly but turned out after her only two starts because she needed time to strengthen up," Waugh said.
“She has come back much stronger and she is an Inglis graduate so we will target some of the Inglis bonus races with her.”
The win was completed a winning double for apprentice Serg Lisnyy, who joined the Waugh stable two months ago.
Lisnyy sent Misaquilina straight to the lead then kicked away in the straight to win by four lengths.
Her winning time 1min 03.71secs on a track rated a heavy 8 was just outside the class record set by Mrs Onassis in March last year.Waugh's team is firing again after a virus swept through her stable during spring, affecting 14 of the 18 horses she had in work.
In an unrelated incident her boom galloper Valdhez nearly lost his life through illness.
Valdhez, winner of two of his four starts early last year, was being prepared for a Melbourne spring campaign when he became seriously ill.
Lisnyy looked to be without a ride in the previous race when Liquorice Lover was scratched but was called in as a late replacement for the Tim Clark trained Levitating when fellow apprentice Andrew Stead became ill following the first race.
It was misfortune for Stead but good luck for Lisnyy when Levitating grabbed the lead on the line to win by a half head.
It was the second win for Levitating, a six year old that has had just 19 starts.
“He is just a big, dumb bugger but suddenly it appears the penny has dropped,” Clark said.
“He won his maiden at Gosford two starts back then ran a mighty race when fifth at Gosford in a really good class field.
There was more bad luck for Stead when the Gerald Ryan trained Snitsky scored a runaway maiden win.
Stead was supposed to ride Snitsky but the mount went to Laurie Wray to give her first win for the Ryan stable.
The Anthony Cummings stable foreman Brett Gordon predicted that in six months Time To Plunder could indeed be plundering some of the riches of Sydney racing following his impressive win at Wyong over 1200m.
Time To Plunder, ridden by Mitchell Bell, resumed from a spell to storm away and win by four and a quarter lengths and still with something seemingly in hand.
Two starts back Time To Plunder won a Kembla maiden but then finished second last at Rosehill.
“He was a bit sore after Rosehill and still immature so Anthony sent him for a break,” Gordon said.
“He came back much stronger but he is still six months away from showing us what he is really capable of.
“Then I think we will see a really nice city class horse.
A year of patience and waiting paid off when the Gai Waterhouse trained Light Warrior scored a runaway maiden win over 1350m.
Light Warrior had resumed from a year long break with an unlucky fourth in the rich maiden at the Gold Coast Magic Millions meeting and showed the benefit of that run with a comprehensive win.
"He hurt a tendon at Newcastle so Gai sent him out for a long break,” part owner Scott Richards said.
“It has been a long wait but well worthwhile.
“I think Gai intends to take him back to town now see how the horse shapes up."