3 minute read
Local trainer Stephen Farley has opted for the easier option by running Patinage in the Wyong Rugby League Club Group Benchmark 75 at Wyong on Thursday.
“The track here at Wyong is drying out quickly because of the wind which will be to her advantage,” Farley said.
“It is much easier to walk her across the road than take her down to Canterbury on Wednesday.”
Farley has always had opinion of Patinage which was only strengthened after she strung together successive wins last preparation at Muswellbrook, Gosford and Hawkesbury.
She kicked off this preparation with another win at Gosford then ran second last in the Listed Denise’s Joy at Scone and fifth on a heavy eight on the Kensington track 16 days ago.
“Her disappointing run at Scone was partially my fault,” Farley said.
“The original plan was to take her to Wagga first up then to Scone but just before we were to leave for Wagga I became worried that she was not quite right and abandoned the plan.
“Wagga would have given her just the right amount of time between runs leading into Scone.
“She had to have a run so I took her to Gosford but Scone came up too quickly and I think she raced flat.
“I was happy with her last run.
“She raced wide for much of the trip on a heavy track and finished the race off well.”
Patinage has drawn barrier 12 in a field full of on pace runners but that might just work to her advantage if Grant Buckley can get across and get a trail just behind the leaders.
Buckley knows Patinage well, having ridden her to three of her four wins.
Farley’s other interesting runner is Kanguru, also to be ridden by Buckley, in the Inaugural Norah Head Bowling and Sports Club Cup for two year olds.
Kanguru was heavily backed on debut here in an open maiden here two weeks ago and led easily to the turn before things went wrong.
He ran off on the turn then went to the line only fairly but Farley is expecting an improved effort tomorrow.
“He is a nice horse and if he runs well he can go to Grafton for the big two year old at Grafton on Cup day,” Farley said.
“After that he can go to the paddock because I think he is going to be a very nice three year old.
“I know he did a lot wrong last start but I think he has improved since then and having a senior rider on him is going to help.”
Few trainers are happy with drawing a wide barrier but Muswellbrook’s Pat Farrell thinks it might work in his favour with Crown of Dreams (Winona Costin) which runs in The Entrance Leagues Club Benchmark 65 (1350m).
The four year old was a certainty beaten, as favourite, when second on this track two weeks ago after drawing barrier two and getting cluttered up in the field.
Once clear he flew home to be beaten half a length.
“If he had got a clear run earlier he would have won,” Farrell said.
“Drawing wide will help him keep out of trouble but this is a much stronger field than he met last time.”