3 minute read
Feature racing heads to Wyong on Saturday and we’re set for the inaugural running of the $500,000 The Lakes. The rail will be left in the true position around the course and at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Soft (6) range. Ten races make up the program and you can find all of my Wyong tips below.
Ten races make up the program and you can find all of my Wyong tips below.
RACE 1 - 12:35PM: Heritage Real Estate (1200m)
Just one of the eight horses in this field have previous raceday experience and I am keen to see the debut efforts of a few of them, including Barbarossa.
A half to Encryption, Barbarossa has shown some ability at the trials without setting the world on fire and I'm happy to have a small bet from the inside draw and under Zac Lloyd.
1 Unit Barbarossa
RACE 2 - 1:10PM: Central Coast Mayor's Midway Handicap (1600m)
Magnatear has been knocking on the door of a win since resuming and gets a great chance on The Lakes Day.
Magnatear filled the minors in each of his first two runs back this time before only just missing in a similar race to this one at Randwick last time out.
He has drawn awkwardly but with even luck in running, this looks his chance.
2 Units Magnatear
RACE 3 - 1:45PM: Highway Handicap (1100m)
Ritzsun was only just denied in his first run back from a spell and looks the one to beat in this weekend's Highway race.
Ritzsun was unbeaten in two starts during his debut prep and kept on coming to finish only half a length behind Welcome Gypsy here on New Year's Eve.
With natural improvement, this looks well within his abilities.
2 Units Ritzsun
RACE 4 - 2:20PM: Domeland BM100 Handicap (1350m)
This looks a lovely race for Grand Impact.
The Satono Aladdin gelding is yet to strike in three runs back from a break, but each performance has highlighted steady improvement, and he was last seen finishing just over a head third in BM84 company down in Victoria.
He's in peak order, the 1350m looks ideal and he gets into the race extremely well with just 52kgs in tow.
3 Units Grand Impact
RACE 5 - 2:55PM: Wyong Equine Clinic F&M BM78 Handicap (1100m)
Dollar Magic has been racing well and boasts a fitness edge over some key rivals at Wyong this week.
The Shamus Award mare was only just denied in each of her first three races this season, while she was caught wide in the Listed Canterbury Sprint on New Year's Day but was tough through the line to finish fourth.
Drawn ideally and with some relief in the weights, I think she'll be tough to beat this time.
2 Units Dollar Magic
RACE 6 - 3:30PM: Central Coast Community News 3&4YO BM72 Handicap (1300m)
Headley Grange only just missed in his first run back from a break and gets a great chance to go one better on The Lakes Day.
Headley Grange has raced consistently through twelve career starts, winning four times and placing a further five, finding form around some handy gallopers in races not dissimilar to this one.
He let down impressively when finally finding clear air at Randwick on Boxing Day and any improvement on that performance would see him difficult to hold out in something like this again.
2 Units Headley Grange
RACE 7 - 4:05PM: De Bortoli Wines BM88 Handicap (2100m)
Inquiring Minds takes winning form into this contest and looks a touch of overs at current odds in my opinion ($8 at publish).
The Kingman gelding has recorded two wins from three runs back from a break, highlighted by his effort over a mile at Randwick most recently.
The rise in trip looks ideal at this point of his preparation, he drops in the weights, and we can have an each way play at the price
2 Units E/W Inquiring Minds
RACE 8 - 4:40PM: Wyong Leagues Group The Lakes (1600m)
The Lakes looks a lovely feature race for St Lawrence, and I am confident that he can bounce back at nice odds ($10 at publish).
He's been up and racing for some time, but St Lawrence managed to record consecutive wins at Randwick, including the Little Dance on Cup Day, before he was well beaten in the Festival Stakes.
He's been freshened since that race, sent back to the trials, and he's another whom we can have something on each way.
1 Unit E/W St Lawrence
RACE 9 - 5:20PM: NBN News BM78 Handicap (1200m)
This looms as one of the more open races on the program and at publish, we're faced with $5 the field.
Anavinci has plenty of upside and looks well placed in a race like this.
The I Am Invincible mare was undefeated in two starts during her debut prep, and she returned to action last month to finish less than a length behind the winner in BM78 company at Randwick.
With natural improvement, I think she can deliver on nice odds this week.
2 Units Anavinci
RACE 10 - 6PM: Royal Hotel Wyong BM78 Handicap (1350m)
Yorkshire has opened at short and justifiable odds ahead of the last on The Lakes Day.
Having won three of four starts during his debut prep, Yorkshire was denied by the flare of a nostril in a similar race over 1300m at Randwick when resuming this time.
With any improvement, I can't find a reason why he won't be in the finish again.
5 Units Yorkshire
