Wyong Race 6 - Mona Lisa Stakes (Market)
The first of the features on Wyong’s biggest day of racing is the Mona Lisa Stakes at Listed level for the fillies and mares. It’s fair to say that in my experience growing up in the area, on Wyong Cup Day by Race 6, most of the fillies and mares in attendance that aren’t of the equine variety, are 7/8 full of the cheapest sparkling served in the Sincero Bar and the high heels have long given way to a more casual bare-footed approach across the sprawling lawns trackside. But alas, they still need to find a winner, and (14) Into The Abyss looks a good each-way bet for the ladies to cash in on. She is still yet to win out of maiden grade but had been tackling black-type racing throughout her last prep and wasn’t far off the mark. She resumed in the Toy Quality in town a couple of weeks ago, got back in the run and was held-up early in the straight. She got a run finally inside the furlong and hit the line well and may have been the run of the race barring the impressive winner. Bossy sticks to the ride, she will get back but the speed will be on and there is a long run to the first turn. He should get cover on her and be finishing as good as any.
(14) Into The Abyss E/W
$9.00
Wyong Race 7 - Wyong Cup (Market)
The Wyong Cup, could be the best provincial Cup in NSW and always a strong field. I am looking for soe value in the big field, the Kiwi (7) Blue Breeze jumps out at me at the double figure odds on an each-way basis. He was a place-getter in the Auckland Cup at Group One level back in the Autumn, was sent to the paddock and resumed with an impressive win over an unsuitably shorter trip of 1400m. He has only had the three weeks in between runs, gets a soft run off the inside gate and Kathy O’Hara jumps on. In a very open race, I can see him getting the soft run and with even luck, looks a great each-way bet to nothing.
Ballarat Synthetic Race 2 (Market)
(9) Fascino is resuming today, he had a jump-out at Stawell recently that he won, sat behind the leader and hugged the rail when they fanned and was untouched all the way up the straight. The stablemate that finished alongside her in that trial was a handy 3YO that has won another trial since. She was thrown in the deep end at the back-end of her first campaign, when going to SA for the Sires Produce, she ran on ok from the back that day. She has shown versatility but I expect that they will try and be as positive as possible early, just a matter of getting around the synthetic track. THe main danger will be the Corstens trained (7) Stand To Attention, he was ok resuming in a much harder race recently at the Valley, also a newbie to the synthetic track. He was beaten out of sight after a tough run second-up at Listed level last prep, he gets the blinkers on again and he can certainly win but if he drifts late, the confidence will be high.
Ballarat Synthetic Race 4 (Market)
(8) Chicago Bull has obviously had his issues, he started favourite up the straight in the time honoured Maribyrnong Plate, over-raced but finished off ok to place in a much harder race than this. He was sent to the paddock and resumed in the Silver Slipper in Sydney, he had trialed well prior to that race but settled back and didn’t go a yard. He was sent out again and resumes today at maiden level. He had a jump-out at Caulfield recently where he was well away and cruised most of the race before being let down late. He has had 27-weeks off, it looks as though the Gelagotis team are bringing him here for a soft kill to get the confidence up? He obviously has the talent, just needs to bring it on race day.
