Debutants set to dazzle in Wyong season finale
By Neil Evans
It’s a day for an exciting new breed when Wyong hosts a strong meeting on Thursday to close out the current season.
A group of late season unraced metropolitan two-year-olds lock horns in a Maiden Handicap over 1300m, and it might just provide an early pointer for some feature three-year-old targets heading towards spring.
Racing returns to Wyong on Thursday.
In fact, only two runners with race experience in the original 13-strong field – Menshevik and Watson, both quoted around the $6.50 mark in early betting – are in single figures for what looms as a fascinating race.
And two debutants look set to fight for favouritism in a race where punters could support many on show.
Impuriteze, a striking chestnut filly by multiple Group 1 winner Trapeze Artist, looms as a key runner for the Michael Freedman stable at Randwick.
She starts behind two progressive trials on both firm and soft ground, and draws to get an economical run under jockey Keagan Latham who sticks solid from the latest trial.
But right alongside her in the market is exciting colt Extra Heights, a son of high-class sprint sire Extreme Choice in the rival Peter Snowden yard.
He also opens his career behind two progressive trials, and significantly was withdrawn from a race at Canterbury on Wednesday to be saved for this.
Extra Heights, who was eye-catching through the line at his most recent trial, drew the inside with Tom Sherry aboard.
Yet there’s more talking points to come, with three other first-starters all representing potential early value.
Panova, a filly also by Trapeze Artist and having been given three improving trials since being switched from the Ciaron Maher camp to Chris Waller, will be ridden by Zac Lloyd.
And from the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton yard a pair of geldings – French-sired Azarax ridden by Dylan Gibbons, and Jagerbomb by dual Group 1-winning stayer Contributer, with Andrew Adkins in the saddle – both debut off two solid recent trials.
The track was currently rated a Soft 5 through Wednesday, but could improve to close to Good 4 with sunny weather forecast on race day.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au