Apprentice Jett Stanley produces a perfect ride to deliver imported mare Awesome Wonder back to the winners’ circle at Randwick

After almost 12 months and a failed stud bid since her last win, things fell perfectly into place for Awesome Wonder to score at Royal Randwick.

Apprentice Jett Stanley guides Awesome Wonder to victory at Royal Randwick. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Trainer John O’Shea reckons a return to home turf played a crucial role in helping Awesome Wonder rejoin the winners’ list at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The daughter of Galileo hadn’t win since her success at the same venue 51 weeks earlier but produced an emphatic performance on home soil to win the TAB Benchmark 78 Handicap (2400m).

“She is much more effective here,” O’Shea, who trains alongside Tom Charlton, said.

“She prefers the big circumference of Randwick and got a lovely weight drop.

“The run the other day was very good. Tommy (Berry) was a bit critical of his ride by his own admission.

“Once she got clear running with no weight and she is a very fit horse. She was strong to the line.”

Awesome Wonder nearly went to stud last year but failed to get in foal and has remained in O’Shea and Charlton’s stable to race.

The well-bred mare had been racing will this preparation without winning before he was given a perfect steer by 2kg claiming apprentice Jett Stanley.

Stanley rode Awesome Wonder with cover on the fence and made a sustained run from the top of the straight.

Just awesome 🙌

Awesome Wonder wins the TAB Hcp for @stanley_jett and @JohnOSheaRacing!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/Lu7DpMxOe4

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 10, 2024

With race favourite Age Of Sail stuck in traffic closer to the inside, Awesome Wonder ($12) surged down the middle to score by two lengths from the Chris Waller-trained Kureder ($7.50) with Bjorn Baker’s Our Anchorage ($5.50) in third.

Stanley felt the light weight was vital to Awesome Wonder’s success.

“52.5kg on the back is always going to help, especially over 2400m,” Stanley said.

“She had the good form coming into it and the way the race was panning out, especially with Age Of Sail drawn on the inside of me and James (McDonald) coming across.

“It just put me in a beautiful position where I could either follow Nash (Rawiller) or James.

“Coming into the corner, the way I was travelling. I didn’t want a sit and sprint and knew if I could get her out and rolling, she would be there to the line.”

WEST OF AFRICA REIGNS FOR NEW NEASHAM AND ARCHIBALD PARTNERSHIP

Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald snared their first Sydney Saturday winner in partnership when West Of Africa produced a dominant display to salute at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Neasham has been training in her own right for several years but joined forces with Archibald at the beginning of the current season.

The pair had the first metropolitan win via Lincoln Rocks at The Valley on Saturday before West Of Africa continued their good fortune to prevail in the Toyota Forklifts Benchmark 78 Handicap (1600m).

“It was a nice easy watch in the end,” Neasham said.

“It’s great for OTI, we’ve had a winner in Melbourne and a winner at Randwick.

“Both of Rob’s first Saturday winners and they were both in their colours so it’s great.

“He has got two in the day and hopefully more to come for this horse.

A big win to West Of Africa at Randwick, who makes it two in a row!@G1TySchil@ANeashamRacing @Rob_Arch1@aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/tK1FtfAtys

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 10, 2024

“He will probably go out for a break now because he has been up for a while but he is going to be a lot of run in those off season races.”

In-form jockey Tyler Schiller settled in the back half of the field before moving into the three-wide line as the field turned for home.

When he asked West Of Africa for an effort, the gelding was quick to hit to gear.

West Of Africa ($6.50) coasted clear over the final furlong to score by two lengths from the David Atkins-trained Promitto ($16) with Chris Waller’s Unlimited ($31) in third.

“I thought we would have been a little bit closer than we were but they looked to go a good tempo,” Neasham said.

“I think the key to this horse was just getting back on the drier track.

“He loves getting to the outside of horses.”

West Of Africa’s explosive turn of speed even came as a surprise to Schiller.

“I was very surprised he showed the turn of foot he did because he is a big horse and has a big stride,” he said.

“I thought he would be a momentum horse but when I got him rolling, he picked up sharply.

“I thought I might have got there a bit soon but I didn’t have to do a lot of work early so it was always going to be help him late being strong to the line.”

Originally published as Apprentice Jett Stanley produces a perfect ride to deliver imported mare Awesome Wonder back to the winners’ circle at Randwick