Wyong preview: Trainer Jarrod Austin confident his big gelding Vindication is ready to peak

Jarrod Austin is confident Vindication will be hard to beat at Wyong on Thursday before his attention turns to a potential big payday later in the week.

Vindication is ready to peak for his Wyong assignment on Thursday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Warwick Farm trainer Jarrod Austin is chasing his biggest payday when he saddles up talented mare Terra Mater in Saturday’s $1 million Provincial-Midway Championships Final at Randwick.

The four-year-old overcame interference in the straight to win the Wildcard at Newcastle on April 3 to book her place in the big one where she opened a $16 chance with TAB on Wednesday.

“I was really happy with her run in the Wildcard,” Austin said.

“She struck a little bit of trouble in the straight but finished strongly.

“She has come on from the run and is ready to peak this weekend.”

Austin is hoping to head into the weekend on a high note from the Wyong meeting where he saddles up three good chances on the card.

He is quietly confident Vindication will prove hard to beat in the Benchmark 64 (1100m).

After a tough run when resuming in a Midway at Randwick, the gelding charged home from near last to finish third behind Broadway Bouncer at Hawkesbury on March 28.

“I know he has a bit of weight (61kg) but I thought his last run was excellent and he is definitely a good chance,” he said.

“He just got into a bad spot first-up, he wanted to overdo it and they went way too quick which is why he knocked up to be fair.

“His best way to be ridden is when he can find a bit of cover where he can relax and that will allow him to find the line.

“He got a long way back last time and that was due to the barrier but I was happy with the way he found the line.

“He will strip perfect now third-up and despite the quality of horses in this race, I think he can win to be honest.”

Terra Mater contests the $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final at Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Breeders’ Plate runner Zambezi River had his first campaign for Austin 12 months ago and while unplaced in three runs, he was happy with the gelding.

“I was pretty happy with runs as we were working him out,” he said.

“He didn’t pulled up the greatest after his last run which is why he’s had such a long lay-off.

“We have taken every precaution with him to get him right and ready for this. He looks a lot better this time in.”

The son of I Am Invincible was just beaten by Departing Bullet in his second trial at Warwick Farm before racing away to a near four length win from Skip A Beat in his latest heat there on March 26.

Austin feels he is a good chance in the Maiden Handicap (1000m) where he opened a $5.50 chance.

“He has been a work in progress but I have been really pleased with him.

“He’s had the three trials just so we knew he was right for this race.

“With the track drying out, he will definitely start and I think he will run a cheeky race.”

Six-year-old mare Suprina is knocking on the door after placing in each of her three runs this campaign, the latest a three-quarter length second to Cross Your Heart over this track and distance on March 14.

Austin’s biggest concern this week is barrier 1.

“As she has gotten older, she hasn’t been the greatest to begin. She just takes a couple of strides to hit gear then she is right,” he said.

“There is a little bit of speed in this race so it will be a little tricky from the inside barrier.

“She does her best work when she is in front so hopefully she can step away cleanly and find her right spot.”

Chevron chasing another fill-up

It may have taken until start No.9 for Chevron to break through but the three-year-old should have a much shorter wait to register his second career win.

The Kristen Buchanan-trained colt stepped out over 1300m in a Super Maiden on the Kensington track on March 27 where he rolled to the front and controlled the race from there, going on to score by a length from Ohtani.

The son of Speith is the horse to beat in the HMA Instrumentation Midway Benchmark 68 Handicap (1350m) on his home track of Wyong.

The colt opened the $2.30 favourite with TAB Fixed Odds on Tuesday ahead of Pennart at $3.10 and Putt For Dough at $4 for the Midway Benchmark 68 (1350m) where he has drawn barrier three.

The three-year-old kicked off his current campaign in the Inglis Sprint at Flemington in early March where he finished 14th behind classy filly Estriella after jumping awkwardly and settling well back at his first go down the Flemington straight.

The colt has always shown above average ability and won his first two trials as a two-year-old, earning himself a debut start in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes where he finished fourth behind Red Resistance, King’s Gambit and Shinzo – the latter two finishing third and first respectively in the Golden Slipper seven weeks later.

Two starts later, the $40,000 Classic Yearling Sale graduate was runner-up at Canterbury and after a let-up, finished second in the Inglis Challenge behind Love Shuck at Scone.

He then went to Queensland to contest the Sires Produce and Group 1 JJ Atkins last winter.

A win at Wyong this week could put the colt on a path to bigger things including another shot at stakes races.

The David Payne-trained Icebreaker has just one placing to his name from 10 starts but has been just behind the placegetters on several occasions and can register his first win in the opening event.

The son of Pariah finished runner-up behind subsequent Group 1 winner Zardozi on debut at Hawkesbury 12 months ago.

He resumed this campaign with a sixth behind Bright Red over 1600m at Wyong and will appreciate the step up to 2000m.

He was a half-length fourth to Final Reset over the distance last campaign.

Originally published as Wyong preview: Trainer Jarrod Austin confident his big gelding Vindication is ready to peak