Wyong races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail

A shot at The Championships could be on the cards for the Allan Kehoe-trained One Kind is she runs to expectations at home on Sunday.

Allan Kehoe has plans to set his promising filly One Kind for the Provincial and Midway Championships next year. Picture: Grant Guy

Trainer Allan Kehoe has long term ambitions of a Provincial and Midway Championship tilt with his richly talented filly One Kind who aims to boost her tally of wins to four when she steps out at home at Wyong.

Kehoe’s filly was a popular and authoritative winner on August 11 when she opened her 2022/23 account in a 1000m Class 2 at Tuncurry with regular rider Raymond Spokes in the saddle.

“We’ve had raps on her from day one,” Kehoe said.

“She has only got bush form but we have done that for a reason. She was her own worst enemy before, she was just really green and doing stuff wrong but she has come back a real racehorse this preparation.”

They were shared sentiments from jockey Spokes who will make a nine hour return trip on Sunday to keep a good thing going.

“Spokesy is coming all the way from Coffs Harbour for one ride so he likes her and that gives you a little bit of confidence,” Kehoe says.

Raymond Spokes will make the trip to Wyong to partner One Kind on Sunday.

Granted, One Kind is making her Wyong debut this weekend but the configuration, not to mention her favourable draw (barrier 4), play to her strengths.

“Wyong will suit her down to the ground and she works here every day. I said to the boys who own her, if we draw inside four or five, I’ll be happy,” Kehoe said.

“There are a couple of races in mind for her. She will only have the one more run probably. If she wins this it will be a midweeker or a Midway.

“If she can win this one on Sunday and go to town and perform well, we will bring her back and maybe go down The Championship path.

“At the moment I am not convinced (about 1400m) but they qualify at Gosford over 1200m which would suit her.

“She did win over 1100m and won it really strong so we will see what happens.”

Kehoe will use Sunday’s hometown meeting to get some experience as well as miles into the legs of his emerging stayer, Italiano, who lines-up for his third career start in the Robson Provincial Maiden Plate over 1600m.

“He was a bit unlucky the other day and probably should have run a clear third,” the trainer said.

“He is bred to go 2000m plus. He’s a nice horse on his way and the further he goes, the better he will get.

“I really like the horse.

“We have put blinkers on him on Sunday for the first time to sharpen him right up.

“Wyong probably won’t suit but it is only a provincial maiden and the owners wanted to have a runner here so we will do that and then get him to a track like Newcastle over 1850m or something which would be right up his alley.

“He is a real showy looking thing; a big black horse with white legs.

“They’re all fighting over him for a show-horse but hopefully they’ll have to wait for a couple of years.”

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 8 No. 9: ONE KIND

Locally-trained filly who knows how to win and has got the draw to keep on doing it.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No. 4: WONDER MISSILE

Chalk up another nice horse for Kim Waugh who was foaled out of the broodmare gem Wonderful News.

VALUE BET

Race 4 No. 8: STANCZYK

Unlucky not to have won one by now; barrier 2, Bullock, racing at home. Lots to like.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 2, 3, 5

Race 6: 8, 10

Race 7: 2, 5

Race 8: 9

Tyler Schiller is the one to beat in the TAB Jockey Challenge. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Tyler Schiller will take beating in the TAB Jockeys Challenge if all his rides attend.

INSIDE MAIL - WYONG

RACE 1

Countyourblessings was ‘cheap’ by I Am Invincible standards, selling for $250,000 at the Magic Millions. She also looks ‘cheap’ buying on the strength of her two trials. Lot to like about her; not least her draw which will be a big help to her around Wyong. Yarraville was bred/owned by Robert Crabtree and trained by Anthony Cummings like a whole lot of ‘good horses’ in the past, She’s Extreme for one. Yarraville’s finishing positions in her trials simply don’t do her justice. She goes well. Free Running adds value all around.

Bet: Countyourblessings to win, quinella 11, 12

RACE 2

Wonder Missile is the fifth foal of Wonderful News whose previous four babies are Newsfan, Mighty Marmalade, Great News and Linguee. Time to break out the old cliche of ‘they all run.’ Wonder Missile was beaten three-quarters of a length by Coverage on debut in December 2020 but is back and trialling like a bomb. Rinzai was spelled after an encouraging debut. He’s also been trialling especially well, twice, this month. Golden Empire is up and running and doing well. Separatist would have been much harder to beat if he drew better.

Bet: Wonder Missile

RACE 3

Vincenzo is a flashy, well-bred gelding. His grandam is a half-sister to Triscay. As for Vincenzo., he has always been consistent but he has really hit his best stride now. That much is plain given he has won his last two, both at Kembla, and both with a measure of authority. Piraeus has won twice, both circa 1200m. but he makes his way to 2100m as fit as hands can make him and barrier 1 might prove the difference between winning and losing. Bullbarrow is flying. Drawn the outside but has Aaron Bullock on board.

Bet: Vincenzo to win, quinella 1, 2

RACE 4

Stanczyk is a replica son of Magic Albert. This Tracey Bartley-trained gelding has raced four times and finished runner-up at three of them. No luck last time when he ran fifth; he just got a mile back that day but ran on dutifully. Bullock, mile, home track, barrier 2 - nice set up for him. Maybe one run short here with Italiano but make no mistake, this big, almost black son of Americain is going to be winning very soon. Might need 2000m but he goes okay. Satirical Fan is in the right race if good enough.

Bet: Stanczyk to win

Trainer Tracey Bartley prepares Stanczyk who can break through for his first win. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 5

Kingston Charm is so well-bred that we must mention it (again, like every time she runs). Long story short, her fifth dam is Kingston Rose. Wow. Speaking of broodmare gems, Kingston Charm wears the same colours as Dark Jewel. As for the ‘punt,’ she does look very well placed indeed back to the track and trip of her July 4 win. Rise To It is a horse on an upward trajectory. He beat a subsequent winner when he broke the maiden at Goulburn. Skylon wants the mile now and 1900m+ very soon after.

Bet: Kingston Charm to win

RACE 6

Tornado Light has won only three times in her 22 starts and thus has a benchmark rating of just 55 which is in no way reflective of her ability, much less her prospects of winning on Sunday. For starters, this is the perfect race for the local. Secondly, she has frequently been a victim of her pattern and outside factors. Oakfield Redgum, one of Bruce Mackenzie’s string, is trained here at Wyong and had ‘next time’ written all over him when he finished an inch behind the winner here on Aug 3. Showsomegrit is a very well named horse! Talk about ticker.

Bet: Tornado Light to win, box trifecta 2, 4, 8, 10, Daily Double 1st leg (10), 2nd leg (9)

RACE 7

Touch of Navy, a direct descendant of 1945 Melbourne Cup winner Rainbird. Has got a big finish. He came from 10th of 11 to win his debut at Geelong in March when Mick Price had him. We last saw the John Bannister-trained winning at Muswellbrook, not by far, but boy was he was at top speed late. The 1350m is a tick, Wyong not so much. Princess Amira is trained here and has always raced at home. She went close herself here last start in a very, very similar race to this one. Obvious Step is racing well.

Bet: Touch Of Navy to win, quinella 2, 5

RACE 8

One Kind is worth the wait. Just a quick background. She has raced five times for three wins and a second. Her only blemish was in, wait for it, the 2023 Sweet Embrace. She is a really promising filly. She might run 1400m one day for the Championships but right now she only has to go 1000m at home from barrier four. Queen Of The Mile won her maiden, easily, at Bathurst. She is definitely provincial and probably midweek class. Major Murphy has only won three from 30 but he has 12 podium finishes.

Bet: One Kind to win