Warwick Farm preview: Lightly-raced Wembanyama is shooting for his second career win

A John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained gelding is looking to end the day on a high note when he heads to Warwick Farm second-up on Wednesday.

Promising gelding Wembanyama was very much in need of the run first-up a fortnight ago according to co-trainer Tom Charlton and a more settled horse is expected to turn up to Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

The four-year-old was kicking off his campaign at Rosehill on October 2 and sat midfield before coming widest on the bend and making a little ground on the leader, and eventual winner, Edited By.

Although peaking on his run near the 100m, he wasn’t disgraced in finishing a two-and-a-quarter length third.

When it looked like Getafix had Edited By on toast, the @MFreedmanRacing gelding found another gear! pic.twitter.com/StCPcWRs0T

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 2, 2024

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“He did need the run first-up. He was a bit nervous pre-race and he got a bit tired late,” said Charlton, who trains in partnership with John O’Shea.

“Hopefully he will step forward from that and he will improve again from another run for sure.

The lightly-raced Wembanyama stays at the 1400m again this week when he steps out in the TAB Handicap as he looks for his second career win.

“I think a mile will definitely suit him at his next run. Whether he gets 2000m remains to be seen but 1800m or 1900m might be fine,” Charlton said.

“He is racing well and he is very capable of a mark of 64. We expect him to be rated higher than that by the end of the preparation.”

O’Shea and Charlton have three horses qualified for the $750,000 Little Dance on November 5 with Jamberoo and Kokoro having their final lead-up run in the Schweppes Handicap Benchmark 88 (1600m).

Jamberoo only joined the duo’s Randwick stable a couple of months ago and achieved instant success with an all-the-way win from Belleistic Kids on a heavy track over 1550m on the Kensington on August 14.

Jamberoo controls the action to win at Randwick, giving the @JohnOSheaRacing stable a double and a handy pick-up ride for @mcacajamez! pic.twitter.com/6CY0vOnyIN

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 14, 2024

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He then finished second to Money From The Sky in the Bathurst Cup on September 15 to qualify for the Little Dance.

The gelding trialled nicely when second to Deny Knowledge between those two run and won a Randwick heat on Oct 8.

“He is racing well and going along as nicely as he can,” said Charlton.

“He ran a handy race in the Bathurst Cup although it probably wasn’t his (type of) track. It was a bit tight and to be at his best, he probably needs to get his tow in (the ground) which he will get this week.

“He had a tick over trial between runs which he won nicely.

“He is working towards the little Dance on (Melbourne) Cup Day so I expect he will be very competitive this week.”

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Charlton said Kokoro was okay first-up considering he needed the run when sixth behind stablemate Ravello who earned a Little Dance spot with his second to Sharp Shock in last Sunday’s Coonamble Cup.

“He is a consistent horse who chips away around that midweek to Saturday level,” he said.

“He seem to be working well but he probably doesn’t want the track too wet. Hopefully it is in the mid-soft range and he is very capable of running well.”

Joining that pair in this week’s race is Premise who will take plenty of benefit from her first-up run when 13th behind Willaidow at Rosehill on September 28.

“Her first-up run was fine and she has come on from that,” he said.

“She doesn’t mind a little bit of sting out of the track, she will appreciate getting out to the mile and she has drawn well.

“She is pretty well ready now and is an each-way chance.”

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The stable’s other runner of the day is Cross Your Heart who can improve from her two runs back from a spell.

“She is improving with racing and can progress from those runs to be competitive in this race if things fall her way,” he said.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Lees times Tavi’s dance to perfection

Tavi Time wins at Newcastle in November last year. Picture: Bradley Photos

Trainer Kris Lees designed a program to have Tavi Time at his peak third-up for next month’s $3 million Big Dance at Randwick.

Lees was more than happy with Tavi Time’s first-up performance at Rosehill on September 28 where the gelding flashed home from a long way back to finish sixth behind Willaidow over 1400m.

The next step in his plan is the Schweepes Handicap Benchmark 88 over 1600m at Warwick Farm where he is a $2.25 favourite with James McDonald to ride.

“He was good first-up with terrific late sectionals without a lot of clear air. He had had an interrupted run the straight,” said Lees.

“He is better suited now stepping up to the mile.

“He wouldn’t want a heavy track. He just loses that bit of traction and he doesn’t have that same spark on a very wet track but he handles it soft.

“Warwick Farm was a Soft 7 on Tuesday and I expect it will improve to a Soft 5 or 6 which will be fine for him. I think he will run well.”

Tavi Time bolts in! @djgibbons22 and @Leesracing dominate Race 9 at @newcastleraces_! pic.twitter.com/TZAOpLV6Uc

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 18, 2023

Talented mare Kind Words resumed from a spell in that same Rosehill race won by Willaidow in which she was last of the 17 runners, but Lees wasn’t too concerned over the unsuitably short trip.

She again lines up alongside Tavi Time at Warwick Farm and Lees expects her to run well with further improvement to come.

“She showed over the winter that she can stay. She was just a little luckless at her last couple of runs at three in The Roses and the Queensland Oaks,” he said.

“She didn’t do a great deal first time out this campaign but I think we will see an improved run this week but she may still find the mile a bit short.”

Joining Tavi Time and Kind Words on the truck to Sydney is three-year-old filly Justice Please who will contest the Maiden Handicap (1400m).

The daughter of Justify was something of a good thing beaten first-up this preparation when severely checked at the 150m as she was making a strong run to the line before finishing just over a length behind Cosmeena in fourth place at Newcastle on October 1.

“I think she would have just about won had she not been shortened up late,” Lees said.

“That said, this is a lot stronger albeit still a maiden.

“She is far from fully developed but the 1400m will suit her and I think she will run well.”

Originally published as Warwick Farm preview: Lightly-raced Wembanyama is shooting for his second career win