Wyong Inside Mail for 2025 The Lakes Day: Why punters will turn to Water on Saturday

The stars are aligning for a Chris Waller galloper to join the million-dollar club on what’s shaping as a wet Wyong for 2025 The Lakes Day on Saturday. Get tips and the latest market movers.

The stars appear to have finally aligned for the barnstorming Waterford to power his earnings past the $1 million mark in the aptly-named The Lakes at Wyong today.

The Chris Waller-trained gelding’s five career wins have all been in Benchmark company but has numerous stakes-placings including a famously unlucky second in the Scone Cup and ‘bronze’ in the 2023 Five Diamonds Prelude, inches from the winner, Saturday’s The Lakes rival, Palmetto.

Waterford’s most recent outing was in the Summer Cup where it seemed the 2000m was a bridge too far for the gelding who was steered for the first time in the Group 3 by Alysha Collett.

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Coming back to the mile was ‘perfect’ said Collett, who was keen to reacquaint with Waterford in his The Lakes quest.

“From what I have gathered, he doesn’t mind a wet track, so the rain around isn’t an issue either,’’ Collett said.

“It is a suitable race for him, it just might not be a suitable track but it is worth good money so you as well have a go at it.’’

Given the presence of Redbreast (and others), The Lakes looks set to be a no-holes barred affair which could potentially play into Collett and Waterford’s hands.

Waterford runs down Iknowastar in the Vale Lonhro Hcp, with @nashhot riding a double!@[e-mail]/tCrgTBjDF4

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 27, 2024

• EXPERT TIPS: Professional punter James Molony’s race-by-race tips, analysis for Wyong on Saturday

Collett has a busy day ahead with a string of the proverbial ‘good rides’ including the Joe Pride duo Excelladus and Bullets High.

“The rain is going to help Excelladus and he’s got 53 on his back,’’ Collett said

“I also like the quick back-up. Joe’s very good at fitting horses up and doing that successfully.

“I know Iowna Merc is flying but it’s got to lug the weight.

“Bullets High puts himself on pace and he’s got a nice weight and he does like the Soft track so that’s another positive.

“It was a great run the other day, he only just got beat by an in-form Saltcoats.’’

• RACING CONFIDENTIAL: The Everest favourite a Rising threat

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BEST BET

BARBAROSSA (Race 1) is a blue blood of epic proportions. First off, he is a son of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s champion racehorse and now hugely promising young shuttle sire, Too Darn Hot. On top of that, his dam Guelph, grand-dam Camarilla and third dam Camarena all won at least one Group 1. His fourth dam didn’t but two of her siblings – Canny Lad and Canny Pass – did. As for Barbarossa (also a half brother to Black Opal winner Encryption) his trials have been excellent.

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BEST VALUE

GENERAL SOHO (Race 2) can commemorate his 50th career start with what would be his 10th career win in today’s Midway. The Paul Perry trained gelding was bought for the unusual sum of $62,000 at the Inglis Classic, having banked $343,515 for his merry band of owners. Not entirely sure that Wyong is his track but Aaron Bullock is certainly his jockey. Bullock has ridden the son of Epaulette four times, winning three. Worth considering at $13/$3.80.

The dynamic duo!

General Soho gives @Aaronbullock90 & @perry_racing1 a winning double at Newcastle! pic.twitter.com/zNgAdZ82XC

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 24, 2024

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PRICE CHECK

VALIMI (Race 10) was more or less friendless when he made his Australian debut at Royal Randwick on December 21, opening at $26 before drifting to $31. He ran last of the 14 participants but could potentially (and this is a hunch on my part) found the track too firm for his liking bearing in mind he is a Sadler’s Well descendant and that his two wins in France were both on Soft tracks. Going to get his preferred surface today and don’t forget, this $31 shot, did once run fifth, beaten two-and-a-half in the French 2000 Guineas.

• SHAYNO & DUFF: Wyong tips, race-by-race analysis from Ron Dufficy and Shayne O’Cass

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TRIAL POINTERS

KREON (Race 3) resumes in the Highway, having raced in the Kosciuszko at his most recent start. Granted, he ran 13th of 14 but he drew 14 on the day and in hindsight, it all came up a bit quick for the Danny Williams-trained grey given it was only his sixth start in a race. Kreon is a grey but at this point in time, he hasn’t proved the old ‘greys in the wet’ theory, in fact, he is unplaced in two Soft track runs. You would expect him to trial well and he did, finishing fourth in a Goulburn Heat on December 20.

• Kreon to stamp Country Championships credentials at Wyong on Saturday

IMPERIALIST (Race 6) is an interesting horse. He was bred in New Zealand and purchased by the unbelievably successful Chris Waller/Guy Mulcaster pairing (think of all those ‘special Ks’ that Mulcaster bought over the years!). Imperialist cost them $17000. He has a 3 X 3 double cross of Sadler’s Wells and is from a great family but none of that matters much now given he was gelded in between his last run and this one. Long story short, when he is hot, he’s hot, when he’s freezing. He was warming up late in his 1030m Heat at Rosehill on December 23.

Imperialist wins The Phoenix 🐦‍🔥 at Eagle Farm giving @mcacajamez a double!@[e-mail]/2VC8cWqoM8

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 8, 2024

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SECTIONAL STAR

GERIATRIX (Race 4) was a dual acceptor on the card today but it could be that barrier 14 in The Lakes was considered too much of an ask around a track like Wyong. The Lakes is over 1600m, the one that they chose for him is 1350m, that’s 50m less than his last start at Randwick which was his first outing for Chris Waller since he came over from New Zealand. Geriatrix has won four times at ‘home’, three at 1400m, one at 1300m and was runner-up in a Group 3 at Te Rapa over 1400m.

Young at heart! Geriatrix wins at Eagle Farm!@[e-mail]/3XWanlVBa9

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 1, 2024

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FIRST-UP FLYER

LE MELODY (Race 5) is $20 shy of having earnings of exactly $250,000 which is a huge return on investment given she cost just $16,000 at the Inglis Scone Yearling Sale in 2020. The daughter of Your Song has a fabulous set of numbers, winning six times with three seconds and one third from her 21 starts. More to the point – and crucial – given she is resuming today is that Le Melody’s first-up record reads as six runs for four wins and a second. That second by the way, came first-up last prep she split Our Kobison and Sebonack in a Benchmark 88 at Randwick.

Le Melody scores on the quick backup. pic.twitter.com/bOo4mFa1Gc

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 16, 2023

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WYONG BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
Race 1: Nordic Viking $8-$5, Damien $6-$5.50
Race 2: Magnatear $4.60-$4.40, Trafalgar Square $8-$6.50, Putt For Dough $15-$9
Race 3: Ritzsun $3.50-$3, Duke Of Bronte $6-$5.50
Race 4: Grand Impact $6-$4.40, Coastwatch $11-$9
Race 5: Bonita Queen $2.30-$2.10 ($3000 at $2.30)
Race 6: Point And Shoot $4.60-$2.60 ($2100 at $4), Headley Grange $6-$4.80, Invader Zim $6-$5
Race 7: Bullets High $4.60-$3.30, Zaphod $3.60-$3.50, Unlimited $6-$5
Race 8: Redbreast $4.60-$4, Robusto $6-$4.20, Osipenko $8-$6.50, Spangler $11-$9
Race 9: Unstopabull $6-$4.80, Sisterhood $8-$7.50, Flying Destiny $15-$8, The Astronomer $26-$11
Race 10: Yorkshire $2.30-$1.85 ($3500 at $2.30, $2250 at $2, $2250 at $1.95)

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EARLY QUADDIE
Race 3: 1,3,6,9
Race 4: 1,2,3,4
Race 5: 1,6
Race 6: 6,7

QUADDIE
Race 7: 4,6,8
Race 8: 2,5,8,11
Race 9: 7,11
Race 10: 3,4

Originally published as Wyong Inside Mail for 2025 The Lakes Day: Why punters will turn to Water on Saturday