Race day previews, tips and inside mail for Wyong on Sunday

Trainer Lee Curtis heads to Sunday’s meeting at Wyong with two horses that bring back fond memories for the stable. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainers Lee and Cherie Curtis with Lasqueti Spirit at their Rosehill stable in Sydney. Picture: Brett Costello

Trainer Lee Curtis heads to Sunday’s meeting at Wyong with two horses that bring back fond memories for the stable.

The first of those is Laspirit Deeler, a daughter to their Group 1 VRC Oaks winner Lasqueti Spirit while the other is Still Alice, a full sister to dual Group 3 winner Meryl.

Curtis, who trains in partnership with his wife Cherie, said Laspirit Deeler holds plenty of the same characteristics as her mother and steps out for her second-up run in the NBN News Class 1 & Maiden Plate (2100m).

.@brentonavdulla caught them napping and stole the Oaks with Lasqueti Spirit at 100-1.

We will never forget his celebration. 🙇‍♂️

Who will you back Thursday's Oaks? pic.twitter.com/867X3OJOcZ

— Racing.com (@Racing) November 6, 2019

“She’s a mare that’s taken a bit of time but she has come back well this time in,” Curtis said.

“But she’s definitely got a lot of similar characteristics as her mum being an anaerobic Olympian.

“In saying that I mean when they’re fit they don’t get tired and just keep going and that’s exactly what she does.

“So she’s probably even looking for more ground than what she gets here so getting there.”

The four-year-old mare had five runs in her maiden preparation and produced a win at Wyong second-up over a mile.

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Her last appearance before a break saw Laspirit Deeler go under as the short priced favourite at Scone but Curtis said she had enough by that stage of her campaign.

“She raced really well last preparation but her last one she just had enough,” Curtis said.

“She was doing plenty wrong and over raced there so we tipped her out for a spell and she’s come back really well.”

Bookies posted Laspirit Deeler as a $12 chance in betting with imported galloper Gran Caballo the $4.20 favourite.

Matt Smith’s race fit mare Cheval Girls opened as the $4.60 second favourite.

Meanwhile, Still Alice is a bit different to her full sister, Meryl, given she’s taken a bit of time to mature.

The Curtis stable had Meryl up and early as a two-year-old having run in the Gimcrack Stakes on debut before returning in the summer to win the BJ McLachlan Stakes and contest the 2018 Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

The Group 3 BJ McLachlan Stakes gives @godolphin’s Epaulette his first Stakes winner with the @CurtisRacing trainer 2yo filly Meryl winning impressively from Hopes Eternal (Jet Spur) & Witherspoon (Exceed & Excel) pic.twitter.com/Eckd1BEzJC

— ANZ Bloodstock (@anz_news) December 30, 2017

The four-year-old mare Still Alice has only had seven starts to date and steps out a race later than Laspirit Deeler in the Star 104.5 Class 1 Handicap (1100m).

“She’s a full sister to Meryl and Meryl was up as an early two-year-old and won a BJ McLachlan,” Curtis said.

“This girl is a bit different because she’s taken some time but if my theory is correct, I think she’s in for a pretty good preparation.

“I think she was just a very immature girl early on but she’s going super now.”

Curtis believes she’s come back in super order this preparation and is set to give the first-up assignment a big shake with blinkers going back on.

“We put the blinkers on early with her and then took them off,” Curtis said.

“But we put them back on in her trial and she went super in them and her work has been really good.

“We’re going there with some confidence for sure.”

Bookies posted Still Alice as a $10 chance in the penultimate event on Wyong’s seven race card.

She’s notably only one of three four-year-old gallopers in the field with the rest being up and coming three-year-olds.

Curtis has also reported that talented filly Bauhinia is off for a spell following her Magic Millions 3YO Guineas run at the Gold Coast and could possibly stay up in Queensland for an extended break.

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WADICK’S CONFIDENCE LEVELS HIGH FOR NEW STABLE ADDITION

Top Sydney apprentice Zac Wadick heads to Sunday’s Wyong meeting with a bit of confidence in a former blue blood colt.

Three-year-old galloper Money Team is a new stable addition for Wadick’s boss, Brad Widdup, having previously spent his first five starts with the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr yard.

“I ride him every day so I’ve had a bit to do with him and me and Tyler (Schiller) have only been the two to saddle him since he got here,” Wadick said.

“We’ve both got a pretty good opinion of him.”

Money Team was knocked off for $1m at the 2022 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale but has since been gelded and Wadick believes it’s going to be the making of the horse.

He turns up in the Central Coast Community News Maiden Plate (1200m) off one slick trial win and bookies installed him as the $2.60 favourite off that.

Jockey Zac Wadick is hoping for a double on Sunday. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

“They paid a million bucks for him as a yearling and you can definitely see why,” Wadick said.

“He’s a very, very nice looking horse.

“I just feel like at Mick Price’s he was a colt and he just didn’t know how really how to race.

“Watching his replays it looked like he would do things a bit hard and be pretty weak late.

“He came to us as a colt and we gelded him and he’s a lot more genuine horse now.

“He’s come a long way and hopefully we can win a few races with him.”

Along with the ultimate gear change of being gelded, Widdup has taken the blinkers off and applied the cross over nose band for the first time.

A few races later, Wadick will reunite with the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Ana Carolina after the duo went close to winning at Canterbury on New Year’s Day.

With a drop in grade to provincial company, Wadick believes she can go close to breaking through for a win.

“She’s based at Hawkesbury too with O’Shea’s stable so I’ve had a bit to do with her,” Wadick said.

“She was working really well going into that run and we were confident that she would manage to get a top three placing and she managed to run second.

“So now she drops back in grade to provincial level and her work has stayed just as good.

“No weight on her back too and I think she’s a good winning chance for sure.”

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WYONG TIPS

BEST BET

Race 2 No.3: Money Team

Former million dollar yearling now with Brad Widdup and resuming as a gelding. He’s flying and a recent trial confirms that.

NEXT BEST

Race 5 No.1: Gran Caballo

American import for Waterhouse and Bott. Will be rock hard fit for this first-up assignment and hard to run down.

VALUE BET

Race 6 No.4: Still Alice

A full sister to dual Group 3 winner Meryl. Trialled super in blinkers behind Polyglot and they stay on for race day.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1,3,4,5

Race 5: 1,3,7

Race 6: 3,4,5,9

Race 7: 4,8,11,12

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Zac Wadick has only got two rides but they both look like they will be right in the finish. Can easily go two for two on a quiet Sunday.

WYONG INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1

Namara has run second at both her starts but gets her chance to break through here. Wide barrier but there’s good early speed in the race and the extra 100m will only suit her. Stablemate Star Venture covered a bit of ground last start at Muswellbrook and chased well behind a dominant leader. Dream High has an each-way chance. Contested a hot maiden on debut last year. Nathan Doyle’s stable is flying and he’s got Avalon Lady in the first. Not much went right for her last start at Newcastle but the run prior was really good.

Bet: Namara to win.

RACE 2

Money Team is a former million-dollar purchase that is now with Brad Widdup. Was gelded after being sent to the new stable and word is he’s absolutely flying. A 900m winning trial at Rosehill leading into this would suggest that. Might be city class. Chris Waller’s galloper Azucar finally makes his debut after five trials. Will improve off this but it’s worth noting blinkers go on for the debut. Firework has to be in the mix too for Sara Ryan. Slow away first-up and it probably cost her the race when second at Wyong.

Bet: Money Team looks the stand out bet.

RACE 3

Patience is wearing thin with Reasonable but this looks her best hope of getting the monkey off her back. She’s drawn to get the run of the race from barrier five with Ash Morgan in the saddle and finds a winnable maiden. Divine Secrets made her debut north of the border in the Listed Aquis Gold Pearl. Well beaten there but this is much easier. Miss Judas is short in betting. No doubt has talent but drawn off the track in barrier 12. Chuck La Bella Bondi in exotics at a big price. She’s no star but is consistent.

Bet: Reasonable to win.

RACE 4

Al Ras Blues is ticking along nicely for her trainer Les Bridge. Thought she hit the line well in a strong race at Hawkesbury and the drop in grade will suit. Good each-way hope. Tikiroo was far too good for his rivals at Taree last start. Has been incredibly well backed since markets opened too. Prosperous Dragon opened as favourite but has drifted slightly since. Nice win at Newcastle last start. Lulo Link is flying with a win and two placings from her last three starts.

Bet: Al Ras Blues each-way.

RACE 5

Gran Caballo is one of the more interesting runners on the card. He’s an American import having his first start for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. Liked his latest trial that also featured Saturday city winner Don Diego De Vega. This looks a good race to kick him off in. Ana Carolina went close last time out at Canterbury when second to Sounds Unusual. Has worked well since. Laspirit Deeler has plenty of stamina, like her mother Lasqueti Spirit. Will run the trip out strongly despite only being second-up. Cheval Girls is a 12-start maiden but keeps finding a way to finish in the money.

Bet: Gran Caballo to win.

RACE 6

Trainer Lee Curtis gave a strong push for Still Alice. A full sister to dual Group 3 winner Meryl, Still Alice has taken a while to mature but trialled up super behind Polyglot. That was with blinkers on and they stay on for this assignment. Invincible Madison cost $1.2m as a yearling and started favourite on debut in a Gimcrack. Won first-up at Canberra and has been solid in two runs since. Savoldi is first-up off a strong trial at Canterbury. Think he’s come up a bit short as favourite but should still find his way to be in the finish.

Bet: Still Alice looks a great each-way bet.

RACE 7

Impressiero didn’t run out a strong 1500m last start but drops back a furlong. There’s a stack of tempo up front in this race and I think it’s going to play right into the hands of this Jason Coyle-trained mare. Super light weight after the claim for Molly Bourke. Zoe has an awful barrier to contend with but the early pressure mentioned above can mean she can slot in. Won last start off a six-week freshen up and should only improve off that run. Luxe Eternal maps to get the run of the race for Zac Lloyd and Waller. Showed she’s returned in good order first-up at Canterbury when running fourth.

Bet: Impressiero each-way to end the card.