Mitch Cohen’s Blackbook: Five to follow from Wyong Saturday as Yorkshire makes a statement

Racenet’s Mitch Cohen has analysed all the chances across The Lakes card at Wyong on Saturday … and he has a key selection of runners he’s keen to follow as their campaigns progress.

Yorkshire was a strong winner at Wyong on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Alysha Collett produced a peach to win the inaugural The Lakes on Chris Waller’s Waterford to headline a massive stand-alone card at Wyong.

Racenet’s Mitch Cohen has analysed all the action from the weekend’s card and found a few worth following across the 10-event card.

Sky Thoroughbred Central’s Ron Dufficy also provides his key take-outs from the Randwick meeting.

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FIVE TO FOLLOW

DAMIEN (0.2-length 2nd of 7, Race 1)

The winner Kujenga was able to get it all his own way in front but Kris Lees’ colt was great late to just miss. Lees has indicated the juvenile will be better suited over 1400m.

@daviesharry_ gets a win on the board in Australia, with KUJENGA taking out the first race at @WyongRaceClub!@ANeashamRacingpic.twitter.com/fmFoZkgz2U

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 11, 2025

KREON (0.6-length 5th of 14, Race 3)

The one-time Kosciuszko did more than enough in his return to suggest his on track for a crack at the Country Championships. He had to make a sustained run from the back in the Highway but was doing his best work late.

WILBURY holds off the late challengers and takes out the @tabcomau Highway at @WyongRaceClub under Clayton Gallagher.@Patriot_BldStk | @AnthonyMantonpic.twitter.com/5nB4bvPBQN

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 11, 2025

BONITA QUEEN (0.9-length 1st of 9, Race 5)

Plenty to like about this Bjorn Baker-trained mare’s winning return. She’s been a model of consistency, missing the placings just once in 10 starts and bigger things await.

BONITA QUEEN continues the great run of form for @BBakerRacing and takes out the fifth race from @WyongRaceClub under Adam Hyeronimus. pic.twitter.com/4QeIP7nOpy

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 11, 2025

IMPOSANT (0.5-length 2nd of 9, Race 6)

She only had a runner behind her in the run and tracked the winner Headley Grange into the race around the turn before finishing half a length off him. That’s consecutive seconds this prep and a win isn’t far away.

It's a double for Adam Hyeronimus! HEADLEY GRANGE gets the better of them late to take out race 6 from @[e-mail]/3DuLx6qEGh

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 11, 2025

YORKSHIRE (2.1-length 1st of 10, Race 10)

Probably the most progressive galloper to line up at Wyong on Saturday continued on his upward trajectory with a dominant second-up win. He’s a stakes galloper in waiting.

Final favourite is just too good in the last from @WyongRaceClub. YORKSHIRE under @loughnane_billy takes us out from a great day at [e-mail]/TZZYXOXP0o

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 11, 2025

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CRUNCH TIME

Damien (race 1): Ran the last 600m of the opener more than half a second faster than anything else in the race. He came home in 34.16 seconds with race winner Kujenga next best at 34.89.

Magnatear (race 2): Ash Morgan’s decision to get them chasing in the middle stages prove decisive, clocking race best splits of 12.15 and 11.99 seconds between the 600-800m and 800m-1000m.

A touching win for MAGNATEAR in the second from @WyongRaceClub for the late Sam Kavanagh.@R1CHARDFREEDMAN & @willfreedman | @AshMorgan6pic.twitter.com/NSZ9nRh6sd

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 11, 2025

Llanddwyn (race 5): Didn’t have a runner behind her at the 600m mark before rocketing home with the fastest last 600m of the meeting in 33.14 seconds. Her splits home were 10.88, 10.80 and 11.46.

Waterford (race 8): Finished off better than anything to win The Lakes after camping just off the pace. The Chris Waller galloper’s last 600 was a race best 33.40 seconds, slightly bettering St Lawrence (31.41).

Today was the day for Waterford! The @cwallerracing galloper wins The Lakes at @WyongRaceClub thanks to a great @AlyshaCollett ride 👏 pic.twitter.com/lpV8p5sSa2

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 11, 2025

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STEWARDS SAY

Duke Of Bronte (race 3): Slow to begin with apprentice Molly Bourke require to make some use of her mount to make up ground and lead. When weakening badly from the 250m, Bourke thought something was amiss but no abnormalities were found.

Spirits Burn Deep (race 3): Lunged forward prior to jumping and broke through the front of the gates. Stewards were satisfied the horse was no advantaged and it was deemed a runner.

Llanddwyn (race 5): Slow to begin and laid out making a wide run on the home turn. Stewards reminded Zac Lloyd of his obligation to ride his mounts out all the way but were satisfied his riding didn’t impact her finishing position.

Invader Zim (race 6): Apprentice Ben Osmond agreed with Stewards that in retrospect he should have been more positive in the early stages to obtain a position inside Imperialist.

Spangler (race 8): Hampered when forced wider by St Lawrence near the 700m. Was found to be 2/5 lame in the off-foreleg post-race.

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TRACK TALK

“We miss Sam. And I would rather Sam have been here unsaddling this horse than us but he did direct the horse our way and I’m just happy we could go on with the job.” — an emotional Richard Freedman after former Sam Kavanagh-trained horse Magnatear’s win.

“It’s nice to get opportunities in these races and get opportunities for people like Chris Waller.” — Alysha Collett after winning The Lakes.

“We have been hitting the crossbar and when it’s like that it’s only a matter of time isn’t it.” — Harry Davies after his maiden Australian win on Kujenga.

“I think she is probably stakes quality if she can keep progressing.” — Adam Hyeronimus on Bonita Queen.

“He is the perfect horse for this time of year.” — Joe Pride on Headley Grange.

Today was the day for Waterford! The @cwallerracing galloper wins The Lakes at @WyongRaceClub thanks to a great @AlyshaCollett ride 👏 pic.twitter.com/lpV8p5sSa2

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 11, 2025

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YOU CAN BET ON IT

The Lakes: Waterford was on the fifth line of betting but not ignored by punters despite the heavy interest in Robusto at the top of the market. The winner held around 7% of an open betting race as an each-way option for TAB punters and multiple $1000 bets at $9 with TAB.

Race 10: Invader Zim (race 6) was the best backed runner with TAB on the Wyong card following a massive plunge, but Yorkshire wasn’t far behind it in the last.

He held over 60% of the money with TAB, the highlight bets were $10000 @ $1.50, $5000 @ $1.65, $5000 @ $1.60 and $4900 @ $1.60.

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THE SCHEDULE
Monday: Muswellbrook
Tuesday: Dubbo
Wednesday: Kensington
Thursday: Kembla Grange
Friday: Canterbury, Moruya, Ballina
Saturday: Rosehill Gardens, Wyong, Tumut, Tuncurry
Sunday: Taree, Cowra

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RON DUFFICY’S WYONG SNAPSHOT

RUN OF THE DAY
Yorkshire is still a little untapped and ran right to his odds racing away winning with his head on his chest. It’s only late Summer form but this horse has plenty of room to charge through his ratings.

FORGET THEY RAN
Hopeful was hoping for a wet track which didn’t eventuate. He is fully fit now and if the rain falls for him over the coming month he might be a sneaky little bet at odds.

THE BLACK BOOK
Outside of Yorkshire, Imposant has been very good running 2nd at both runs back and has her foot on the till for a race of similar standard next time.

RIDE OF THE DAY
As forecast last week Alysha Collett is too good a jockey not to be riding regularly on a Saturday and that showed with her winning double. Her ride on Waterford in the feature race was an absolute gem from the outside draw.