Inform Wyong trainer Sara Ryan has bright prospects of saddling up a winning double at the Newcastle race meeting on Tuesday. The eight-race program was originally scheduled for Gosford but with the Central Coast clubs track renovations not expected to be completed until next month the meeting was transferred to Newcastle some time back.
Ryan, trainer for the Domeland stable prepares their ultra consistent 4-year-old How Much Better early favourite (TAB $3.50) for the 1600 metre Davali Yearlings @ Classic Sale Benchmark 64 Handicap. The race is a heat of the Rising Stars for apprentice riders only. Experienced Scone apprentice Braith Nock on loan to Randwick trainer Peter Snowden has the mount on How Much Better and his 2-kilogram claim reduces the grey gelding’s impost to 58 kilograms. The horse is in career best form with a win and three seconds from his four starts this campaign. He overcame a slow start to race outside the leader at the 1200 before taking the lead at the 800 and winning effortlessly in a Wyong Class 1 on New Years Eve. How Much Better has good soft track form and first up in this campaign in November runner up behind Irish Bliss. He is an on-speed galloper and can overcome the wide barrier with the long straight run to the first turn.
Stablemate Wizards resumes from a spell in the 1400 metre A Plus Contracting & Poly Welding Benchmark 64 Handicap with Reece Jones in the saddle. The Fastnet Rock gelding has only had two starts when trained by Ciaron Maher and both were at Hawkesbury where he was a last start winner in March. Ryan now owns Wizard which displayed good speed to win a Newcastle open trial by 2.5 lengths on December 30. Jones rode the 4-year-old in the trial, and he was a $5.50 chance with TAB in early markets.
The Waterhouse-Bott stable will send Frankel colt Format ($4.80TAB) to Newcastle to line up in the 1600 metre TAB Maiden Plate. The 3-year-old has had two starts and was a $21 chance when placed behind Chris Waller’s subsequent Canterbury winner Pretty Powerful on the Beaumont track on Boxing Day. The colt was only 2.34 lengths from the winner, and he will be fitter second up and draws perfectly with Adam Hyeronimus to ride.
The Annabel Neasham-Rob Archibald stable is well represented at the meeting after winning two of the rich Magic Millions races on the Gold Coast on Friday night, the stable’s New Zealand bred Tenniel, son of Victoria Derby winner Tarzino has a good chance in an open 2300 metre The Prince Of Merewether Benchmark 64 Handicap. In June the mare led all the way to win successive 2000 metre events on rain effected tracks. Second up at Canberra recently on a good 3 track she led and was run down late. The mare carries the OTI Racing colours which were worn by Tyler Schiller on the Neasham-Archibald trained West Of Africa, winner of Friday’s $2million Magic Millions Cup. The inform Alysha Collett has the mount on Tenniel.
Zac Lloyd and Richard and Will Freedman will combine with the promising Merchant Empire which resumes in the 1200 metre Dailey Family Funerals Midway Class 1 Handicap. The 4-year-old led all the way to win his only start at Wyong in January last year. His recent trial form is impressive.