BARRIER DRAW CRUCIAL FOR THE LAKES FAVORITE

CO-TRAINER Paul Messara will be keenly awaiting the release of the barrier draw tomorrow for Saturday’s $500,000 feature at Wyong.

Scone-based Messara and his training partner Leah Gavranich will be represented by nominal favorite Know Thyself in The Lakes (1600m), the highlight of the metropolitan stand-alone program.

Messara considers a favourable barrier draw is essential if the gelding is to add to his already imposing record (eight wins from 12 starts), and clinch another quality provincial event.

After winning last year’s Country Championships Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick in April, the now five-year-old captured the $500,000 The Coast (1600m) at Gosford’s metropolitan stand-alone meeting the following month.

“Wyong being a tight circuit I feel Know Thyself needs to draw inside the first six,” Messara said today.

“I’m really happy with him, but don’t want to see him draw wide in what looks being a capacity field.”

Twenty-one horses were nominated for the second running of Wyong’s richest race, and 14 can start with provision for four emergencies if there are sufficient acceptors in the morning.

Know Thyself has 56.5kg, and Messara has booked Aaron Bullock to continue a successful association with the talented gelding, but expects him to declare 0.5kg overweight.

“Aaron obviously knows the horse well, and says he will ride him at 57kg,” Messara said.

“I’ve left it up to him, but he seemed pretty confident he would make that weight.”

Bullock rode Know Thyself (0.5kg over at 57.5kg) in his impressive first-up victory over Sandpaper and Gallant Star in a Benchmark 100 Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on December 20.

He has partnered him in all but one of his eight successes.

Heavyweight jockey Bullock was unable to get anywhere near Know Thyself’s 53kg minimum in The Coast last year, and fellow Newcastle jockey Ash Morgan deputised.

Know Thyself galloped in the presence of Hunter and North-West chief steward Liam Martin last Friday, and was cleared to tackle The Lakes.

A post-race vet examination after the gelding’s Randwick win last month revealed blood in one nostril, and also an abrasion above his right eye.

“Know Thyself may have bumped his head in the float on the way to the course; it wasn’t serious,” Messara said.

“The horse is fine. All we want now is a good barrier.”

Know Thyself almost certainly will have a break after attempting to post his ninth victory at his 13^th start on Saturday.

“There’s really nothing else suitable after this race,” Messara said.

“Most likely he will have some time off and we will look ahead to the autumn.”

Pending acceptances in the morning, Know Thyself is the current $3.50 favorite with TAB.com.au, but being closely pressed by recent Brisbane winner Amor Victorious ($4).

Amor Victorious’ stablemate Robusto ($6) and Chris Waller’s import Sun God ($9) are the only other horses under double figures.

Waller won the inaugural running of The Lakes 12 months ago with Waterford ($9), ridden by Alysha Collett.

HOOFNOTE: Central Queenslander Liberty Smyth achieved every jockey’s dream by riding her first winner at Port Macquarie today – and for her boss, Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle.

The mature age apprentice, at only her sixth ride, partnered odds-on favorite Dwayne ($1.75) to an easy victory over stablemate Bohemian Art ($2.70) in the Maiden Plate (1500m).

Smyth, a member of a well-known racing family (her father Kerrod trains at Rockhampton), had her first two rides for leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees at Coffs Harbour on December 27 and Port Macquarie on January 1, and finished fourth on both.

Doyle claimed a double at today’s meeting, also scoring with $2.10 favorite Better Late (Ash Morgan) in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m).

Fellow Newcastle trainer Jason Deamer followed up his New Year’s Day triumph with Just In Time at Canterbury by winning the Benchmark 66 Handicap (1500m) with Tact ($4.40).

In a good day for provincial stables, Gosford trainer Adam Duggan also won the Class 1 Handicap (1500m) with another Ash Morgan ride Call Me Basil ($3.80).

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JANUARY 6, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS