BUCHANAN’S PICK MAKES AN IMPRESSIVE DEBUT

SOMETIMES it’s the luck of the draw!

Wyong trainers Kristen Buchanan and Damien Lane had half a dozen youngsters sent to them by prolific owner Bruce Mackenzie a year or so ago – and Buchanan had first pick.

She chose wisely, selecting a Deep Field filly Mackenzie had outlaid $650,000 for at the 2023 Magic Millions yearling sale at the Gold Coast.

“I didn’t know Bruce had paid that much for her, but she was a standout,” Buchanan said today.

Racing as Oakfield Neptune, the filly made an impressive debut at Newcastle yesterday, justifying confident backing to start a $2.10 favorite (even shorter on the TAB) in the 3YO & Up Maiden Handicap (1200m).

Given every chance in running by her rider Aaron Bullock, who rode her 1kg overweight at 58kg, Oakfield Neptune was strong to the line in defeating Hawkesbury trainer Ed O’Rourke’s gutsy Empress Tsarina ($6) and Newcastle trainer Kris Lees’ $61 bolter The Final Say.

Oakfield Neptune was the beginning of a successful day for Buchanan, who later claimed the closer, the Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1890m), with Stylebender ($10).

The Newcastle double boosted her season tally to 22 winners, and a career 323.

“Bruce is very patient with his young horses,” Buchanan said. “He doesn’t like racing them as two-year-olds.

“Allan Kehoe (fellow Wyong trainer) breaks in the babies, and sometimes does a bit of pre-training with them.

“Damien and myself were waiting with bated breath for Bruce to send the batch of late two-year-olds to us, and I was lucky to have first choice.

“Oakfield Neptune went shin sore after her first trial, but has shown ability from early on.

“She is a big, beautiful filly and I’m sure there is plenty of improvement in her.

“I expected her to be hard to beat yesterday. She won an 800m trial on a heavy Beaumont track earlier in the month, and the heavy ground on the course proper in yesterday’s race wasn’t a problem either.”

Mackenzie, who has had a terrific run with his ‘Oakfield’ team in recent months, had further good news later in the day when Sydney mare Tashi won the final Group 1 of the season, the Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm.

As a result, Oakfield Neptune’s value as a future broodmare increased. Her dam, the Lonhro mare Taraayef, and Tashi’s dam Ghenwaa (by Street Cry) are half-sisters, both being out of the Exceed and Excel mare Sultah.

Buchanan clinched a Newcastle double when Stylebender scored – but wasn’t sure he had won.

In a tricky finish, Stylebender, ridden by apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald, held out a late closing Dr Evil ($6) by the proverbial width of a cigarette paper.

“I wasn’t game to go the early crow because I did it at Scone last Monday with So You Ready, who was pipped on the post,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan has done a terrific job with the gelded son of the now defunct staying influence Tavistock.

Previously trained in Sydney, she got the rising eight-year-old later in his career and has now won four races with him, the last two in a row.

Buy it was anything but plain sailing at the start.

“Stylebender was sold to dissolve a partnership, and he went for a spell when I got him,” Buchanan explained.

“When he came back into work, I had to pass on some bad news.

“We discovered Stylebender was a Grade 5 roarer (a condition which reduces airflow to a horse’s lungs) and he needed an operation if we were to continue racing him.

“Thankfully it has been a great success.”

Buchanan now is eyeing the Grafton Cup Prelude (2200m) on Sunday when the famous July carnival begins, with the winner automatically securing a berth in the $200,000 Listed Grafton Cup (2350m) on July 17.

Damien Lane ventured to Dubbo for today’s TAB meeting, and didn’t return empty-handed.

He won the Benchmark 82 Handicap (1600m) with Wealthy Investor ($5.50), ridden by Jean Van Overmeire.

This was his 21st winner of the current season, and career 322nd.

. Wyong apprentice Bronte Simpson also was successful at Dubbo.

She won the Super Maiden Plate (1100m) on Hefty Price ($6.50) for Armidale trainer Jane Clement.

Being her fifth winner since beginning riding only recently, Simpson’s country allowance now reduces from 4kg to 3kg.

Story John Curtis, June 29, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos