DYLAN Gibbons won last year’s Wyong Gold Cup as an apprentice and now hopes to do it again as a new member of the senior ranks.
The talented Newcastle jockey was apprenticed to leading trainer Kris Lees, who has confirmed his booking for Age Of Sail in Friday’s $250,000 Wyong Leagues Group Wyong Gold Cup (2100m). Gibbons, 22, won the Listed event for the first time 12 months ago, on the John O’Shea trained Benaud.
He completed his apprenticeship in July, and is not only seeking to defend his Wyong Cup “title”, but also clinch his first feature as a senior, having resumed riding just over a month ago after taking an overseas vacation.
UK import Age Of Sail has been placed at three of his four starts this campaign, and been luckless in a number of them.
He has been favorite at his last two runs, finishing a very unlucky second in a Benchmark 78 Handicap (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens on July 20, and then again didn’t have the clearest of passages on the inside when sixth in a similar race over the same distance at Royal Randwick three weeks later.
Age Of Sail has carried 60kg twice and 61kg at his last three runs and been partnered in each of them by Nash Rawiller.
However, the Frankel six-year-old will drop considerably in weight going up in grade to Friday’s open company Cup.
Lees, who is no stranger to Wyong Cup success either – he won the 2016 edition with another import Slow Pace (Robert Thompson) – is considering also starting Luncies, who didn’t “fire” after a northern campaign when eighth to Cepheus in the Listed Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury on August 22.
Wyong Race Club received only 13 nominations for its flagship event, and entries were extended until 11am on Tuesday.
The Cup nominations include five horses (Age Of Sail, Let’sbefrankbaby, Raging Bull, Redstone Well and Sir Lucan) who have also been entered for Saturday’s Listed City Tattersalls Club Cup (2400m) at Randwick.
There are two local entrants; Kim Waugh has Camaguey and Sara Ryan has Roma Avenue.
Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller, who has certainly put his stamp on the Cup in the last decade and a half, has entered Etna Rosso, Manzoice and Medatsu.
Waller has won eight of the last 14 Wyong Cups, with subsequent Caulfield Cup winner Durston the latest in 2022.
Wyong chief executive Greg Purcell says the course proper is in excellent condition for Friday’s eight-race program.
“We had a really good Domeland Mona Lisa Stakes meeting on Sunday, and we’re very close to being booked out in all our function and marquee areas on Friday,” Purcell said on Monday afternoon.
“I’m expecting a crowd of around 3000, and that will be the biggest Cup day crowd in many years.”
The Cup, aside from a record overall purse of $250,000 (up from $240,000 last year), carries eligibility for the $3m The Big Dance (1600m) to be run at Randwick on November 5.
Story John Curtis, September 2, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
Comments