“SEARCHING” FOR A CITY BREAKTHROUGH NEXT TIME IN WORK

IT took him 13 starts, but the devil’s number didn’t stop Search Warrant breaking through at home at Wyong today.

And his trainer Mark Cross says he can measure up to city class – but not just yet.

Search Warrant ($7) is going for a short break after upsetting $1.45 hotpot Guinevere’s Spirit in the Provincial Maiden Plate (1600m).

A gun Anna Roper ride in the opening race gave the talented Wyong apprentice her 30th winner of the season, and she made it 31 when local trainer Kim Waugh’s $2.15 favorite Mogul Monarch bolted home with the closer, the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m).

Roper’s winners were sired by Golden Slipper winner Capitalist; both being three-year-old geldings.

Cross bought Search Warrant, raced by his wife Alison, for $20,000 at the 2023 Inglis Classic yearling sale, and had intended to get him ready for the company’s Ready2Race later in the year as an early unraced two-year-old.

However, he was withdrawn from the sale.

“Search Warrant wasn’t mature enough, and we didn’t proceed,” Cross explained this afternoon.

“He wasn’t pushed as a result, and didn’t begin his career until March last year when he ran third in a 2YO Maiden Plate (900m) at Newcastle.

“Search Warrant has been placed a further three times, and hasn’t had a lot of luck in a couple of recent runs.

“He ran second in a Muswellbrook Maiden (1500m) earlier in the month, and I felt he was getting close to breaking through.

“I’ve always liked him, and feel he will get further and believe he is definitely up to city grade.”

Whilst Newcastle mare Guinevere’s Spirit was all the rage for the Maiden Plate, Search Warrant wasn’t without supporters and firmed from double figures.

After settling third last, Roper got him into fourth place approaching the home turn, then came around the two leaders and, after striking the front, gamely held off the favorite.

Cross, who has five horses in work as a side to his internationally renowned Unique K-9 Security business, is hoping to make it two wins in a row with Hoo Haa at Newcastle on Tuesday.

He will step his last start winner up to 1400m in the Midway Class 1 Handicap following the Denman mare’s victory in a Provincial 4YO & Up Maiden Plate (1300m) there on January 21.

The form was franked at Kembla Grange last Saturday when Sunset Park, runner-up that day, also broke through.

Along with Wyong trainers Cross and Waugh, Gosford’s Kylie Gavenlock and Hawkesbury’s Brad Widdup also were winners at the Wyong meeting.

Gavenlock took the Class 1 Handicap with $19 chance Gogmagog (apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald), who rolled $1.80 favorite Battle Hymn, whilst Widdup’s Nyota (apprentice Zac Wadick) led throughout in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (2100m) as a $3.70 joint favorite.

Kembla Grange trainer Theresa Bateup was in the winning list at the Sapphire Coast; Master Riley ($3.50 favorite) taking the Merimbula Cup Benchmark 82 Handicap (1600m) to post the third success of his 13-start career.

Story John Curtis, February 13, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos