WARD A POPULAR LOCAL WINNER AT HOME

IT was worth waiting for!

Gosford’s oldest trainer Neil Ward had the honour of being the first and only local to win a race – even if it was the closer of eight - at The Entertainment Grounds’ reopening yesterday after being out of action for nine months.

Ward landed the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m) with well supported $3.20 favorite Stratafy, the sole horse he has in work.

Talented apprentice Mitch Stapleford partnered the three-year-old Stratum Star filly, maintaining an unbeaten record on her.

He was also aboard when Stratafy broke through in a Midway 3YO Maiden Plate (1100m) at Wyong on December 21 at $8.

Stapleford had the pacy filly away smartly, got her to give a good “kick” on straightening, and then hold off a late finishing Oryx ($12).

Stratafy has had only six starts, and her trainer is considering keeping her in work for a shot at his home track’s Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier (1200m) on March 15.

“I’ll be guided by how she does, but it’s only three weeks away and it would be nice to give her the chance if she makes the field,” Ward said today.

“Mitch rode the filly really well yesterday by going to the front and taking any bad luck out of the equation.

“But I’m sure she will be even better when she can take a sit.

“Even though we had overnight rain, the track raced beautifully and Stratafy ran faster time (1:05.05) than the other 1100m winner (Tassaal, who clocked 1:05.77 in the Super Maiden).”

Stratafy is keeping Ward doing what he knows best. He began training at Canterbury when 21 years of age, later relocated to the Central Coast “about 45 years ago” and is still going strong.

Stratafy is a member of a family which is indeed precious to him.

He won four races – all at Gosford – with the filly’s dam War Empress, and also won races with her progeny Emperor Harada (by Haradasun) and Noble Empress (by Adelaide).

Ward also won a couple of races (including one at Canterbury) with War Empress’ brother War Emperor.

Stapleford won the last two races at Gosford (Hawkesbury filly Canny Queen took the Benchmark 64 Handicap, 1600m), and followed up by winning today’s $75,000 Big Dance Eligibility Mudgee Cup (1400m).

In scoring on local Osman ($7.50), he narrowly defeated $3.50 favorite Little Beginnings, stopping leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees of two Mudgee Cups in succession.

Lees won the previous running in 2023 with Tavi Time when it was staged at 1600m.

Story John Curtis, February 23, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos