WYNEN NEVER LOOKED “A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH”
DENIM Wynen was back in the winning list at Newcastle yesterday – and had a fellow Wyong trainer to thank for it.
Wynen’s well prepared plan to win the Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (900m) first-up with Precious Girl ($7) came off to post her first success of the season.
Ridden by apprentice Olivia Chambers, Precious Girl was too nippy for $1.40 hotpot Emalyn.
A four-year-old daughter of Casino Prince, Precious Girl was bred by Wynen’s fellow Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan.
“We all try to help each other at Wyong, and Kristen was full up with horses at the time (about two years ago) and asked if I would like the then filly,” Wynen said today.
“Of course I was happy to take her.
“Precious Girl was difficult at first to work, and as Jessica Rae was prepared to gallop her, I brought her into the ownership to race her together.”
Wynen returned to the “scene of the crime” with Precious Girl yesterday as she had won a 900m Maiden Handicap at Newcastle in February.
However, it wasn’t plain sailing in the intervening period.
“Andrew Gibbons rode Precious Girl when she ran sixth at Gosford at her next start, and afterwards said she didn’t feel right in her action,” Wynen explained.
“We had her scanned, and she had to have chips removed from her fetlock joints.
“I gave her plenty of time to get over that, and decided to try to win a 1000m race with her first-up.
“Unfortunately there weren’t any suitable races at that distance, and we noticed this 900m Provincial Benchmark 64 at Newcastle.
“Liv (Olivia Chambers) is now apprenticed to Kristen, and she has been helping out riding Precious Girl work, along with Jessica.
“She rode her when third (prolific winner Jedibeel was second) in a 740m trial at Randwick earlier in the month, and I knew the mare was ready to go yesterday.
“Precious Girl drew well yesterday, and I told Liv to take full advantage of it.”
Though No Statement was first to begin, Wynen’s mare quickly burnt through to take up the running and thereafter was never seriously threatened.
Whilst runner-up Emalyn ran home well, she was never likely to make up sufficient ground to pick up the winner.
RacingNSW stewards reported recent first-up winner Emalyn raced keenly through the middle stages, and that apprentice Liberty Smyth dropped her whip passing the 200m.
Whilst Emalyn’s trainer Nathan Doyle had to be content with second in that race, he quickly atoned in the following race.
Zouboy ($4), ridden by apprentice Will Stanley, made it two wins from as many starts when he comfortably took the Midway Class 1 Handicap (1250m) from fellow Newcastle trainer Paul Perry’s Sun To Me ($15).
Raced by an Australian Bloodstock syndicate, Zousain four-year-old Zouboy was resuming after winning a 900m Maiden Handicap in May on a heavy track, when also partnered by Stanley.
. HOOFNOTE: Wynen says she still has a “debt” to pay Buchanan for gifting her Precious Girl – and will honour it a suitable time for both.
“I told KB I would take her on a holiday if I had some luck with Precious Girl, and I will definitely do that as soon as we get the right time,” she said.
STORY JOHN CURTIS, OCTOBER 18, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS
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