WYNEN OUT TO ACHIEVE SEASON GOAL WITH NEWCOMER

DENIM Wynen set herself a goal at the beginning of the season to train 10 winners in this current racing year.

It has already been the Wyong conditioner’s best season with nine winners out of a career 30, and she is looking to accomplish that target at Royal Randwick tomorrow with a relative newcomer to her small team.

Wynen saddles Hereward in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m), with apprentice Anna Roper’ 2kg claim lessening his weight to 56.5kg.

Hereward, a three-year-old by Saxon Warrior, races in the same colours as Monkhana, one of the trainer’s two city winners (Sunshine Law was the other) in the first month of the season at Rosehill Gardens last August.

“Hopefully it’s time for another winner in town,” Wynen said today.

“Hereward was previously trained at Rosehill by David Payne, who did a good job with him.

“But apparently the gelding wasn’t all that comfortable in the Sydney environment, and the owners decided to transfer him to me.

“He has settled in well to his new surroundings, and I’m looking forward to taking him back to town tomorrow.”

Hereward made his debut for Wynen at the Scone carnival last month when 10^th to Lightning Glory in a 3&4YO Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m).

“He had only a short break after his previous run at Warwick Farm in mid-April, and the distance was short of his best at Scone,” Wynen said.

“They ran quick sectionals that day, and he knocked up, but was beaten just under four lengths.

“Then he ran really well at Canterbury 11 days later when a close third to Skycatcher in a Benchmark 72 Handicap (1550m).”

Hereward, with Roper aboard, made the running and was beaten less than a length in a real indication that another win was imminent.

However, Wynen isn’t fussed on the gelding again attempting an all the way victory.

“Hereward doesn’t have to lead,” she said.

“He has drawn nicely, and I would prefer him to settle just off the pace so that he still has something in the tank at the end.

“I’m happy with the horse, and Anna won on him over the Randwick ‘mile’ at the beginning of the year.

“I’m sure he will run well.”

There are already five withdrawals from Hereward’s race, leaving currently 14 to run.

Provincial rivals include fellow Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan’s Tambeloa, Kembla Grange’s Kerry Parker’s Callistemon and Mitch Beer and George Carpenter’s Captain Fenkel and Autumn Blonde, Newcastle’s Paul Perry’s Forecaster and Jason Deamer’s pair Piccaderro and Up To Mischief.

Apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald will ride Tambeloa, who hasn’t raced since finishing down the track in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben on May 16.

That defeat can be overlooked as he drew poorly and nothing went right for him in the run.

Tambeloa has since impressively won a 1200m Open trial at Newcastle’s inner Beaumont track on June 3, overcoming an interrupted passage in the straight to edge out lightly-raced import Mo Chroi, who won midweek at Canterbury at his Australian debut.

Buchanan also has decided to put winkers on her three-year-old for the first time.

. Gosford barrier trials initially scheduled for July 20 will now be held on July 22.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JUNE 19, 2026