WYNEN’S AMAZING FIVE-WINNER MONTH

Denim Wynen (left) with owner Amanda Morris and Anna Roper

BY any stretch of the imagination, it has been an amazing August for Denim Wynen.

And who’s to say September won’t be the same?

The Wyong trainer and young mother of two children had never prepared a city winner until the new season began on August 1 and now has reeled off three – all at Rosehill Gardens where Sunshine Law yesterday provided her fifth success in August.

Triple Triple won at Wyong on August 17 (a day after Monkhana scored at Rosehill), and Alabama Blitz won at Newcastle yesterday week.

To put Wynen’s remarkable performance in context, her five winners in a single month equalled her best entire season so far, in 2023-24.

Such is her boutique stable that she currently has six horses in work – only half of them (Sunshine Law, Alabama Blitz and Monkhana) are in racing trim, and the other three are “babies”.

Maitland insurance brokers, husband and wife Steve and Amanda Morris, boosted her racing stock earlier this year when they purchased two young mares online, now four-year-olds Sunshine Law and Alabama Blitz.

Wynen has won twice with Sunshine Law (her first city triumph at Rosehill on August 2), and Alabama Blitz won at Newcastle on August 23.

“Steve and Amanda are stoked,” Wynen said this morning.

“Never did I even dare to dream I would win five races, let alone three in town, this month.

“It has been fantastic and given our little stable such a huge boost.”

Wynen did not initially intend starting Sunshine Law yesterday, and had nominated her for a Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

All that changed when she fielded a call from the Australian Turf Club racing office to say there were not many entries for the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1500m) for fillies and mares at Rosehill.

“Sunshine Law was fit and she had done her work, so I thought why not give it a go,” Wynen said.

“Everything worked out so well.”

Talented Wyong apprentice Anna Roper put the icing on the cake when she recommended to Wynen that she felt Sunshine Law would be better ridden more conservatively.

“Anna felt after riding the mare when sixth at Rosehill a fortnight ago that she would be a better chaser,” Wynen explained.

”I notified the stewards yesterday morning of the change of riding tactics.”

Roper settled Sunshine Law ($11) last in the field of eight for the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1500m) for fillies and mares, then brought her with a winning run along the inside in the straight.

She was indeed a chaser, arriving in time to edge out $41 roughie Kingston Charm and Victorian visitor Vienna Vixen ($21).

Roper is Wynen’s most successful jockey, having now ridden nine of the trainer’s 26 career winners.

“Anna didn’t forget to let me know that last night,” Wynen laughed.

Wynen also was pleased with stablemate Monkhana’s third at $7 in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill.

With August done and dusted, Wynen has set her sights on keeping the winning run going at her home track’s Wyong Gold Cup meeting on Friday.

She intends starting Alabama Blitz in a Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m).

“Alabama Blitz has done well since her Newcastle win, and the Wyong race looks really suitable for her.”

Who is going to argue?

Story John Curtis, August 31, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos