WYNEN’S “SANTA” DELIVERS AT THE RIGHT TIME

SANTA Claus arrived at exactly the right time for Denim Wynen!

The Wyong trainer’s overdue “gift” in the shape of a $20 winner – her first in several months - was delivered at Taree yesterday.

“I’ve had a pretty rough trot,” Wynen said today.

“Our good mare Sunshine Law bowed a tendon and has been retired to start a breeding career.

“And I was preparing a youngster for the Magic Millions when it suffered a stress fracture.”

Thus Wynen was delighted to see Triple Triple lead throughout in the Class 1 Handicap (1300m) to post the second victory of his 14-start career; his breakthrough being at home on August 17 in an 1100m Maiden.

Talented apprentice Anna Roper rode him then and also was aboard at Taree.

She bounced the gelding away smartly from an outside barrier, took up the running and thereafter never looked like losing.

Triple Triple had too much pace for Maggie Sparkles ($15) and Trounce ($4.80), leaving the $1.75 favorite Call Me Basil back in seventh place.

Wynen began the season with a bang, with Triple Triple being one of her five winners in the first month (August), which included her first three city victories (two with Sunshine Law and another with Monkhana).

Those five winners ensured it was already her best season for winners (four being her previous best) – but the well ran dry until Taree yesterday.

“You just have to keep moving on, hoping things will change and thankfully it did yesterday,” Wynen said.

“I took blinkers off Triple Triple as apprentice Shae Wilkes rode him at his previous start at Wyong, and said he wanted to run off and might appreciate having the blinkers removed.

“Anna knows Triple Triple of course, and they get on well with each other.

“Triple Triple isn’t the easiest horse to ride, but has a lot of potential.

“Anna is my most successful rider; yesterday being her 10^th winner for me (including the three city winners in August).”

Whilst Wynen unfortunately has lost her dual city winner Sunshine Law, she has Monkhana back in work being readied for a crack at the Provincial-Midway Championships series in autumn.

“Monkhana had a little break after contesting the Four Pillars (1500m) at Randwick in early November, and is in great order,” she said.

Meanwhile, Wynen resumes Alabama Blitz at Newcastle’s Boxing Day meeting on the Beaumont track.

Jess Taylor rides the mare in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350m) against her own sex.

“I’ve given Alabama Blitz just the one trial as the distance is short of her best on Friday,” Wynen said.

“It’s a good starting point, and I’m sure she will finish the race off nicely.”

Like Sunshine Law, Alabama Blitz is an ex-Victorian who won over 1600m on the course proper at Newcastle in August at only her second start for her new trainer.

. Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees produced a newcomer to score at the Taree meeting, and got a quinella result as well.

Justify three-year-old Dark Justice ($2.70 favorite), ridden by apprentice Ben Osmond, narrowly defeated stablemate Smashing Nova ($7.50), partnered by another Lees’ apprentice Will Stanley, in the Maiden Plate (1300m).

Dark Justice’s dam Sexy Siren has foaled a number of winners, including Lees’ Imposant, who was placed in this year’s $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, DECEMBER 24, 2025 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS