WYNEN’S TOUGHNESS REFLECTED IN HER HORSES

WHEN it comes to toughness, Denim Wynen takes some beating – and so do her horses!

The Wyong-based mother of two is making a real name for herself in the training ranks, and has completed a weekend on the track to remember.

After winning a race in town at Rosehill Gardens yesterday at a second successive Saturday city meeting, she doubled up by also scoring on her home track today.

All this after undergoing a hernia operation last Monday.

“I was back at the track the following morning,” Wynen said today. “The horses had to be worked.

“But I got so excited when Monkhana hit the front at Rosehill yesterday that I was worried a stitch might pop.”

Thankfully it didn’t, and the young trainer was able to celebrate not only her second Sydney winner, but also the mare’s breakthrough in town.

Given a “peach of a ride”, as Wynen so aptly put it, by Wyong apprentice Anna Roper, Monkhana ($3.50 favorite) took the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m) from Sydney pair Vetwelve ($10) and Convergent ($5).

Wynen had won her first Sydney race with Sunshine Law a fortnight ago at the same track (last Saturday’s scheduled Royal Randwick meeting was rained out).

A daughter of dual Derby and Caulfield Cup winner Mongolian Khan, Monkhana began her career in New Zealand, where she had half a dozen starts and shed her maiden status at Pukekohe over 1600m on a heavy track in June last year.

“I have trained for Monkhana’s owners and they brought her across after she ran at Te Rapa in late September,” Wynen said.

“We started her at Kembla Grange in late October, but things didn’t work out and we gave her a break.”

Wynen has shown her skills by subsequently winning three races with Monkhana; the first two at Hawkesbury in February and April over 1400m and 1600m, when Roper was also her rider.

“Monkhana has come back a lot stronger this time after having a five weeks’ break,” she said.

“She is now 34kg heavier than when I got her.

“Monkhana had a gut-buster first-up when second (to Cold Brew) over 1400m at Rosehill a fortnight ago, but I was quietly confident I had her right for yesterday’s race.”

Monkhana is bred on stout staying lines as, apart from Mongolian Khan, her dam Pepperstock is by the deceased but noted staying sire Tavistock.

“I think she will get a middle distance,” Wynen said. “The only time I tried her beyond 1600m was over 1900m at Canterbury in April at her previous preparation.

“She raced outside the leader and stuck on well to finish fourth, and the form from that race has really stood up.

“The winner Maison Louis won the Group 1 Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm in June, and runner-up Existential Bob won his next two starts and also ran in the Derby.”

Wynen, however, would like to find a suitable 1600m race for her mare next before she looks to step her out over more ground.

Four-year-old Justify gelding Triple Triple ($3.60) completed Wynen’s weekend double when he took the 4YO & Up Maiden Handicap (1100m) at Wyong today; elevating Roper to the trainer’s most successful jockey.

Roper partnered Triple Triple to victory over Dreymon ($21) and $2.15 favorite Karmardo.

She has now ridden eight of Wynen’s 24 career winners.

Triple Triple was a member of two prominent Sydney stables before joining Wynen’s stable earlier this year.

HOOFNOTE: In spite of such a great run, Wynen’s phone hasn’t rung with offers to add more horses to her team.

But she isn’t fazed at all.

“I’ve got six horses in racing trim at present, and very supportive owners,” she said.

“I’m very happy with my lot.”

Story John Curtis, August 17, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos