WYONG TRAINERS WIN IN “OAKFIELD” STYLE

AS Wyong trainers Kristen Buchanan and Damien Lane’s careers follow similar paths in terms of winners, they both did it in “Oakfield” style at Muswellbrook yesterday.

Buchanan continued a great week, clinching her third winner since Sunday, this time with Oakfield Earth ($4.80), whilst Lane was successful with $31 outsider Oakfield Echidna.

Both horses are raced by prominent owner Bruce MacKenzie, who names all his horses with an Oakfield banner.

Buchanan notched her 321st career triumph and 20th this season, and Lane posted his 320th career success and 19th this season.

Oakfield Earth, a three-year-old daughter of champion sire Snitzel, who passed away this week, was having only her third start and is a homebred and the fourth foal of her dam Oakfield Royalty, who never raced.

Oakfield Earth - Kristen Buchanan

Oakfield Echidna, a five-year-old So You Think gelding, was having his 12th start and fetched $75,000 when his owner bought him as a weanling at the 2020 Inglis Australian sale.

Aaron Bullock, MacKenzie’s main jockey, rode both horses.

Oakfield Earth responded to Bullock’s urgings and grabbed victory from Resume ($15) and Tesorino ($10) in a tricky finish to the F&M Plate (1280m).

Buchanan began her week’s winning run with Stylebender ($6) at her home meeting last Sunday, and then won with $13 chance So You Ready at Gosford on Thursday.

Lane was understandably pleased to get a breakthrough with rising six-year-old Oakfield Echidna in the CG&E Maiden Plate (1280m).

“He has been a very slow maturer,” he said today.

“Whilst I probably didn’t expect him to win until he got over a bit further in distance than the 1280m yesterday, Aaron (Bullock) rode him when a close third in a 1000m trial on the Beaumont track at Newcastle on June 2, and was happy with him.

“He said afterwards he would guarantee we would win one or two races with him this preparation.

“Great for Bruce also as he has been a terrific supporter of both myself and Kristen.

“He was saying he was won at least 10 races in the last few months.”

As with Oakfield Earth, Oakfield Echidna’s winning margin also was narrow.

Bullock got him into the clear into the straight and, sporting blinkers, the gelding hit the front and then gamely held out a late finishing Major Lightning ($16).

Story John Curtis, June 14, 2025 - Pics Muswellbrook Race Club