The Wyong Gold Cup is the feature race on the Friday provincial circuit and the 2100m Listed race has attracted a capacity field of sixteen plus four emergencies.
Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller has given himself a terrific chance to win back to back Wyong Gold Cups with five final acceptances after winning the race last year with Carzoff.
The Waller stable will saddle up Wu Gok, Exoteric, Vaucluse Bay, Hogmanay and Dagny and it will be hard to split the five while veteran stayer Destiny’s Kiss will be looking for his second Wyong Gold Cup victory after claiming the trophy in 2017.
We have analysed all the horses in the field and our complete 2019 Wyong Gold Cup tips are now available.
Sixties Groove
The Kris Lees trained English import Sixties Groove found some pretty handy form during the 2019 Brisbane Winter Carnival with a third in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) and a second in the Group 2 P J O’Shea Stakes (2200m) at Doomben plus a win in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm. The seven year old has won a 1200m barrier trial at Newcastle in preparation for his return to the racetrack but has failed to win first up from seven attempts in the past and could get a tough run from an awkward barrier.
Our Century
Our Century will also have to overcome an extremely wide barrier in the capacity sixteen horse field at his first run back after winning the Listed 2400m Christmas Cup at Randwick in December last year. The nine year old has his fair share of weight and is certain to run another honest race.
Stampede
Stampede has drawn a nice inside gate and Adam Hyeronimus will have no trouble taking up a handy position. Hyeronimus set the pace on Stampede last start when the pair finished second over 1800m on the Kensington track at Randwick but he will find this no easier. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained seven year old is yet to win beyond 2000m.
Duca Valentinois
Duca Valentinois was a winner during the 2019 Brisbane Winter Carnival in Listed company over 1820m at Eagle Farm and is fitter for two recent runs since. Tim Clark should be able to get a reasonable run from barrier eight and the James Cummings trained eight year old has solid each way claims.
Destiny’s Kiss
Veteran stayer Destiny’s Kiss was the winner of the 2017 Wyong Gold Cup and showed during the winter that he still had plenty of zest left in his legs with a win in the 2400m Listed Winter Cup at Rosehill. The eleven year old will have plenty of support from the locals and even though he is getting pretty long in the tooth, a second win in the Wyong Gold Cup would have his fans cheering out loud. Destiny’s Kiss is coming off a last start ninth in the Listed Rowley Mile (1600m) at Hawkesbury a fortnight ago.
Wu Gok
Wu Gok is the first of Chris Waller’s five runners and showed that he is far superior on a rain affected track with a last start win on a heavy surface in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (1900m) at Rosehill last Saturday. The Wyong track was rated a good 4 on Wednesday morning with little or no rain forecast prior to the running of the Wyong Gold Cup on Friday.
Blue Breeze
Blue Breeze has some handy New Zealand form which includes a third in the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie in March. The Allan Morley trained six year old is among the nominations for the 2019 Melbourne Cup and he was quickly back into form with a first up win over 1400m at Pukekohe in New Zealand on August 10. One to keep a close eye on in the betting.
Exoteric
Exoteric is another of the Chris Waller runners who has been struggling to find any winning form but did show some improvement with a last start third in a 2200m Open Handicap at Doomben on August 10. Will find this tougher.
Hush Writer
French import Hush Writer has had one win for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable since arriving in Australia in the Listed McKell Cup (2400m) at Rosehill during the winter. Failed to beat a runner home on a heavy track when a long last of six over 2530m at Flemington a month ago and has to show a marked improvement to be a threat here.
Master Of Arts
Master Of Arts was unplaced at two runs at Rosehill and Randwick during the Winter and hard to see the eight year old threatening here.
Al Galayel
Al Galayel was always near the tail of the field last start when eleventh in a 2040m Handicap at The Valley on August 24. No easier here.
All Too Soon
All Too Soon is yet to win beyond 1800m and is stepping up to the 2100m of the Wyong Gold Cup after a fourth in the Listed Rowley Mile over 1600m at Hawkesbury a fortnight ago.
Vaucluse Bay
Vaucluse Bay has been around the mark lately with two placings at Grafton and the Gold Coast and a fourth at Doomben at his last three starts. Glyn Schofield is going to give the six year old a lovely run from gate five and he has to be considered as one of the main chances.
Hogmanay
Kerrin McEvoy takes over from Tommy Berry on last start Taree Cup (2000m) winner Hogmanay and the Chris Waller trained seven year old is chasing a hat trick after a win at the start before in a 2000m BenchMark 78 Handicap at August. Has drawn well and can take up a handy position in the first half dozen.
Dagny
Dagny has failed to impress at his two most recent runs on the Kensington track at Randwick and at Rosehill on both the wet and the dry and will need to improve greatly to be a threat here.
High Opinion
High Opinion made up some ground from back last start when fourth over 1800m on the Kensington track at Randwick and will have the job ahead of him again from a very wide barrier.
Mongolian Wolf
First emergency Mongolian Wolf has been around the minor placings of late with a last start second in the 2000m Taree Cup and has place claims again if he gains a spot in the final field.
Loveisili
Loveisili will find this a lot tougher than his latest outings which includes a last start seventh in a 2000m BenchMark 78 Handicap at Rosehill.
Our Gravano
Our Gravano was a winner two starts back in a 2000m BenchMark 83 Handicap a4 Coffs Harbour but then never threatened when seventh in the Taree Cup (2000m).
Balius
Fourth emergency Balius is a restricted class runner who is unlikely to gain a start in the final Wyong Gold Cup field.