Lightly-raced gelding Yes Siree returns to the scene and distance of his impressive debut win when he headlines trainer Claire Lever's trio of runners at Wyong on Sunday.
The four-year-old son of Yes Yes Yes won the first of his six career starts on May 1 last year in a 1000m Maiden at Wyong with Winona Costin in the saddle.
Lever has a race day decision to make with Yes Siree who has accepted for the Coast Community News Midway Class 1 Handicap (1000m) and the Pre-Training At Domeland Benchmark 64 (1200m).
"The 1000m is going to be too short but I think it is a weaker race than the 1200m," Lever said.
"He trialled well and he should be in for a good prep.
"He loves a Heavy track so hopefully while this rain is around in winter he can win one or two for us and I'd like to see him get up over a bit further."
Yes Siree hails from the first crop of The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes who covered an incredible 205 broodmares in his opening season at stud including Yes Siree's dam Reilly O'.
Yes Siree's broodmare sires read like a who's who of NZ breeding; O'Reilly, Centaine, Grosvenor, Sound Reason and Oncidium (father of his fifth dam, VRC 1970 VRC Oaks winner Sanderae).
Lever, meanwhile, is counting on former jockey room colleague and friend Winona Costin to offset a couple of double figure draws handed to stable pair Sant Gervasi (12) and Zaddicted (10) in their respective assignments.
Handsome, almost black gelding Sant Gervasi will line up in the Spelling At Domeland Super Maiden Plate (1200m) after finishing second in a Bathurst Maiden on May 12 that looked more like a provincial maiden than a country one.
"If the roles were reversed he probably gets the job done, just in terms of the bit of work he had to do from the barrier and the pull in the weights," Lever says.
"And the horse that beat him (Kosrae) came out and won at Kembla and the horse that ran fourth (Heard Of Him) won on Thursday at Hawkesbury so there is a bit of form in the race.
"He's drawn a bit sticky so we'll probably have to roll forward on him."
As well as being striking to the eye, Sant Gervasi is a regally-bred gelding. His dam, Tolerate, is a combination of 10-time Group 1 winner So You Think out of VRC Emirates Stakes winner and four-time Group 1 placed, Bonanova.
As well as being a Group 1 winner herself, Bonanova's Star Way-brothers both won majors, namely Telesto and Fraternity.
Shayne O'Cass' Top Selections
Best Bet
Race 4 No. 2: DEMONSTRATOR - So You Think gelding who has the talent, the draw and the jockey to win on debut.
Next Best
Race 3 No. 12: DARN SAGA - Another debutant that will get every hope from the favourable draw and skilled rider.
Value Bet
Race 1 No. 13: RESCHS MILK - Out of a Savabeel mare so could improve quickly at the mile.
Quaddie
Race 5: 3, 4, 5, 9
Race 6: 5, 6, 8, 9
Race 7: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10
Race 8: 3, 5
Jockey to Follow
Dylan Gibbons will be popular in the Jockeys Challenge.
Race 1: The Drumstick Derby Provincial Maiden Plate 1625m
RESCHS MILK (13) was pretty underwhelming on debut, more so given she started at $4, in a 1300m Maiden at Newcastle on May 19. She goes straight to 1625m here which could suit her, being out of a (handy) Savabeel mare. Edward Cummings-trained FIT FOR A PRINCE (3) is by the Anthony Cummings-trained Prince Fawaz who won his Group 1 at 1600m. This one is crying out for it himself now. Bet: Reschs Milk each-way, Fit For A Prince to place
Race 2: Central Coast Coolrooms Class 1 Handicap 1625m
SPIV (1) was very strong through the line when he led throughout to win a 1400m Maiden at Newcastle on May 23. This is 1625m now but he is as fit as can be; he is by So You Think, he's drawn gate 5 and this is Wyong after all. FLYING GREY (4) caught the eye late in a mile Class 1 at Hawkesbury on the Heavy 8. Her win was here on a Soft 5 just prior to that. Go well again. Bet: Spiv to win, exacta 1,4
Race 3: Spelling At Domeland Super Maiden Plate 1200m
DARN SAGA (12) has trialled well and is drawn well for his debut; better than his $15 quote would suggest anyway in what looks to be a 'Super' Maiden (in name only). MACCBI (4) has the race experience and good form too. Trialling well. Trivia time; FIMISTON (2), who has claims, shares his name with one of WA's best racehorses and most successful local stallions. Bet: Darn Saga each-way, Fimiston to place
Race 4: Australian Metal Recycling Maiden Handicap 1100m
DEMONSTRATOR (2) ticks a lot of boxes. Just for one, he is by So You Think out of an eight-time winning mare by Haradasun who was herself Group 3 placed. Then there are the trials. The horse who beat him in his Rosehill Heat won at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. Draw, jockey - tick, tick. Ditto a fair bit of all that for SEE DIAMOND (5). Sweet Deal's Zoustar son TSARDEAL (6) sent out some good signs there first-up. Bet: Demonstrator each-way
Race 5: Coast Community News Midway Class 1 Handicap 1000m
ZOUKING (4) is a very quick horse trained at Gosford by Jake Hull who has found the perfect race for this son of three-times Listed winner, The Messina Nymph, to resume in as much as it is 1000m at a tight track with a short straight. The only less than perfect scenario for Hull is that David Pfieffer also chose this race for AT HER MERCY (5) who ran 56.40s when she won her Kembla Maiden. Big watch/respect for the Tracey Bartley recruit GAELIC GEM (9). Bet: Zouking to win, trifecta 3, 4, 5, 9 (boxed)
Race 6: Happy Birthday Charlotte F&M Benchmark 64 Handicap 1200m
DIACON (6) was always going to be hard to beat in this race but his chances went up immeasurably when he drew barrier 4 and Bjorn Baker booked Aaron Bullock for the ride. If you like Diacon, you have to love MISS FARNAN (5) who beat him at Hawkesbury last start and she's drawn barrier 1 here not gate 7 of 7 like there. Could look silly after the event but Diacon is the 'stronger horse' of the pair and it's 1200m this time. Bet: Diacon to win, Daily Double 1st leg 6, 2nd leg 3
Race 7: Pre-training At Domeland C,G&E Benchmark 64 Handicap 1200m
PENTAGON (5) is a Gerry Harvey-bred NZ import who brings Baker and Bullock together again. That is unless of course Baker decides to hold off for Canterbury on Monday. Pentagon was scratched from Newcastle yesterday as was HARRY'S HALO (7) who boasts some very deep form on the provincial circuit. Pentagon's stablemate ROMA GREEN (6) has also accepted for Canterbury. REIGN OF HONOUR (10) has drawn 2 (Rachel King). No wonder they scratched from Newcastle yesterday. Bet: Pentagon or Harry's Halo to win
Race 8: De Bortoli Wines Benchmark 64 Handicap 2025m
BANYAN TREE (3) is so well placed here, apart from the wide draw, but Mitchell Bell is a pretty big offset for that, coupled with the fact that this is his home track, it's a long, long race. At the end of the day, if he happens to get over into a good spot early, his fitness and form might see him through. OWEN COUNTY (5) was beaten three and a half lengths this weekend four years ago in the J J Atkins. As for the present, he is working his way towards another win and gate 5 and Alysha Collett is half way there. Bet: Banyan Tree to win, quinella 3,5
