Wynter Wildes has been laid out for a Median Auction Maiden Stakes over the straight mile of Newcastle tapeta tonight by Newmarket trainer Charlie Fellowes and I’ll bet his ‘secret weapon’ jockey Hayley Turner will be up to the task of landing a solid gamble on the twice-raced Tamayuz filly.
‘Daily Earner’ is always a bonus in my book, one of the best jockeys on this planet, and Wynter Wildes is further advantaged with a 5lbs fillies’ allowance on a track which places great emphasis on low weights, due to severity of a stiff uphill finish throughout the final half mile.
Hayley was aboard last time on a similar surface at Southwell where Wynter Wildes, following a sluggish start, made up a deal of ground in the closing stages; my thought at the time was ‘extra distance next time’ and they’ve got it.
On the time-handicap Wynter Wildes comes out marginally best-in but I’m totally convinced Fellowes’ charge will be fitter and fancied for Plan A against shallow rivals; pointless mentioning any of them because this is my idea of a ‘special!’
Incidentally, Charlie gave Hayley her first Royal Ascot winner and then followed up with the same horse at the next meeting twelve months later.
Two jumping fixtures scheduled this afternoon, Lingfield and Ayr where, on time-handicap ratings, consistent hitherto luckless Charm Offensive and Fame Glory dominate a fifteen-runner Novice’s Hurdle over two and a half mile of ‘soft’ ground; preference is for the former, with stamina a key issue.
Tony McCoy once said, ‘there is soft and there is Ffos Las soft’ and the phenomenal twenty-times champion jockey should have included this famous Scottish venue because it’s really tough during winter months; race-times don’t lie!
Charm Offensive, advantaged by a 7lbs mares allowance, comes back from three miles at Haydock last time but Fame Glory achieved his best mark over the minimum distance; most interesting.
Following yet another good-priced ‘bumper’ winner, Copper Cove (9/2) around Exeter, Sunday, I’m bound to stick with this now-specialist field with clear ‘best-in’ Time For Hollie in the ‘lucky last’ given Kim Bailey journeys the thrice-raced recent Haydock winner from Worcestershire!
‘The system’ has taken off, it’s getting scary and my minimum stake has jumped 200% in less than a fortnight; hope you’re proving courageous with the staking plan but wouldn’t be surprised if you weren’t.
Selections, Ayr 1.55, Charm Offensive (e.w); 4.50 Time For Hollie; Newcastle 5.15, Wynter Wildes (e.w).
Jeffrey Ross, horse-racing correspondent for WMN since 1983 when winning the most prestigious racing journalist award, Sporting Life Naps Table, before winning it a record number of six times collectively in the Racing Post, the current ‘trade’ paper, including 2019