It would be a dream come true for young local trainer Sara Ryan to win the prestigious Wyong Leagues Group Cup.
Ryan is one of two Wyong based trainers planning to saddle up runners in Friday’s $250,000 Listed feature race.
Her hopes lie with last start Rosehill winner Roma Avenue, while Camaguey will represent Kim Waugh, the six-year-old was runner up in the Wyong Cup Prelude over 2000m on August 18.
Ryan is a relative newcomer to the training ranks at Wyong, having taken over as Domeland’s chief trainer in mid 2022.
She had been working for the Chinese based company for the previous five years supervising the pre-training and spelling of their horses from their base at Kulnura.
But she was spiralled into the spotlight when unexpectedly offered the position as chief trainer.
She has relished the responsibility and enjoyed great success in her first full season as a trainer, 2023/24 with 24 winners and 31 placegetters to her name from 149 runners.
At just 30, Ryan would become the youngest trainer to win the Cup if Roma Avenue were successful and the first local to win since Neville McBurney’s victory with Spiritual Star in 1996.
She saddled up two runners in the 2023 Cup, Parry Sound who finished fourth and The Mediterranean, who sadly had to be euthanised after falling during the race.
Ryan believes she has the horse to get the job done in Roma Avenue, despite the six-year-old never having raced over the 2100m Cup distance.
“He’s a good honest horse and has always struck me as a horse who will get over more ground,” she said.
“He’s been a bit of a handful getting him to settle but he was able to do so in his last start at Rosehill and Reece (Jones) came from behind and got the job done.
“Reece has found the key to him and will ride him in the Cup.
“To win the Wyong cup would be great.
It hasn’t been done by a local trainer for some time and would be a great boost to my career.”
The other local hope Waugh’s Camaguey has won four of his 32 starts, including last year’s Mudgee Cup.
Despite being the leading Wyong trainer for the past eight years Waugh is yet to taste success in the Cup and will be hoping this is the year.
Our locals will have to contend with strong competition from “outsiders” including a likely three representatives from the Chris Waller stable.
Waller, who has dominated the Sydney training ranks in recent years, has the most Wyong Cup’s to his name, having claimed the race eight times, opening his account with Hawk Island in 2010.
The stable has nominated Group 1 Victorian Derby winner Manzoice, lightly raced Irish import Etna Rosso who was last start Rosehill winner over 1900m and former New Zealand stayer Medatsu, who has put together back-to-back metropolitan wins in August.
Victorian Let’sbefrankbaby brings strong form from the south, the five-year-old mare having claimed the Group 3 South Australian Classic in May last year.
Trained at Cranbourne by Robbie Griffiths and Mathew De Kock, she went out a winner with a Caulfield victory over 2400m in May and will be resuming in the Wyong cup if an acceptor.
John O’Shea has won two Wyong Cup’s in the past three years with Berdibek in 2021 and Benaud last year.
With his new training partner Tom Charlton, they will be shooting for another victory with the talented Lion’s Roar.
A recent addition to the stable, the seven-year-old has the Group 3 Summer Cup to his name and finished second in the Listed Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury in his latest outing.
Leading NSW provincial trainer Kris Lees tasted his first Wyong Cup success in 2016 with Slow Pace.
He has Great Britain imports Age Of Sail and Luncies among the nominations, Luncies six career wins including the Group 3 Tatt’s Cup at Eagle Farm over 2400m in June 2023.
Age Of Sail has only had six Australian starts, his sole victory coming via a 1600m BM72 at Warwick Farm in January.
Lees former apprentice Dylan Gibbons, who joined the senior riding ranks this year, will partner Age Of Sail.
He is shooting for back-to-back Cup wins, having partnered O’Shea’s Benaud last year.
The first time the Wyong Cup carries Big Dance Eligibility with the winner guaranteed entry to the $2m Big Dance at Randwick on November 5.
Sara Ryan was successful in last year’s Big Dance with Attractable.