GARRY Frazer is back in the winning list where he belongs, having received an early birthday present at Newcastle today.
The multiple Group 1 winning Hawkesbury trainer, who will turn 73 next week, won his first race in nearly two years when $16 chance Binkou landed the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) on a day where provincial trainers scooped half of the eight-race program.
Fellow Hawkesbury trainers Jason Attard and Lucy Keegan-Attard also won with Cryptonic ($10), Wyong’s Mark Cross scored with Hoo Haa ($13), and Newcastle’s Rod Ollerton was successful with Movin’ Denman ($15).
Only two of the eight winners started at under double figures.
Frazer at first could not recall his previous winner before remembering it was the now retired Tocomah at Wyong on April 27, 2023.
“I gave Binkou a chance, but thought he would be 100-1,” he said.
“But it’s hard to be confident when you haven’t had a winner for so long.
“To be fair, I haven’t had a heap of runners and keep only eight or nine horses in work these days.”
Frazer wasn’t at the track and his son Jordan saddled five-year-old Binkou, who overcame a slow start to give the long-standing Hawkesbury trainer a long overdue success.
Also preparing greyhounds, he has been training at Hawkesbury for “40-odd years” and overall for nearly a half century.
Binkou had resumed with an unplaced run over 1400m at Kembla Grange last month, and appreciated getting to 1600m as he has previously raced over middle distances.
“Unfortunately he has this habit of being slowly away, and he did it again,” Frazer said.
“That was a strong race today, and I’m certain he is up to winning a midweek in town.”’
In an all-provincial finish, Binkou defeated Wyong trainer Sara Ryan’s favorite How Much Better ($2.60), who was gallant after a wide run, and Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker’s Vieste ($13).
Frazer was delighted to secure Hawkesbury’s Zac Wadick as the Benchmark 64 was a heat of the annual Rising Star series for apprentice jockeys.
“Zac is a good lad, and rides very well,” he said.
Wadick was having only his second ride in the series, which is being dominated by the “girls”, with Mollie Fitzgerald leading the way on 20 points.
There are four more heats remaining, including the Final at Hawkesbury on February 20.
Binkou has a real liking for Newcastle as his first two victories were on the inside Beaumont track in October 2022 and February 2023.
Jason Attard was delighted for he and wife Lucy to also get back into the winning list with Cryptonic, and praised Lee Magorrian for his winning ride.
“The fast pace suited the horse, and Lee saved valuable ground staying on the inside before getting him out into the clear after straightening,” he said.
“Cryptonic hit the line strongly, and it was good to see him win another race.”
A four-year-old son of Encryption, Cryptonic is raced by a syndicate headed by Lucy Keegan-Attard and posted his second success at only his eighth start.
His maiden victory was at Wyong over 1000m on November 9 last year when he was having his first start since June.
Cryptonic has raced consistently at all five starts this campaign, never finishing further back than fourth, and defeated Zounaka ($3) and Doradus ($16).
Mark Cross had a special reason to celebrate the win of homebred Hoo Haa (Anna Roper) in the Provincial 4YO & Up Maiden Plate (1300m).
The four-year-old daughter of Denman is the second foal of Stradance, whom he and wife Alison purchased online for “a couple of grand” after she had raced 20 times for four wins, and won a further seven races with her.
Hoo Haa defeated leading Hawkesbury pair, leading trainer Brad Widdup’s $2.20 favorite Sunset Park and Mitch and Desiree Kearney’s Share The Joy ($12).
Whilst it was the first win of the season for Cross, Rod Ollerton posted his fourth (and career 187th) when Movin’ Denman took the Benchmark 64 Handicap (900m).
Ridden by Newcastle apprentice Ben Osmond, the six-year-old gelding held off a late surge from Widdup’s Akaka Falls ($8), then also “won” a stewards’ decision after the runner-up’s apprentice rider Mitch Stapleford protested, alleging interference in the home straight.
Story John Curtis, January 22, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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