SPEEDY SONG HITS THE RIGHT NOTE AT WYONG

Photo Credit: Bradley Photos

MONDAY: August 29, 2022: A close relation to the now deceased former champion New Zealand mare Sunline broke through at Wyong yesterday.

And whilst Speedy Song has the odds stacked against him to rival the great mare’s deeds on the racetrack, his Hawkesbury trainer Tommy Wong is confident there are more wins in store as his distances are increased.

Ridden by apprentice Zac Lloyd, whose 1.5kg claim proved very handy, Speedy Song ($3.30 joint favorite) led home a Hawkesbury quinella in the Provincial & Country Maiden Plate (1600m), beating Brad Widdup’s other co-favorite Ra Ra Grandpa.

At his 10th start, the Your Song four-year-old put three recent minor placings behind him to shed his maiden status.

Speedy Song’s dam Songstar (a Galileo mare) is a daughter of Songline, who also produced the mighty Sunline, who won 32 (including 13 Group 1s) of her 48 starts, and was Australian Horse Of The Year three times and on four occasions in her homeland.

Wong, who has eight horses in work, has prepared Speedy Song throughout his career and recently purchased him online in partnership with Marius Edwards for $13,000 via an Inglis online sale.

“His previous owner lives in Hong Kong, and decided to sell him as there aren’t a lot of middle distance races run there,” he explained.

“I’m sure Speedy Song will continue to improve as his distances are increased.

“He is improving all the time, and I will look for another suitable race for him next, probably over 2000m.”

Speedy Song was Wong’s first winner of the 2022-23 season (and his 36th overall).

The gelding finished third over 1600m at Kembla Grange on July 16, and his trainer made a gear change, removing a tongue tie before he finished runner-up to Flyway over the same distance at Goulburn 13 days later.

Speedy Song then stepped up to 1860m at Newcastle on August 20, and again was runner-up, this time behind the American Pharoah filly Pavitra, in a Maiden Plate.