Eyewitness account provides hope for Buchanan

Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan has a strong hand of runners at her home track today led by honest on-pace galloper Eyewitness.

The five-year-old contests the benchmark 68 handicap over 1100m and profiles well for the event. The mare’s last start at Gosford’s standalone metropolitan meeting had hidden merit in a high-rating race, and she was well-backed late.

She led at a fast pace, travelled in the inferior ground, and sprinted the race’s quickest 600m-400m split before peaking on her run over the final furlong.

She follows a similar pattern to last preparation where she stepped back in distance and won third up. All her peak figures have come over 1100m and she drops in grade.

Wondereach looms as a main danger with a strong record and is a consistent type. He can be forgiven for his last start when he had a gap of 41 days between runs and faded after leading at a genuine tempo. The Matthew Smith galloper will be fitter for that effort, brings a solid starting-price profile and will roll forward.

Buchanan also saddles up early market fancy Oakfield Waratah in the benchmark 64 handicap over 1350m. The gelding resumed at this track and distance 21 days ago and won bravely, holding off the late challenge of an in-form horse in the process.
He produced a career peak figure in slick time relative to the day.

The Lou Mary trained Haysiri will look to make it back-to-back wins and is a leading rival.
He was impressive on debut at Scone and has attracted early support from punters. The three-year-old showed a powerful closing speed to charge over the top of his opposition, and the race has produced three subsequent winners to confirm the form.

He can make the jump in grade here.

Supplied by Racing NSW