Noelene's Night Out

Central Coast owner-trainer Noelene Holloway had a night to remember on Saturday when she landed three winners within an hour at Wentworth Park and Ladbrokes Gardens.

Wild Octane (pictured), a recent bargain buy for Holloway, landed his first Wentworth Park win for his new owner-trainer when he ran down Stan's Dream to win a 520m fifth grade in a smart 29.84.

An hour later Great Flash gave Holloway a WP double when he ran his rivals off their legs to take out a 520m fourth and fifth grade in 29.99, while eight minutes earlier, at The Gardens, Super Quality had landed a 400m fifth grade for the trainer.

Great Flash's all-the-way win slightly surprised Holloway who explained: "He had not raced for a fortnight and had not been off the lead, so he went into the race very fresh as I hadn't been able to do anything with him.''

Great Flash showed dazzling early pace to reel off scorching early splits of 5.37 and 13.77, setting up a seven lengths' lead approaching the home turn before tiring in the run home to win by two lengths.

Wild Octane, purchased by Holloway just six weeks ago, followed a win at The Gardens and two WP placings for his new owner-trainer with his three-quarters of a length victory on Saturday night at headquarters.

"I'm not sure where he will race next but it will either be back at WP later this week or else a 600m race at The Gardens on Saturday,'' Holloway said later.

Stockton Slap took a steady 30.63 to win Saturday's opening race at WP but for trainer Kerry Schmitzer it was like winning the Million Dollar Chase.

After the race a jubilant Schmitzer said: "Stockton Slap is not only my first Wenty winner, but my first starter at the track!

"I have been training for 34 years but went full time into the dogs after a severe back injury forced to retire from work 25 years ago.

"Mark Gatt originally trained Stockton Slap and the dog showed promise for him but then broke down.

"Mark advised the owner to give the dog to me and I had been racing him around my local track at Taree for several recent placings.''

Gatt was in the winner's circle himself an hour later when Go Lani led throughout to land a 520m fifth grade in 29.93.

It was Go Lani's eighth WP win and after the race Gatt said: "I really liked her chances tonight.

"She had box five but she likes to be drawn in the middle because that's where she races.

"And when the dogs in boxes four and six were scratched I gave her a great hope.''

Fastest time of the night was the 29.70 posted by the Jodie Lord-trained Midnight Spritz, who edged out Sinaloa Girl, prepared by Lord's daughter Hayley Gilbert, in a tight finish.

Kristy Sultana, who raced the former brilliant speedster Flying Ricciardo, won at WP on Saturday with Cheeky Evie, trained by her father Sam Sultana.

Cheeky Evie who had been a luckless third from box two at her WP debut on January 9, led throughout from box seven on Saturday in a nippy 29.92.

Sam Sultana said later: "Kristy bought Cheeky Evie as a puppy because the greyhound's dam Swift Brittany could run and we liked her pups.

"I wasn't worried about Cheeky Evie having box seven tonight because she handled box eight well when she won at Richmond on January 3.''