Trainer Denim Wynen celebrates her first city success as new stable recruit Sunshine Law triumphs at Rosehill
Wynen, 29, enjoyed the biggest moment of her career to date when her new edition handled the heavy conditions to prevail in the Congratulations James McDonald Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m).
Sunshine Law had previously been trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald and raced in the silks of breeding powerhouse Yulong before being sold online to Wynen's connections for $85,000.
'I am so stoked,' Wynen said.
'Coming into today, I hate being too confident with people but in myself I knew I had quite a good horse coming here.
'The trackwork rider, after the first gallop she had on her, said she thinks she is quite a serious horse so for her to say that, I thought I have a nice horse.'
Sunshine Law had won her last two starts for the Archibalds at Canberra and Hawkesbury but her latest success ensured her new owners for an immediate return on their investment.
The daughter of Alabama Express banked just shy of her purchase price with an $82,500 winner's cheque.
'Credit to them, they picked it,' Wynen said.
'They rang me the day before and said they were looking at some tried horses online.
'They have been a big support to my stable in the last six months and bought some weanlings and wanted to get to the races sooner.
'They decided to go to the tried sales and picked up two nice horses from Yulong so I think we are going to have some fun with them.'
Apprentice Anna Roper brought up a quick-fire early double with a confident steer aboard Sunshine Law.
The Sunshine breaks through at Rosehill🌞
Sunshine Law returns a winner, making it three in a row for the Denim Wynen trained mare! @AnnaRoper_ with a race to race double ðŸ'�ðŸ'� pic.twitter.com/ngN93pfTZF
â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) August 2, 2025
•
Roper, who had just booted home Kosciuszko hopeful Without Parallel, found herself in the box seat and had no trouble getting a run off the leaders back.
Sunshine Law ($4.80) keep finding to the line to hold off the Matthew Dale -trained Super Norwest ($7) by a half-length while Chris Waller 's Pippie Beach ($4) was third.
'It was a really good win,' Roper said.
'I thought she was feeling the pinch a bit the last 100m and I think she started to have a little think about it but the horse to her inside kept her going.
'It was a really good tough effort first-up today.'
Wynen dipped her two in the water as a hobby trainer but has taken over the past two years and is building a small stable on the Central Coast.
'I had a hobby, just a couple of my own, but just two years for owners and I am loving it,' she said.
'I only have six in work, I do all the work myself, literally seven days morning and afternoon so it's a good number.'
Meanwhile, the Joseph Pride -trained Headley Grange bounced back to his best as the rain poured down in Sydney.
Headley Grange eats up the heavy track, saluting in race 6 at Rosehill! ðŸ'° @PrideRacing pic.twitter.com/SmN9qobsXp
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 2, 2025
• Waller and J-Mac ignite Godolphin's new era
Headley Grange was a winner of the Listed Civic Stakes earlier this preparation before attempting to qualify for the Big Dance via the South Grafton Cup but failed to fire on the firm track.
He faced vastly different conditions in his return to town on a heavy 10 surface for the National Jockeys Trust Handicap (1500m).
Headley Grange ($3.70) thrived in the tough going under the urging of Adam Hyeronimus as he surged away to score by two lengths from Adam Duggan 's Diamond Diesel ($20) while Pride's Estadio Mestalla ($5) was third.
'He is honest and genuine,' Pride said.
'I think people who like backing him, keep backing him because he turns up and wins when he gets the opportunity.
'I would be forgiving of him for his last start at Grafton when I really thought that track was too hard for him.
'I wouldn't run him on a surface that firm again, he enjoys tracks with the string out of them.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
‘Mugged him': Latrell Mitchell fires up after tackle drama
Latrell Mitchell has pulled off a miracle try saver as fireworks unfolded early in the Rabbitohs' clash with the Titans on Sunday. Mitchell roared in Jayden Campbell's face after the South Sydney centre's desperate lunge stripped the Gold Coast playmaker over the try line. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. Campbell had bamboozled the Rabbitohs defence with a double step and was casually strolling to put the ball between the posts when Mitchell came from nowhere with a swinging left arm hit that knocked the ball loose. Mitchell then let Campbell know about his blunder as he stood over the top of him after the impressive try saver. You can watch the tackle in the video player above. 'Can you believe that? He tried to bring it around behind the uprights and Mitchell mugged him,' Fox League commentator Warren Smith said. After calling Campbell's sloppy effort 'casual', Smith went on to say: 'Mitchell said, 'I've got you' and he gave him a bit of 'what for' as well'. Mitchell was impressive in the first 40 minutes as the Bunnies went into the sheds with a 14-12 lead.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Connor Watson: Playing with the firecracker Spencer Leniu you never know what you're going to get!
The great Connor Watson (31:53) is starting to dream of a finals appearance after his Roosters' 64-12 win over fellow finals contenders the Dolphins. He started from the bench and was watching on amused when the game exploded in the 9th minute with Spencer Leniu one of 4 players sent to the bin. But he realises that his team have been far too inconsistent over the whole season to take anything for granted even though they have given themselves a chance. Plus you can catch the odd couple - Luke Lewis and John Gibbs' views on the big topics of the week in Six Again (10:53) and the First Thought (50:02) this week is on Dud signings. Plus you can get to know the man behind the madness - The Cog - Ralph Tucker (1:16:40).
The Australian
3 hours ago
- The Australian
Blake Shinn's fourth Scobie Breasley Medal win spurs Group 1 goals
Four-time Scobie Breasley medallist Blake Shinn has set sights on more Group 1 success this season. The champion jockey completed a Scobie Breasley award hat-trick on Saturday night — crowned Victoria's best rider for a third straight season and fourth overall after winning it for the first time in 2005. Shinn chased a lofty goal to ride 200 winners last season in Victoria and remained on track until a heel injury setback in late May halted the progress. He returned in July and finished on 146 winners, including 74 metropolitan successes. PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Shinn rode three Group 1 winners last season, but only one in Melbourne — the Toorak Handicap aboard Queensland star Antino. The 31-time Group 1 winner, including the 2008 Melbourne Cup aboard Viewed for the late great Bart Cummings, is determined to build on the tally. 'I set the goal to try and win 200 (races) last year,' Shinn said. 'We were on track and we had the hiccup, which set me back … I would've gone close. 'I'll try and focus more on the Group 1s (this season) and target that. 'I want to be a bit more careful with my work ethic because it is quite demanding on your body going to a lot of the provincial meetings. 'I'm not saying I won't go to them because I will, but it is very demanding the work. 'It definitely paid dividends, but this season the goalposts will change and hopefully that will pay dividends.' Despite all the success last season, including a second metropolitan premiership in three seasons and milestone 2000th career winner, Shinn rated the win on Burlington Gate on February 27, the day trainer Michael Moroney died, as his most special moment. 'Mike had a profound impact on a lot of people in the industry and he had a profound impact on me,' an emotional Shinn said. 'To honour his legacy on that day, the day he passed, definitely was a highlight.' Fierce competitor and professional Shinn, a model of consistency, has dominated the Victorian riding ranks since he returned home from Hong Kong three years ago. READ: Ciaron Maher stayer makes Melbourne Cup statement at Moonee Valley 'There's some brilliant jockeys in Melbourne,' Shinn said. 'Craig Williams, Mark Zahra, Jamie Melham, the list goes on. 'I didn't really know what to expect when I came back but I grafted away and did my best. 'What we've been able to achieve is really special, it's a testament to our hard work really. 'You can never feel content, I'm never a person to feel content with what I've done. 'There's always something to try and achieve and strive to get better. 'We'll keep working and hopefully we can keep getting better, I feel I've got a lot to improve on and we'll keep getting better … but to accomplish what I have in Melbourne, I'm pretty happy with that.' Shinn attributed his success to a close-knit support network, most notably his partner Lucy Yeomans and manager Liam Prior. Gilbert Gardiner Sports reporter Gilbert Gardiner is a sports reporter for the Herald Sun and Sunday Herald Sun. @gilbertgardiner Gilbert Gardiner
