Wilsons warm up for Addington

By Jonny Turner

Trainers Ross and Chris Wilson won the curtain raiser with Robyns Shadow at Young Quinn Raceway yesterday and now have their sights on the main event with Robyns Playboy.

There was little time for the father and son training team to celebrate their four-year-old’s win in race 4 yesterday with a trip to Addington for tonight’s Group 2 Canterbury Classic to get ready for.

Robyns Shadow sealed a deserved win following two strong second placings and notched Craig Ferguson’s 200th career victory in the sulky.

Ferguson went on to make it win 201 with Chuckles in race 7 meaning he couldn’t be in better form heading into tonight’s feature.

“Craig drove Robyn’s Shadow a treat and he got the double with Chuckles so he finished off the night well, he’s coming in in white-hot form, we might just have to keep a lid on his enthusiasm tomorrow night,” Chris Wilson joked yesterday.

“To be fair it is hard to get his heartbeat above 50 sometimes.”

Robyns Shadow has shown talent throughout his career but he has been held back at times by hoof issues.

Though the Wilson camp are on top of those problems at the moment, they continue to pop up.

“He has had trouble with his feet, he has had stone bruises and abscesses and even at the start of this season he has been bothered by a couple,” Chris Wilson said.

“But I think he has been back feeling pretty good now and we have been really happy with him.”

The Wilson camp have been thrilled with Robyns Playboy following his big fresh up second in the Hannon Memorial last month.

Generally a smart beginner, the pacer looks capable of putting himself handy and shoring up his New Zealand Cup claims in the star studded line up.

“On Wednesday he felt super in his work, there is nothing wrong with him, we have just got to hope he travels up alright and it’s a nice smooth trip.”

“He will have a wander around a few times on the way up to stretch his legs and then we will be up there with bells on.”

Both by Shadow Play, the Wilsons' two Robyns are close relations.

Robyns Shadow’s third dam is Ross Wilson’s two-time Group One winner Robyn’s Treasure.

Robyns Playboy’s second dam is a half-sister to Robyn’s Treasure in Maree Robyn.

Another less heralded sire and a former stablemate of Shadow Play at Alabar Stud, Sportwriter was to the fore at yesterday’s meeting.

The stallion produced Sporty Charlie for an outstanding debut win in race 6.

Held up on the home turn by a tiring leader, the Brad Morris trained pacer looked in trouble before producing a brilliant burst of speed on what wasn’t a hard and fast track to reel in runner-up Unsurpassable to score.