Wyong trainer Denim Wynen celebrated her second city winner in as many weeks when the New Zealand-bred Monkhana took out the $120,000 Midway Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Wynen had never trained a metropolitan winner before the start of the 2025-26 season, but now the 29-year-old has struck twice in quick succession with Sunshine Law on August 2 and Monkhana on Saturday.
“I’m lost for words,” Wynen said. “I can’t believe it, I’m so excited.”
Saturday’s assignment was the second start in a new campaign for Monkhana, who had run second in a 1400m Midway Handicap at Rosehill two weeks earlier.
The five-year-old mare was ridden by apprentice jockey Anna Roper on Saturday and sat in fifth place before getting a good trail into the race coming up to the home turn.
Roper hooked Monkhana to the outside in the straight and drove her home over the top of Vetwelve to win by half a length.
“I was pretty confident with her today, without saying it,” Wynen said. “She trained on well after her last start and has come back a different horse this time in, she is a lot stronger.”
Monkhana has now had 15 starts for four wins, two placings and $146,238 in stakes. The first six starts of her career came from the Byerley Park stable of Steven Cole, headed by a maiden victory by 2.75 lengths over 1600m at Pukekohe in June of last year.
Horse racing news
