It wasn’t so much his six wins for the month but the way he won them, that qualifies Wayne Wilkes for the February award. He landed a double at Taree on February 9th with Razella and Otium both ridden by daughter Shae. One week later at Port Macquarie he and Shae combined again to win the all important Country Championship Qualifier with stable favourite Sumo Fish. Nine days later the trainer finished the month on a high note at Taree with a winning treble - Uncle Moonlight (Mitch Stapleford, Wandjad (Andrew Gibbons) and Mischievous Molly (Mitch Stapleford). With a team of just 21 or 22 horses in work, his February strike rate was outstanding.
Sumo Fish is off to the big one at Randwick! Here is the 5yo's win in the Qualifier at Port Macquarie 16/02/2025 from McKeon (outside) and Bjorn Ironside - courtesy Trackside Photography.
Early in life Wayne Wilkes looked likely to work in the carpentry trade but was swayed by brother Ian’s fascination with the thoroughbred world. At the time Ian was working for successful Rosehill trainer Paul Sutherland. Wayne opted to follow his sibling into stable life and would go on to learn his craft from high profile horsemen like Brian Mayfield-Smith, Dr Geoff Chapman, and Bart Cummings. In 1995 he opted for a solo career when boxes became available at Rosehill. By his own admission he won just enough races to cover exes, but described his four years in town as uninspiring.
Wayne Wilkes has maintained a consistent strike rate since moving to Taree in 2014 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
In 2000 he returned to his native mid north coast, and resumed operations at Port Macquarie where he would spend the next fifteen years with ongoing success. When stables became available at Taree in 2015, Wayne opted for a change of scenery and hasn’t looked back. His favourite to this point in time is Soiled (9 wins including two at stakes level in Brisbane), King Utah (5 wins), Tagus (5 city wins), Fuel (6 wins including two in town), Shotgun Roulette (4 wins), and Lucciola Belle (3 wins including Country Championship Qualifier and runner up to Noble Boy in the final at Randwick). Another favourite was genuine mare Chase My Crown who won two TAB Highways in Sydney and was placed in several others.
Another of Wayne's favourites Fuel (Jay Ford) wins at Rosehill in 2018 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Wayne Wilkes doesn’t leave a stone unturned in the preparation of his horses and in the important process of finding the right races for them. He’s currently deriving great pleasure from the progress of daughter Shae who won her first, and would win another two on the gelding in quick succession. The 24 year old has since added another 44 wins to her CV and is getting strong support from many Hunter and north coast stables. Shae also plays a pivotal role in the day to day operation of the Wilkes stable. Twelve bags of Pryde’s EasiPerformance will soon land in the Bushland Drive feed room in recognition of an outstanding achievement in the month just gone.
Wayne congratulates daughter Shae on a perfect ride to win on Sumo Fish - courtesy Trackside Photography.
(Banner image - The Wilkes trained Chase My Crown (Jett Stanley) wins her second TAB Highway. Rosehill October 2023 - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.)
