The last word on Newcastle races
01 Jun 2012 | By Wayne Bristow - racingnsw.com.au
First Race: 11.55am
Gates Open: 11.00am (Early Members 10.45am)
Weather: 20mm of rain during the week. Overcast through Thursday.
Track: DEAD (5) – at acceptance time.
Rail: OUT 6m – It was out 3m last meeting a week ago.
Meeting
Overview: Playing bets in a couple of the big field maiden races.
RACE 1: (11:55am)
The Glendale Warehouse C,G&E Maiden Handicap
Grade: Maiden
Distance: 1400m
This is not a hard race to win for any horse with ability and if DID YOU KNOW is half his
breeding he will take some beating. He comes off a 1200m trial win and straight to 1400m
which suggests Gai Waterhouse has put the work into him for this debut. By Encosta de Lago,
he might roll to the front or sit outside lead and get a confidence building win on the board.
RAISED TO ROCK appears the obvious danger. While just not quite able to get that much
needed victory in nine starts, he has never been beaten far this time in. His half-brother, dual
G1 winner Turffontein, was best on dead ground so that won’t hurt him either. Of the rest,
MAGNETICO gets to a more suitable distance for the first time, DUCARIUS needs a win but
the extra 100m is a benefit on his home track and WHERE IZZY has run a couple of reasonable
races at Cessnock.
Selections: 2 DID YOU KNOW, 3 RAISED TO ROCK, 5 MAGNETICO
RACE 2: (12:32pm)
Charlestown Bowling Club 2yo Maiden Plate (Div 1)
Grade: Juvenile Maiden
Distance: 1300m
With the juveniles split into two divisions, it will be interesting to work out post races which one
was of a stronger standard. Also with the number of first starters at the 1300m, they will need
to be holding some fitness levels to kick off there. One of them is PENNINES. Peter Snowden
brings the gelding to Broadmeadow after winning a trial at Hawkesbury on 21 May. He’s by
Commands out their good mare Heptonstall who won a Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm (now a
G1). The Darley team have turned the corner recently with their young horses. There are two
fillies coming out of race at Wyong on 10 May that should run well. CALABAR ZONE for
Grahame Begg and PHANTOM QUEEN for Kris Lees both started 8-1 and raced midfield. They
finished sixth and third respectively but the former might enjoy the longer trip at Newcastle
being by the champion sire Fastnet Rock. Others with hopes are NEVER DWELL who has Jason
Lee up for Gai here and the son of Danzero has led in both of his starts. Some query on the
strength of his two efforts but at least they had some depth in the fields while DELAGOS brings
in a trial win at Randwick.
Selections: 5 PENNINES, 9 CALABAR ZONE, 11 PHANTOM QUEEN
RACE 3: (1:12pm)
Belmont Citi Centre 2yo Maiden Plate (Div 2)
Grade: Juvenile Maiden
Distance: 1300m
In Division 2 of the youngsters, the debutants will hold much attention in the market place. But
one who has raced is SACRED STAR. He started second favourite in a big field Kembla meeting
early last month and was second last into the straight. He worked to the line nicely suggesting
the slightly longer trip will help his cause. If it is the first starters who do strike the right chords, then STAINER has some great bloodlines to lap up the 1300m first time out. He is by High Chaparral (So You Think, Shoot Out, Descarado, Monaco Consul etc) out of a Star Way mare which means any give in the ground will make him harder to toss. A noteworthy runner kicking off here is EL SHAZZAR. He’s by Snitzel and their 2yos have had a great trot recently. Running first time at home offers that familiarity which most of the others haven’t got the luxury of. Keep ORNITHOLOGIST in mind as well. Her best effort was the last one at Kembla.
Selections: 6 SACRED STAR, 7 STAINER, 3 EL SHAZZAR
RACE 4: (1:52pm)
Mercedes Benz Commercial Vehicles Benchmark 60
Grade: Handicap
Distance: 900m
This is how the Benchmark system should work. It allows those rated above the top rating a
chance to run against inferior ranked horses plus it gives apprentices a chance to shine. That is
the case here with TASOS. This horse has to lump plenty of weight here but isn’t as far over the limit as could have been the case after the claim. Take into account that this 6yo absolutely flies fresh and here also. His last three preparations have begun with a win over this course and distance. There will be enough speed so he can camp just off them from this gate and possibly charge over them. After him, the rest are all around a similar Benchmark. GOLD WORLD is ever consistent and races off a few months break. She joins her new stable after consistently placing in harder midweek quality races and has a 3kg claim. COLLECT THE KITTY resumes here from a good barrier to find the fence. He did win first up last time in but would like the track to be as firm as possible while ZAMALEK STAR should be better for having one run back and can handle any surface, racing on the speed over these short trips. MEWS is consistently running nicely.
Selections: 1 TASOS, 3 GOLD WORLD, 8 COLLECT THE KITTY
RACE 5: (2:35pm)
Stockland Shopping Centre F&M Maiden Handicap
Grade: Maiden
Distance: 1400m
There is no doubt the barriers in this race will play a role with several leading chances drawn out wide. We like the way POMPIDOU got to the line in a maiden during the Scone Cup carnival.
She led on debut but then was a long way back second time out in the big field. Perhaps a little
lost over the 1000m from an inside draw there, she won’t get run off her feet out two more
furlongs and drawing where she has may actually give her some galloping room. One of the key
lead ups has to be the race at Kembla a fortnight back. In that race won by Snowgums,
ENJOYMENT was second and TABLIOPE came third. Both were very similar prices that day,
raced on the speed and finished within a head of each other. Perhaps Enjoyment has more
scope to improve as this will be her second run compared to the third for Chris Waller’s runner.
JAIPUR PRINCESS could be one for value punters here. John O’Shea’s team are really racing
well as we’ve seen with their top sprinters but most of his runners are never far away when not
winning as well. She had three runs at the start of the preparation and showed she will like to
get a trip (no surprise with the breeding). So starting off at 1400m is the perfect distance for a
staying type and she’s had two trials as well.
Selections: 1 POMPIDOU, 3 ENJOYMENT, 10 JAIPUR PRINCESS
RACE 6: (3.15pm)
UD Trucks Maiden Plate
Grade: Maiden
Distance: 1850m
It seems this is the race for VEETEN. He was heavily backed first up here and got back a long
way from the inside barrier over 1300m. Only clear in the last 100m, he charged to the line that day and then raced slightly closer over the mile at Scone. The winner of that race Love Excels has gone straight to the Queensland Oaks run this Saturday. He is bred to lap up the 1850m as his dam won an Edward Manifold at Flemington beating Miss Finland. Importantly he finds a wide gate which is the first time he’s not been cluttered away in a race. If CAESAR’S
PRINCESS can finish off her race better than at Gosford she might be the only danger. Strongly
fancied there, at least we know she will be out of harm’s way up front and has been looking for
longer. DRAGONZONE needs to lift but if ever a Cummings horse of this breeding will run this
distance, it is this one. Half-brother to Faint Perfume, she only got hot once they were beyond a mile and he came from some margin back last effort. DESTINY’S DANCE comes out of the
same event at Gosford as Caesar’s Princess and was considered a decent chance in that at 3-1.
If he happens to get a run being an emergency, he is ready to step up here.
Selections: 8 VEETEN, 11 CAESAR’S PRINCESS, 6 DRAGONZONE
RACE 7: (3:55pm)
Ad-Built Extensions F&M Class 2 Handicap
Grade: Handicap
Distance: 1500m
A very competitive group of girls here, many of them who have been having a real crack
recently. The track that a few of these ran on at Randwick recently was badly affected and also
very conducive to swoopers. FLYING HOPE had to come between runners and it wasn’t the way
of those races. She comes back home where she won well three runs back and then backed that up with a midweek win at Warwick Farm. The inside barrier will save her plenty of turf.
SUKRAJI went to Cessnock after just missing here at odds on 5 May. She sat back at the rear,
then rounded them up in a similar graded race to this. A smaller field will probably help as traffic won’t be an issue. Watch any market moves for DOUBLE CREST. Her best two runs have been at 1400m, the longest she has raced over. Now an extra 100m, she arrives off a dominant win at Gunnedah. Recent Newcastle winners WHO’S READY and FAITH IN MY must also be chances.
Selections: 2 FLYING HOPE, 3 SUKRAJI, 7 DOUBLE CREST
RACE 8: (4:30pm)
Sheer Elegance C,G&E Class 2 Handicap
Grade: Handicap
Distance: 1500m
Not a great deal of depth to finish the card. BLATHER looked good rattling home at Scone. He
was last turning when favourite in another Class 2 and Paul Messara likes to use these big
tracks, allowing his runners to get back and balance up. It’s the best draw he’s found in his
career as well. The best horse in this race at his best is GOGRA GOGRA. Before encountering
some obvious issues, he was running quite well in town. He’s had two trials for this and if the
money comes, it will say he could well be the one to be on. After placing at Canterbury,
JELLYBEAN JACK can build on his first attempt beyond 1300m. He had to come from near the
rear and raced without luck in that. Ridden patiently again he should race well.
Selections: 5 BLATHER, 1 GOGRA GOGRA, 4 JELLYBEAN JACK
MEETING SUMMARY & SELECTIONS
Grant Buckley looks to have a good book of rides with a couple of good chances early and then
horses right in the market late. Of the local trainers Kris Lees will saddle up plenty of hopes
while Chris Waller looms as the metro conditioner of the day.
Best Bet: Race 6-8 VEETEN
Next Best: Race 5-1 POMPIDOU
Value Runner: Race 2-5 PENNINES