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By Gary Harley

Gosford trained mare Pirrama is due for a change of luck when she contests the 1350 metre Fillies and Mares Maiden at the Wine Country Race Club meeting at the Newcastle Racecourse on Monday.

The five-year-old has been runner up in her past two starts at Muswellbrook and her pattern of racing suggests she will appreciate the long Newcastle straight.

Those two runs saw Pirrama near the tail of large fields at the top of the Muswellbrook straight, only to rattle home into second place. Christian Reith was aboard last start, and he has the mount again on Monday.

Paul Perry’s three year old Okudah, an impressive winner of his only start at Scone in August, resumes in the 1200 metre Benchmark 58 Handicap.

He beat Golden Eagle runner-up Icebath in a recent Gosford trial and Jay Ford has the mount. Okudah travelled in second place at Scone and he should race handy again.

Warwick Farm trainer Matthew Smith will saddle up Whiskey Jack in the opening event, the 2320 metre Class 1 and Maiden Plate.

Whiskey Jack was an easy winner over 1900 metres at Canterbury on December 11 and he was a close second at Bathurst next start.

All the fields, form and replays for Monday's Newcastle meeting