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By Gary Harley

Newcastle Jockey Club, on the back up from Saturday’s successful Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation Raceday, will stage another attractive race meeting on the course proper on Tuesday.

It’s Port Stephens Cup Day with sponsors from the area supporting the day.

Paul Snowden, based at Port Macquarie these days, will travel down with former Queensland mare Cluedo ($3.80) which is second favourite on TAB in the 1400m Newcastle Herald F&M Benchmark 64 Handicap.

Cluedo (Mikayla Weir) parades at Newcastle. Image by Bradley Photographers

With legendary trainer Brian Smith announcing his retirement at the end of this season, the Kiwi-bred Cluedo has been transferred to the Snowden stable.

The mare won a Port Macquarie trial for Snowden on June 15 and she could not have been more impressive in a first-up Taree win on a soft track on June 30.

She carried 60.5kg and Aaron Bullock put her in third place and when he revved the mare up on the home turn Cluedo sprinted away.

Her Queensland form last preparation was good enough and Bullock has the mount again.

Richard & Will Freedman’s three-year-old Cold Brew ($2.50 favourite) has ultra-consistent form and has come up with the rails barrier in the 1400m Port Stephens Examiner Benchmark 64 Handicap.

He has had two starts since resuming from a spell last month and returned in good form.

Cold Brew was beaten 1.66 lengths into second place first-up on the Kensington Track on a Soft 6 on June 11, and second-up when he stepped out on a Good 4 surface at Hawkesbury on June 26.

That day he blitzed the opposition to win a maiden by 4.6 lengths with Rory Hutchings having his first ride on the gelding.

The Archibald stable’s Zoustar 2yo colt Hillier ($2.40 fav) raced in quality juvenile events earlier this year and he resumes in the 1200m Nelson Bay Bowling Recreation Club Maiden Plate.

After a close second in the Group 3-Canonbury Stakes on February 1 he finished out of a place in the Pierro, Skyline and Black Opal before a spell.

The colt has had two recent trials and on June 27 on a Good 4 surface he trialled nicely at Randwick when beaten half a length.

He raced past Saturday’s easy Newcastle winner Southern Heiress in the closing stages, and the trial indicates he can win first-up. Tom Sherry rides the colt from a lovely barrier.

Sherry rides the early second favourite, Malbork Castle ($3.40) in the opening event the 2200m Vale Ben Smith Benchmark 64 Handicap.

The Richard Litt-trained 3yo is chasing a hat-trick of wins after narrow victories at Hawkesbury on June 17 and 26.

He was tough winning a Class 1, 2100m event at Hawkesbury last start as he hit the front at the top of the straight and fought hard to the line.

Chris Waller trains the two early favourites The Stars ($2.50 fav) and Say Yes ($2.80) in the 1200m Sirena Seaside Restaurant Fillies & Mares Maiden Plate.

The Stars racing in the Torryburn Stud colours is resuming after two placings from the Zoustar filly’s four starts during her first preparation in January and February.

The two placings were at Rosehill and Canterbury, and The Star races well on the speed and draws favourably with Rory Hutchings in the saddle.

Say Yes is on debut after a number of trials and was beaten a length in a Rosehill trial on July 4 when under no pressure.

Ciaron Maher has two good chances in the 1400m Destination Port Stephens Cup Maiden Plate with both $4 equal favourite on TAB

Skirmish to be ridden by Ash Morgan indicated she needs the longer trip after her fourth placing on debut on the Kensington Track on June 25, while Invisible Magic has been placed in her only four starts.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Newcastle here