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By Gary Harley

Promising Arrowfield filly Genzano ($2.25 favourite on TAB), granddaughter of multiple Group 1 winner Ortensia, takes on Provincial company for the first time at Newcastle on Saturday and she can overcome the outside barrier in the small field.

Trained by Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich, the three-year-old will contest the opening event, the Elders 3YO Class 1 & Maiden Plate (1500m) and starts from barrier seven in the seven-horse field.

The barrier may not be a major issue as there is a 500m run to the first turn and Genzano will probably get across midfield one off the rail.

The smart Genzano (Grant Buckley) bolts in at Scone. Image by Bradley Photographers

Genzano is crying out for 1500m after a slashing Scone 1300m Maiden win on October 16.

Grant Buckley rode the filly for the first time at Scone when she raced away to win by 3.37 lengths and he has the mount on Saturday.

This is a hefty rise in class from a Scone Maiden, however, the daughter of Maurice is talented.

John Sargent’s mare Spiritchaser ($2.80 fav) has had two starts at Newcastle over 900m and has been placed in both.

She led in a 1100m Canterbury maiden in November last year only to finish second, two lengths behind Royal Merchant. Andrew Adkins has the mount on Saturday.

The speedy Forms of Fear ($3.40 equal fav) can overcome a wide barrier in the Hunt Hospitality Benchmark 64 Handicap (900m).

The David Pfieffer-trained son of Written Tycoon had his first Newcastle run last start on October 17 and was backed from $6 into $3.50.

He led until the closing stages before being nailed by the promising Confess Our Dreams, and Alysha Collet rides Forms of Fear on Saturday.

John O’Shea’s The Autumn Sun three-year-old Natural Deduction ($7.50) steps up to 1900m in the Huxley Hill Benchmark 64 Handicap, but he must overcome the widest barrier.

He was impressive second-up from a spell when he won a Newcastle 1600m maiden on October 17.

He always indicated he needed time, and it was a tough win last start as he raced in second place in a strung-out field and was to the line strong.

His breeding suggests the 1900m won’t be a problem with the barrier the only negative. Tommy Berry rode Natural Deduction last start but Ash Morgan rides on Saturday.

The Maitland Rugby Club, 2023 Premiers in the Newcastle competition have booked the NJC Pavilion for their function on Saturday and Race 5 is the First National Maitland “Maitland” Cup Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap (1500m).

Aaron Bullock rides the topweight Big Happiness ($2.90 fav) for Kristen Buchanan, and he is the one to beat. Bullock rode the horse last start at Newcastle on October 17 when he closed off nicely to be beaten 1.62 lengths.

He was second-up last start after a first-up placing at Wyong and he is ready to win third-up and has drawn barrier one.

Four of Big Happiness’ five wins have been on soft tracks and showers are predicted for Friday and Saturday.

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