Latest News

By Gary Harley

Newcastle Jockey Club’s annual Legends Raceday will be held on Saturday with the club recognising a handful of NJC Legends – Robert Thompson, Paul Perry, Kris Lees, Jack Newton and yours truly.

The racing quartet are of course lifetime contributors to the industry and the late Jack Newton bred and raced thoroughbreds and was one of Australia’s greatest golfers.

Chris Waller will be hoping his former kiwi 4-year-old Unusual Legacy has better luck in his second Australian start when he returns to Newcastle to contest the Harrison Painting – Jack Newton Benchmark 64 Handicap (1850m).

The gelding has only had two starts, the first at Otaki on November 8 when he won a 1600m maiden at odds of $13.

He was then sent to Waller’s Sydney stable and on December 29 Nash Rawiller rode him in a very quiet Rosehill trial when he beat two home.

Rawiller drove to Newcastle to ride Unusual Legacy in his only Australian start on January 11 and he had plenty of luck – all bad – in the 1500m event.

The potential stayer was off the map with punters and he was a $1.85 favourite when the gates opened.

Rawiller gave him a lovely ride on the rail midfield but at the top of the straight he was badly held up and again later in the straight.

By the time the horse got clear to storm home the bird had flown. The longer trip is ideal, he has barrier one and Waller’s provincial jockey Lee Magorrian has the mount.

The champion trainer has three acceptors in The Angelov Family – Paul Perry Super Maiden Plate (1850m), however, the European bred Counter clearly has the best form.

The 4-year-old has been placed in his last three starts at Canterbury all over 1900m and Grant Buckley has the ride on Saturday.

John O’Shea has called on the services of Aaron Bullock in an attempt to change the 3-year-old Dimitrov’s luck when the son of I Am Invincible contests the Steven Angelov – Kris Lees Maiden Handicap (1300m) with 61 kilograms on his back.

Dimitrov has been placed in four of his five starts and all four have been on Sydney metropolitan tracks.

O’Shea sent the blue blood to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions maiden on January 6 and he was backed from $3.30 into $2.70.

In the Gold Coast run he was never on the track and over raced. The negative on Saturday is the adverse barrier but jockey Bullock has 72 winners in close to six months of the current season.

Merchant Empires recent Rosehill trial win indicates he is ready for a debut win in the 900m Velich Advisory – Robert Thompson Midway Maiden Plate.

He shared the lead in the 1030m trial and raced away in the straight to win by 2.95 lengths.

The fact he was strong last was no surprise as his dam is by Tavistock.
There is speed in this race and from the rails barrier he should sit behind the leaders.

Has track specialist Super got another Newcastle win in him? The winner of six races at Newcastle and two on this track over this distance, Super is well placed in the Bob Velich Memorial Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1600m).

He has Bullock aboard and barrier two but needs to improve on his last start fifth here.

SELECTIONS
Race 1: 3 – Mechant Empire
Race 2: 2 – Unusual Legacy
Race 3: 2 – Counter
Race 4: 7 – All Too Rosy
Race 5: 3 – Super
Race 6: 1 – Dimitrov
Race 7: 1 – Poseidon Ruler
Race 8: 5 – French Marine