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By Gary Harley

Hunter Valley apprentice Braith Nock, on loan to Randwick trainer Peter Snowden for three months, heads to Newcastle again on Saturday for four mounts including two good chances for his new boss.

Nock outrode his country allowance last season when he booted home 89 winners and his master from day one Brett Cavanagh placed him with Snowden recently for three months.

Braith Nock returns after winning on Burj at Newcastle. Image by Bradley Photographers

The 23-year-old rode his first winner for Snowden since moving south when the promising three-year-old filly Burj ($3.10 favourite on TAB) was successful on debut at Newcastle on December 1, and she appears the best of his four mounts on Saturday.

The Corumbene Stud filly had very good trial form leading up to the debut run and she was the $2.15 favourite.

Nock bounced her quickly from the barrier and Burj travelled a little keen for four or five lengths behind a tearaway leader in second place.

The filly took the field up to the leader at the top of the straight and she cruised to a clear lead 200me from home.

Burj held off the fast finish of runner-up Endure to win by a short neck, she will be fitter second-up and draws perfectly in barrier 4 in the final event the 1200m A Plus Contracting & Poly Welding Benchmark 64 Handicap.

Nock’s other mount for Snowden is Strong Trade ($6.50) raced by world powerhouse Yulong Investments.

The 3yo son of Written Tycoon won a Warwick Farm Super Maiden on October 23, and he had a couple of recent barrier trials. He should run well in the 1600m Coastline Pools & Spas Christmas Plate Benchmark 64.

Stardeel ($2.60 fav), a Dundeel 3yo from the Bjorn Baker stable, resumes in the 1200m Dynamic Bradview Roofing Super Maiden Plate and he will be hard to beat.

The gelding was an odds-on favourite when run down and beaten less than a length at Hawkesbury in his only start on June 18. Stardeel has been impressive in winning two recent metropolitan trials under a hold and he will benefit from talented apprentice Olivia Chambers 3kg claim.

Paul Perry’s Puerto Banus ($7.50), unlucky when narrowly beaten at Wyong last start on November 23 can break through in the 900m Red Funnel Food Distributors Maiden. The 3yo has been placed in four of six starts.

At Wyong the gelding drifted back to third last and after being ridden along at the 400m he flashed home between runners to fail by a head.

During his career Puerto Banus has been runner-up in strong maiden races at Scone and Muswellbrook. The barrier is a bit tricky but the long straight suits.

Hawkesbury filly Rose’s Legacy ($3.70) bolted in with a 1500m Maiden on this track on December 1 and the step up to 1850m in the Tooheys Class 1 & Maiden Plate on Saturday should not be a problem.

The Kiwi bred 3yo led all the way last start and she will be on the speed again with Andrew Adkins in the saddle.

Nathan Doyle fresh from three winners last Saturday - two at Rosehill and one at Newcastle - will produce Monty Be Quick ($4.40) first-up in the 1200m River Realty Class 1 Handicap.

The Irish import went to the paddock following a 5.5 length Kembla win on July 27. His recent trial form is very good and Andrew Adkins who rode him at Kembla has the mount.

Newcastle trainer Jason Deamer saddles up Think We’re There ($6), the topweight in the 1600m Rarity Wholesale Maiden Handicap and he is knocking on the door.

The horse has been runner-up in his past two starts at Taree and Scone coming from well back. Four-time Group 1-wining jockey Christian Reith has the mount.

Another healthy crowd is expected with warm weather predicted on Coastline Pools & Spas Biggest Christmas Party Raceday which also includes the NSW Qualifiers for the National Pony Racing series to be run prior to the first race.

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