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By Gary Harley

Talented Warwick Farm mare Tricky Gal can atone for an unlucky defeat last start when she steps out in the 1600 metre Benchmark 64 Handicap on Newcastle Spring Carnival’s Ladies Day on Saturday.

Tricky Gal has had three starts in her career and she should be unbeaten.

The four-year-old was an unwanted $31 chance when she stormed home from last at the top of the straight to win on debut at Newcastle on July 6.

She went to Goulburn for her second start with a similar result. Tricky Gal came from last to impressively win running away by 1 ¼ lengths.

On September 1 she was trapped three wide with no cover and ran off on the home turn before going down by a nose at Wyong on a heavy track.

The mare has a horror draw on Saturday however Christian Reith is expected to let her drift back in the field and unwind down the home straight.

Tricky Gal runs second at Wyong on September 1

The Snowden camp should strike early with four-year-old Carif in the opening event, an 1850 metre Class 1 and Maiden.

Clearly the class runner, Carif was beaten four lengths in the Group 1 Queensland Derby in June after two close seconds at Randwick and Warwick Farm. He beat a strong field by three lengths at Newcastle in March.

The eagerly awaited return of Kris Lees' promising filly Regimental Band takes place at Newcastle on Saturday.

Regimental Band is well placed under the set weight conditions with 54 ½ kilograms and she has barrier one.

The I Am Invincible filly had her second race start in the Listed Woodlands Stakes over the Scone Carnival in May. She was beaten two lengths by the crack filly Libertini after coming from well back.

Regimental Band was narrowly beaten by Group 1 winner El Dorado Dreaming in a recent trial. Since that trial she galloped between races with Everest-bound In Her Time and there was little between the pair as they came home the last 600m in 32.20.

Chris Waller’s Group 3 winner Charge resumes in the 900 metre Hurricane Handicap.

The four-year-old led throughout to win the Group 3 Red Anchor at Moonee Valley in October.

He was then beaten three quarters of a length by Gem Song in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince. Charge won a recent Randwick trial.

Godolphin’s Lanigera returns to the scene of his only win when he contests the 900 metre Class 2 Handicap.

Lanigera bolted in over this course in June before he went for a spell. He was only beaten two lengths at Warwick Farm recently and his only win was second up.

He has speed to burn and he was only beaten three quarters of a length at Flemington in a Listed Race in March.

Wyong trainer Tracey Bartley has a strong hand with the two topweights in the final event, the 1400m Benchmark 70.

The stablemates are Defeat and McCormack with the former in career best form.

Defeat has won two of his last three and he was most unlucky when a fast finishing third at Wyong last start. McCormack was disappointing first up but if he strikes form he can win.

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