The Newcastle stand-alone meeting will be held this Saturday (16th Nov). The course proper was rated a Soft 6 on Thursday and with scattered showers leading up to the weekend, Newcastle will be racing on a Soft track on raceday.
Perennial Highway winner Danielle Seib has got Cable Express primed to win the Highway Handicap (Sydney Race 3, 1600m). The lightly-raced gelding has won three races with two further placings from only seven career starts. He did well winning a Highway Handicap over the Randwick mile last start and staying at 1600m on Saturday should suit. Being out of a Teofilo mare, the 4YO should handle the Soft condition. Jason Collett takes over the rein and from the inside gate, Collett will go to the front on the fence and Cable Express is the one they have to catch.
Alabama State has been going well this preparation and he is ready to take out the Spring Stakes (Sydney Race 7, 1600m). This Jack Pilkington-trained 3YO colt took out a Midway Handicap (1400m) two starts back before closing off nicely when 4th in the strong Four Pillars last start at Rosehill. He’s rock hard fit and is ready to step up to 1600m. Though he’s up in class, Alabama State has drop 2kg to 56.5kg. Kerrin McEvoy will sit just behind the leaders from gate 1 and Alabama State will be ready to pounce rounding the home turn.
The Kosciuszko winner Far Too Easy will prove very competitive in The Hunter (Sydney Race 8, 1300m). David McColm had done a great job in getting the All Too Hard gelding ready to win the Kosciuszko second-up. Fitter again and the 6YO is ready to step up to 1300m. And he has a mighty record on Soft tracks with five wins and a 2nd. Kyle Wilson-Taylor knows the horse well and he will be back on board on Saturday. With pretty good pace in the race, Kyle-Wilson can ease in to settle just behind the leading bunch from a wide gate and Far Too Easy will overcome the leaders down the Newcastle straight.
By Owens Wong
