From Scott Aspery
Horse: Uzziah
Message: (Saturday, Newcastle Race 10, Ausure Insurance Newcastle) I think he’s a great chance, from a favourable barrier and with 52kg after the claim he should give a good sight. I had to reset the gelding’s preparation when he fell ill about a week after his first-up run. He got a chest infection and had to be treated with antibiotics so he had nine days of doing nothing at all. We had to go back to scratch and start again, had that not happened he’d probably be more looking at a race like the Gong. We went back to 1100m (at Rosehill two weeks ago) to give him that run and make sure health wise he was 100 per cent and he ticked that box. Now we’re stepping up to a more suitable distance. We’ll be positive from the gate, barrier four is perfect, Molly (Bourke) has a good connection with the horse. If we don’t lead we’ll be right there. It’s a distance and a race where he can hopefully be right there on the bunny and if he can control the race without any pressure then great but if not Molly knows what to do.
From Luke Thomas
Horse: Best Of Maher
Message: (Saturday, Newcastle Race 3, Highway Hcp) I’m coming with a real tough, genuine horse and some favours, I think. He’s off two strong wins with a big weight drop, suited at the mile off a 1750m win and he’ll appreciate the big track. He carried 61kg to win last start at home and drops to 55.5kg – a big factor. We’ve drawn 12 but likely to come in with scratchings and our intention is to be on pace and that’s where he’s been winning in easier grade. You’ve got no hope getting back in Highways in capacity fields when they’re evenly matched restricted graders. He’s a leggy, gangly big strider, in a big field I’d prefer drawn wider with galloping space than be inside and traffic.
From David McColm
Horse: Far Too Easy
Message: (Saturday, Newcastle Race 8, The Hunter) I just believe weight wise, the alley could have been a bit better, and with the track with a bit of give that’s ideal conditions and he’ll be rattling at the end. I really think he’s up to the mark, he’s going to run a really good race. I’d love to see a bit of sting out of the ground and if we get that he’ll be super. He has drawn badly previously and always run a good race but he’s drawn badly and it’s been on hard tracks. It just needs to be so it’s not rock hard. Ideally, he’ll be three or four lengths off the speed. I don’t know what’s in Joe Pride’s mind but I’m sure Coal Crusher will be going forward. As long as we can get a nice trail in behind and within striking distance we’ll be right there. We’ll be positive like in the Kosi. We’ll be in a stalking position, we won’t be in a leading position but we’ll be right behind them.
From John Sargent
Thur 14th Nov, 2024
Horse: Glad You Think So
Message: (Saturday, Newcastle Race 6, Alf Kneebone Trans Tasman Trophy) Glad You Think So finished down the track first-up over 1400m on the Kensington track but ran a much-improved race last start when 6th and just over two lengths from Battleton over 1500m at Rosehill. His last run was very good. He hit the line well with Ben Melham at Rosehill. He is getting out to a distance now where he will be dangerous. Kerrin Mcevoy rides and I expect a decent run from him on Saturday.
Horse: French Ruler
Message: (Saturday, Newcastle Race 7, Spring Stakes) I just thought, it’s a gamble going down to Caulfield (as he was also nominated) if you draw wide first time so we will stick here and weigh up the options between the two races. The Newcastle race isn’t an over-strong field so we will assess it and go from there. He had to ease around heels at the top of the straight before finishing hard for 2nd to Mad Darcey in a Midway Handicap last start and he has improved physically since then. He is a very promising horse and he seems to be learning all the time. Hopefully from now on he should be really hitting his straps. His coat has just come out now so he is finally coming into himself. That is one of the only things that is a little bit tricky (stepping from 1200m to 1600m). I worked him a bit further in his gallop on Tuesday to account for that, but that is a jump up. He has had trials and races, so he’s pretty fit and adaptable, hopefully that won’t be too much.
Horse: Perfect Thought
Message: (Saturday, Newcastle Race 10, Ausure Insurance Newcastle Handicap) Perfect Thought has failed to live up to his early promise but off the back of a good spell, I am hoping he can rediscover some form this preparation. He just went off his form so we gave him a decent break and hopefully that has done him good. He seems better and stronger so we will go from Saturday and see how he goes after that. It’s probably short of his best, but I’ll be happy as long as he’s hitting the line.
From Kris Lees
Horse: Éclair Encore
Message: (Saturday, Newcastle Race 7, Spring Stakes) She’s only a country maiden winner but it hasn’t come up that strong. I think she is a nice filly in time, whether we are getting to a stakes race a little early but with a filly with a bit of pedigree if she can place it’ll be to her advantage down the track.
Horse: Rustic Steel
Message: (Saturday, Newcastle Race 8, The Hunter) Rustic Steel is a last start winner of the Listed Ladies Day Cup at Hawkesbury. He broke the track record at Hawkesbury and that showed he’s still got some racing ahead of him. It was important he drew a nice gate (3) or I might have reassessed him. It’s a hard race to win but, looking forward to Saturday, he’ll get the right set up and get his chance. Last year it was a stepping stone to get him to the Ingham (Stakes) whereas this year it’ll be fourth run in on a nine day turnaround so he’d be pretty ready. He ran well in the Hunter last year albeit he was only second-up that day off a long lay off so he’s probably going into it in better condition. And the gate allows him the opportunity to take up a forward spot.
From Brad Widdup
Horse: Phearson
Message: (Saturday, Newcastle Race 8, The Hunter) Phearson has had to contend with wide gates in three of his five runs this campaign, including his most recent (in the Russell Balding Stakes). I was very impressed with him the other day against those horses (against Bella Nipotina). He wasn’t beaten far, only five or six lengths. He’s had a luckless preparation but he’s up in that grade now where he has climbed the ladder and he’s there. He doesn’t do himself any favours (by putting all his energy into his races), but he has been a great horse for the stable.
From Joseph Pride
Horse: Private Eye
Message: (Saturday, Newcastle Race 8, The Hunter) I’ve popped him over the jumps, we have a little jumps set up in the middle of the track at Warwick Farm. You’ve got to be a bit fearless to be jumpers and he’s a bit of a sook Private Eye but it’s waking him up. You like to stimulate them mentally and it’s doing that but he’s not naturally talented at jumping. I think we’re going to see a good tempo, Coal Crusher coming across from out wide and Felix Majestic kicking up so as we generally do in this race you’ll get a good genuine tempo, and if we can get to midfield three deep or one off the fence even better. I can’t make excuses for him, he’s got to be competitive here.
Horse: Coal Crusher
Message: (Saturday, Newcastle Race 8, The Hunter) The one who’s terribly weighted is Coal Crusher, I had a couple of chats with the handicapper about him, how he only gets a kilo off Private Eye has got me absolutely gobsmacked. Won a Hunter a year ago, never won any other group race, I don’t know. Coal Crusher will have a new jockey for The Hunter after dropping out to finish last when setting a blistering tempo in the Russell Balding with Nash Rawiller confirmed to ride. I am confident the horse can bounce back after a “disaster last start”.
From The Editor
Sydney Race 3 – Cable Express
Sydney Race 7 – Alabama State
Sydney Race 8 – Far Too Easy
