On a day that Arrowfield Stud celebrated the win of freakish mare Autumn Glow at Randwick, their colours were first past the post in a Class 1 Handicap at Newcastle with a potential Group 1 contender. It was the annual Maitland Rugby Club race day, and all eyes were on the Arrowfield filly Verity, backed from $3.70 into $3.30 in the opening event the 1600 metre Huxley Hill Class 1 Handicap. The sister to Know Thyself winner of two feature races, The $1 Million Country Championships and $500,000 Gosford The Coast. Verity was facing the starter for the third time. The daughter of The Autumn Suns’ two previous starts were at Muswellbrook when she turned in eye catching performances form the tail of the field.
The tough Newcastle ‘mile’ was ideal following her brilliant fast finishing win in a Muswellbrook Maiden on October 20. Christian Reith was aboard the 3-year-old, and he allowed her to settle a clear last to near the home turn in the seven-horse field. Verity powered home down the long straight to grab the lead on the winning post. The Messara- Gavranich training partnership are considering taking on Group company with Verity in her next meet start which could be on The Newcastle Herald Hunter Race Day on November 15. Verity could be an ATC Oaks contender in the Autumn.
Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker interviewed on Sky Racing Radio on Saturday morning told the audience that his 3-year-old filly Swordplay was his best chance anywhere in the nation on Saturday. The Kiwi was spot-on as the support from punters tumbled in with the filly firming from $3.20 into $1.95 before easing to $2.30 at barrier rise. Swordplay had four trials and was $2.50 in her only start when fourth at Warwick Farm in June. The filly had blistering speed, and she quickly led by three lengths and increased her lead in the straight to win by 4.76 lengths.
The TAB reported that Chris Wallers Kiwi bred 3-year-old John Dory just missed landing a huge plunge in the 1300 metre Hunter Land Management Maiden Handicap. The gelding was on debut and TAB listed him as a $13 chance on Friday and if punters secured those odds, they could receive $18 after scratchings. On race day when John Dory was backed from $2.70 into $1.85. early favourite Three Arrows ($3.00) led all the way and held off the favourite to win by half a length. Trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton applied the blinkers to Three Arrows which was narrowly beaten at Newcastle on debut on October 18.
The Gai Waterhouse- Adrian Bott stable only had one starter at Newcastle, and the filly did not let the stable or favourite backers down. The Kiwi bred Rosa Incanta ($2.00) with the stables apprentice Zac Wadick claiming 1.5 kilograms and led all the way to win by 1.5 lengths after shaking off Chris Wallers Ernaux in the last 100 metres. Waller trained horses finished second, third and fourth.
The Lee brothers Jim and Greg combined with 3-kilogram apprentice Madeline Owen to win the Maitland Rugby Cup Benchmark 68 Handicap (1500 metres) with My Shalom. The latter bred by Coolmore is a daughter of American Pharoah and he has won four of his last nine starts.
The Newcastle Jockey Club is now preparing for their stand-alone metropolitan race meeting on Saturday November 15. Feature races include:
- The Beauford [Listed Race] (2300 Metres)
- 3YO Spring Stakes [Group 3] (1600 Metres)
- Max Lees Classic (900 Metres)
And The Main Event The $1 Million The Newcastle Herald Hunter [Group 2] (1300 Metres).