Gary Harley – Wrap – 20.11.25
The stormy weather may not have suited some, however it played into the hands of Canberra trainer Rob Potter and his six-year-old mare Laurel Hill at the Newcastle Jockey Clubs race meeting on Thursday. The seven-race program kicked off on a Good 4 rating track however stewards downgraded the track to a Soft 5 following race 4. Potter a rare visitor to Newcastle with his team elected to male the long trip from the Nationals Capital as Laurel Hill was well placed with the unit weight of 55 kilograms in the 1400 metre National Thoroughbred Week Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap. His confidence was enhanced during the day as rain fell during the meeting and the mare had solid wet track form.
Potter booked former Newcastle jockey Dylan Gibbons to ride Laurel Hill and there was support from punters as she firmed from $11.00 into $9.50 on race day. It was a clever ride by Gibbons as the mare was last to leave the barrier and after settling third last Gibbons set her alight around the field from the ‘800’ and she joined the leaders at the top of the straight. Laurel Hill sprinted clear 200 metres out and held on the win by a neck.
Potter was over the moon when interviewed by Sky Racings Gavin Carmody following the race “It was a 10 out of 10 ride by Dylan as she likes to be ridden that way. I was confident when the rain arrived Laurel Hill had not won a race for fifteen months. She is a beautiful mare. It’s not a bad place up here” Potter said. The win was Gibbons second for the day as he piloted Bjorn Bakers 4-year-old Viktor to a narrow victory in the 1400 metre O’Neill Tyres Maitland – Steve O’Neill memorial Class 1 Handicap. It was Viktors second won form ten starts and continues the great run of success enjoyed by the Baker stable.
Former Scone apprentice Reece Jones enjoying a good season book ended the Newcastle meeting. Jones in his second season since completing his apprenticeship has now ridden 24 winners in less than four months of the current season. At Newcastle Jones combined with Domeland and their new trainer Nacim Dilmi to land the $2.70 favourite Emery, a convincing winner of the opening event, the 1250 metre Vale Scott Dailey Maiden Handicap. The mare put the writing on the wall after a close third start at Hawkesbury in October 23. On Tuesday Emery settled in fifth place and Jones moved her up to make ground near the home turn. She sprinted clear from the ‘300’ and Jones eased her down late to win by 1.67 lengths. Jones sent favourite punters home happy when he steered the heavily backed favourite Uncle Harry to victory in the final event the 1600 metre The Prince Of Merewether Benchmark 64 Handicap. After jumping well Uncle Harry settled in fourth spot but after being ridden along on the home turn it took him most of the straight to hit the front and win by close to a length. Jones said it was a tough win “ he was flat footed for the first section then he went through his gears. They outsprinted him for a while but he was very strong to the line” Jones said.
Paul Perry trains Uncle Harry which was the second Newcastle trained galloper to salute. Kris Lees, 3-year-old Trumper with Adam Hyeronimus in the saddle, was an easy winner of the 900-meter Davali Thoroughbred Super Maiden Plate. Hyeronimus was impressed but said Trumper will improve with that run under his belt.