Gary Harley – Herald – 15.01.26
The Newcastle Jockey Club celebrated its largest Boxing Day attendance in years and after a three week break the club kicks off what is predicted to be massive 2026 when it hosts the club’s first meeting of the year on the Beaumont track on Thursday.
Newcastle Knights teammates Bradman Best, Daniel Saifiti and Matt Croker share in the ownership of promising 3-year-old Steel Knight which resumes from a spell in the 1150 metre NZB ‘100 Years’ Karaka 25-29 January Class 1 Handicap. Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, the son of Capitalist won a Canberra 2-year-old event in February then was runner up in the Black Opal Preview before finishing 2.5 lengths from the winner King Of Pop in the Group 3 Black Opal in March. Steel Knight was impressive when narrowly beaten by five times winner and Group 2 placegetter Zealously in a Rosehill barrier trial on January 2. Stable apprentice Molly Fitzgerald, who has ridden 43 winners this season has the mount and claims 1.5 kilograms. Nathan Doyles Iron Fury is knocking on the door with two recent runner up performances and also has a good chance in the race.
Chad Scholfield is riding at the race meeting and one of his better mounts is the Richard Litt trained Ahellbenda in the 1350 metre The Prince Of Merewether F&M Benchmark 64 Handicap. The mare was odds on favourite when successful on this track on December 6 and she followed up with a close second behind the smart Oui Oui at Randwick on December 27. She is an on pacer and can overcome barrier 9.
Randwick trainer Michael Freedman and Darby racing combine with 3-year-old filly Impuritize one of the main chances in the 1350 metre Horsepower Feeds & Supplements Super Maiden Handicap. The stables apprentice Jace McMurray has the mount after piloting the filly into a close second placing first up at Gosford on New Years Eve. Impuritize has speed and has a positive barrier.
The blinkers go on the Harry Angel colt Ambrace The Wind another good ride for Chad Scholfield in the 1150 metre The Adviser Collective Midway Maiden Handicap. The 3-year-old made up may lengths from the of the field when beaten 2.67 lengths in a Randwick Maiden on Boxing Day. That was the first race start and the barrier is okay.
More than half a dozen of Sydney’s leading trainers are represented in the opening event the 1200metre Davali Thoroughbreds Maiden Handicap. Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou will send Good ‘N’ You up the M1 and he has been impressive in there recent trials. The gelding will be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy and the rails barrier is a plus.
The Newcastle Jockey Club is inviting everyone to an entry free day on Saturday of the Australia Day long weekend on January 24. It is the annual Legends Race Day