Gary Harley
Newcastle’s premier trainer Kris Lees has enjoyed a successful first half of the current racing season with 55 winners in two states and he is expected to add to that when the stable saddles up his consistent but unlucky 4-year-old Etoile Filante at Newcastle on Saturday. The 4-year-old lines up in the 1500 metre Porter Hire Provincial Class 1 Handicap with Aaron Bullock in the saddle. Last start on the Beaumont track Etoile Filante was well backed in a 1200 metre Class 1 and he was very unlucky. After racing keen early in the race, he was second last near the home turn then badly held up at the top of the straight. Etoile Filante had to be dragged off heels 250 metres from home and when clear he stormed home to finish third a neck from the winner. The longer trip is in the 4-year-olds’ favour and he has drawn nicely.
Chris Waller’s Wooten Bassett filly Asilah credited a huge impression when she bolted in in on debut on the Beaumont track on January 15 and she steps out for start number two in the 1300 metre Ryan Ansell Investments Solutions Class 1 Handicap. On debut she settled worse than midfield but made good ground near the turn before racing away unexpended to win by 2.4 lengths. This is a much stronger field however Asilah is promising.
Peter Snowden’s, 3-year-old colt Powerhouse, fitter for a solid first up performance on the Beaumont track on January 15 will appreciate the step up to 1600 metres in the Rais Super Benchmark 64 Handicap. First up Powerhouse conceded the tearaway leader and eventual winner Angara 12 lengths before the home turn and the colt finished powerfully winding up 1.17 lengths from the winner on the line. He will be fitter and the colt won a Super Maiden on this track in August and Keagan Latham has the mount on Saturday.
Seven-year-old Danish Prince is racing as well as ever this preparation and he will be hard to beat in the 1400 metre Girls Day Out X Kloster Ford Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap. The gelding is trained by the father and son partnership of Marc and Mitchell Conners, and he has won two races at Newcastle. He chased the tearaway leader Angara on the Beaumont track last start on January 15, but he kept coming late to finish second, less than half a length from Angara. He is normally on the pace and talented apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald will claim 1.5 kilograms.
Danish Prince will be tested by Nathan Doyle’s Caltsar a winner of three from five including a win on this track in April. Doyle’s apprentice Shannen Llewellyn will claim 3 kilograms aboard Caltsar and he is well weighted.
Paul Perry’s 5-year-old The Escape has not won a race since June 2024 however, his eye catching fourth at Warwick Farm less than a length from the winner on January 7 suggest he should run well in the 900 metre Montgomery Homes Benchmark 64 Handicap. Mollie Fitzgerad has the mount.