Gary Harley
The Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott trained 3-year-old colt God Save The King a $775,000 buy at the 2024 Magic Millions Yearling Sales in the Gold Coast was one of five favourites to salute at the Newcastle Jockey Clubs seven race Wine Country meeting on the Beaumont track on Mondy. The son of Kings Legacy was on debut following three recent barrier trails in which he won his most recent Warwick Farm trial by 2.5 lengths on February 2.
On Monday God Save The King led from the start under Winona Costin and he raced away in the closing stages to win by 2.5 lengths in the 1350 metre The Advisers Collective Maiden Plate. The $1.75 favourite is raced by a large group of owners headed by James Harron.
Kris Lees imported mare Golden Smile first past the post but lost a race int eh stewards room om the Beaumont track on December 16, won her second start when she led throughout to win the opening event the 2200 metre Dailey Family Funerals Class 1 and Maiden Plate by more than 7 lengths. Relishing the soft track conditions after 14 millimeters of rain the previous night, Golden Smile, the $3 favourite, was rated perfectly in front by Andrew Gibbons.
Hunter Valley based apprentice Grace Palmer rode her third winner in less than two weeks when successful aboard the John Banister trained mare Arabian Melody in the 1150 metre New Zealand Bloodstock country Boosted Maiden Plate. A drifter in betting from $2.10 on race morning to $3.60 Arabian Melody was on debut for Bannister after being winless in five starts for Ciaron Maher. The 6-year-old had not raced since September 2023 but had trialled twice in January for Bannister. Palmer hunted the mare out of the barriers, and she travelled in second or third place before challenging the leader Gyra in the closing stages. Under vigorous riding by Palmer Arabian Melody forged clear to win by half a length. Palmer is apprenticed to Todd Howlett and Mondays win was her fifth since moving to the Hunter Valley.
New Pharoah’s easy win in the 1150 metre New Era Technology Country Boosted Benchmark 68 Handicap was the Scone training partnership of Brett and Georgie Cavanagh’s 31st New South Wales winner for the first half of the season. Well backed from $3.50 into $2.50 the gelding the gelding was given a rail hugging ride by Ash Morgan, and he was a class above the opposition. Brett Cavanaugh said following the race that New Pharaoh would have his next start in a Sydney Highway either this s Saturday or in two weeks’ time.
Morgan was the only jockey to ride two winners on the day when he steered $3.10 favourite Miss Capitale to victory in the final event. The mare trained by Matthew Smith was first up from a spell and she has two wins and a second from three starts.
The Newcastle Jockey Clubs next race meeting is the Prosperity Advisers Race Day on Saturday February 14.