Gary Harley
Keagan Latham has won the past three NSW Provincial Jockeys Premiership, and the popular hoop heads up the M1 to Newcastle on Saturday where he has seven mounts. Latham has the mount on the O’Shea -Charlton Kiwi bred 3-year-old Cellamaster which is arguably the jockey’s best ride in the 1600 metres Prosperity Advisers Group Class 1 Handicap. The gelding has only had four starts, and he was impressive in a Randwick 1400 metre Maiden victory two starts back on Boxing Day.
Cellamaster travelled better than midfield and when Zac Lloyd started to ride the 3-year-old along from the top of the straight he gathered in the leaders and won by .89 of a length in the closing stages. Last start on the Gold Coast the son of Bivouac got back to near last in the $3 Million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas on January 17. In the huge field of seventeen he made good ground to finish midfield 3.88 lengths form the winner. The extra 200 metres on Saturday is ideal as the is the long straight.
Latham’s other Kiwi bred galloper Adaption for Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou in the 1600 metre Mai Well Super Maiden Handicap and has drawn favourably in barrier 2. The 3-year-old in his second race start in this track on January 24 was well backed and was doing his best work late when a strong finishing third 1.63 lengths from the winner Sinister. Runner-up Artie Steamer has subsequently been successful at Gosford, the additional 100 metres is ideal.
Bjorn Baker has booked Aaron Bullock to ride Almanzas on the chances in the 1850 HMRI Maiden Plate. He has had three unplaced starts this preparation Almanzas turned in an eye catcher first up at Orange when he came from second last at the 400 to finish two lengths from the winner on January 6. Backed at double figure odds over 1850 metres at Newcastle on January 24 the stoutly bred Kiwi raced very fierce in the early stages but still made ground. Last start at Canterbury he surprisingly led only to be run down and beaten by 1.62 lengths.
Richard Litt’s Ole Kirk, 3-year-old October Star, an impressive debut winner on this track on January 24, can win again when he steps out in the Bonvilla Estate Benchmark 64 Handicap. Mitchel Bell has the mount on the gelding which stormed home from midfield to win a 900 metre Maiden.
Wyong trained Broadway Bouncer responsible for a slashing first up performance at Warwick Farm on February 4 will benefit from Newcastle apprentice Shannen Llewellyns 3-kilogram claim when he contests the Connectability Benchmark 68 Handicap. The former country apprentice now indentured to Nathan Doyle rode her first metropolitan winner on January 24 and was aboard Broadway Bouncer at Warwick Farm. On that occasion Broadway Bouncer missed the start by three lengths then powered home to finish .85 of a length from the winner. The five-year-old has won two of her starts second up.