Gary Harley
Legendary jockey and these days successful trainer Ron Quinton produced a promising two-year-old filly to win on debut at Thursdays Newcastle Jockey Clubs race meeting. The opening event was a high quality 900 metre Dailey Family Funerals 2YO Maiden Plate and Quintons filly Found The Gold a daughter of top sire Too Darn Hot was backed form an opening TAB Fixed Odds price of $7 into $4.40 in the seven-horse field.
Kris Lees I Am Invincible filly was all the rage firming from $3.80 into $2.05. Louise Day who spent her apprenticeship with Lees was aboard Quintons Foung The Gold and after settling second last Day waited patiently for clear running in the home straight. Found The Gold sprinted quickly when clear 100 metres form home to claim victory by half a length.
Spice Trial began fast and led however she folded up to finish second last. The winners only two barrier trials were impressive, and she has a bright future. Day hails from Ireland and rode fer first Australian winner at Tuncurry in 2017 and she has now ridden 369 winners.
Chris Waller stables decision to send Chatterley to Newcastle on Thursday to contest the 1250 metre Davali Thoroughbreds Maiden Plate ended well when the filly broke through for her first win in eight starts. Jason Collett was aboard the Snitzel filly and he settled her in third place throughout, however punters who took the odds on were 100 metres nervous from home when she was struggling to run down the leader however, Chatterley grinded away to win by a neck.
Collett completed a double for former Kiwi trainers when he steered the well backed Change My Address to victory in the final event the 1500 meter The Prince Of Merewether Benchmark 68 Handicap. The winner trained by John Sargent settled second last and stormed home down the straight to win by a neck.
Wyong trained Emerald Hills neglected by punters remains unbeaten in two Newcastle appearances after a comprehensive victory int eh 1850 metre New FM/2HD Benchmark 64 Handicap. Dual Melbourne Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy rode the $10 chance and after settling mid field the mare sprinted away in the straight o win by 2.5 lengths. Emerald Hills trained by Nacim Dilmi is a promising stayer with two wins and a third from four starts.
The next meeting at Newcastle is the AHA Pitcher Partners Race Day on Saturday May 2.