Gary Harley
Ultra consistent Nathan Doyle trained 3-year-old Just Response an impressive first up winner at Gosford on April 2 is well placed to win his third race from six starts when he contests the Pitcher Partners Newcastle & Hunter Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap at Saturdays Newcastle Jockeys Club race meeting.
The son of Justify has recorded two wins and three placings from five starts and in all starts has raced on the speed. He was moderately away from the barriers first up at Gosford however he went through to the lead and was never in danger. The gelding won two barrier trials in the lead up to the first up run and he is in for a good preparation. Just Response will be ridden by the in-form Mitchell Bell and the horse carries top weight 59.5 kilograms, only half a kilogram more than he carried first up.
There is an interesting clash between Ciaron Mahers Balmoral Castle and Kim Waughs unraced National News in the 1250 metre Bottlemart Fillies & Mares Maiden Plate. Balmoral Castle placed in two of four starts was beaten two lengths by the very talented Plaintiff in a Rosehill Maiden on November 12. The 3-year-old filly’s only start this preparation was at Wyong on April 4 when a three length fourth after racing near the tail of the field and found the 1100 metres short of her best. Balmoral Castle will benefit from Newcastle apprentice William Stanleys 2-kilogram allowance which means she carries the lightest weight in the race.
National News, another 3-year-old filly is on debut after impressive in three barrier trials. She has cruised in her two most recent trials at Wyong and Gosford. Keagan Latham has the mount from a lovely barrier.
The well-travelled Midori Giant from the Blake Ryan stable is in career best form and will be hard to beat in the 1900 metre Ausure Hospitality Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap. Early in his career Midori Giant won a Kembla Maiden in February 2024 before heading to Hong Kong where he was winless in eight starts. Back home at Hawkesbury, the 5-year-old bolted in first up over the ‘1600’ on March 26 and his second up run on the Newcastle track on April 23 was full of merit when he came from near last to finish second behind Emerald Hills. Jay Ford has ridden Midori Giant in his two recent Australian starts and he has the mount.
Chris Waller has a couple of good chances at the meeting with Alphard and Velaris. The 3-year-old Alphard not far away in a couple of Canterbury Maiden has not raced for more than two months but has trialed twice in April and stable apprentice Siena Grima will claim 2 kilograms in the 1250 metre Impact Building Maiden Plate. The talented apprentice was aboard when the gelding was hard held when a close second in a recent Warwick Farm trial. Alphard has drawn nicely and normally races in the first half of the field.
The Kiwi bred Velaris, a Newcastle winner in February, hasn’t raced for two months and Grima has the mount in the 1300 metre The Tooheys new Class 1 Handicap. The 4-year-old was never off the bit in a recent Warwick Farm trial. Earlier this year Velaris was beaten less then two lengths in Maidens on the Kensington track and Canterbury