Gary Harley:
Consistent rain during the last week and on race day saw the Newcastle track rated a heavy 9 for Saturday’s Hunter Melanoma Foundation race day. One trainer who was happy with the heavy track was Port Macquarie John Sprague who puts the polish on mudlark First Landing, a cheap buy at the Inglis Online Sale in April 2025. Aaron Bullock recently back in the saddle was aboard First Landing the well backed $3.80 favourite, despite carrying top weight of 61 kilograms in the 900 metre Total Tools Benchmark 64 Handicap.
The 5-year-old was resuming from a spell following an impressive Port Macquarie trial win on April 26. Bullock rode First Landing hard when the barriers opened however he settled near the tail of the field before making his winning run inside runners in the straight. The winning margin was a nose and the winner is now unbeaten in two Newcastle appearances both on heavy tracks. Sprague doesn’t have a big team in work however he is a smart trainer and his his days as a jockey rode more than 200 winners.
First Landing was originally sold to Vinery Stud for $500,000 at the Easter Yearling Sale in 2022. Originally trained in Sydney he was unplaced in five starts before Sprague purchased him for $15,000 in an Inglis online sale in April 2025. First landing has now won prize money of $133,550.
Another wet track specialist, Crop Duster, was back in winning form for the first time since June last year when successful in the 1250 metre PBE Group Benchmark 64 Handicap. The 2024 Newcastle Jungle Juice Cup winner has been a good money spinner for his owners and Scone trainer Jeremy Gask. The 6-year-old has accumulated $246.475 in prizemoney from 44 starts for 8 wins and 9 placings. All eight wins have been on rain affected tracks. Crop Duster was weighted on 61.5 kilograms however talented apprentice Shannon Llewlyn had the mount and claimed 2 kilograms. The young lady settled Crop Duster at the tail of the field until the top of the straight where she elated to steer the top weight along the inside of all other runners. He finished strongly to win by a neck. Llewlyn is only one win away from half a century of winners this season.
Bullock was the only jockey to land a double at the meeting after an armchair ride on Oakfield Neptune in the 1250 metre Farrelly Construction Services Benchmark 64 Handicap. The 4-year-old daughter of Deep Field was starting for the first time for Kris Lees and in four career starts her two wins have been on heavy tracks. Bullock let Oakfield Neptune stride to the lead soon after the start and she kicked away at the top of the straight to win by 2.81 lengths after being eased down in the closing stages. She is a well-bred mare with a bright future. Owner Bruce Mackenzie paid $650,000 for the then yearling from Segenhoe Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale. Bullock backed up his double with four winners at the Gunnedah Cup meeting on Sunday.