Gary Harley – Herald
The Destination Port Stephens Cup Race Day will be held at the Newcastle Racecourse I Thursday with eight races on the program. Kerrin McEvoy has five mounts at the meeting with the David Payne trained 3-year-old Gold Globe in the 1600 metre Port Stephens 4WD Tours Midway Maiden Handicap arguably his best mount.
Gold Globes only trip to Newcastle was in the Paul Perry Maiden in March when 1.73 lengths behind the talented Southend when he won the Group 3 Baillieu at Rosehill in his next start. Gold Globe then went for a spell, and he caught the eye second up at the Kensington track on July 29 when he ran on from last to finish third 1.57 lengths from the winner. The Newcastle ‘mile’ appears ideal for the gelding.
The Hawkes stable will send 5-year-old mare Plume up the M1 to contest the set weights 1250m Maiden Plate with Dylan Gibbons to ride from the rail’s barrier. On March 12, Plume had her only start at Newcastle when a close third behind Kris lees Twoexcel. The mare has had two recent barrier trails, and she ran on nicely when beaten in a recent Randwick trial.
Two promising Scone trained stayers Tacitly and Joika clash in the 1880 metre Jockeys Celebration Day Class 1 and Maiden Plate. The Annabel and Rob Archibald, four-year-old Tacitly has been runner up behind two promising gallopers at Scone during July. On July 10 the son of Wootton Bassett was slowly away in a Benchmark 66 over 1400 metres at Scone and he stormed home to finish second 1.5 lengths behind subsequent Rosehill winner Arapawa. Last start at Scone on July 31 Tacitly stepped up to 1600 metres and made up many lengths when runner up behind the smart Arrowfield galloper Valedor.
Joika, trained by Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich, was an eye catching third in an 1850 metre Newcastle Class 1 on August 1. Slowly away the daughter of Maurice was 10 lengths off the lead 600 metres from home and then produced a powerful finish to go down by less than half a length.
Paul Perrys, seven-year-old Nosey Parker put the writing on the wall when narrowly beaten on his home track on July 11 and he will contest the 1250 metre Destination Port Stephens Benchmark 64 Handicap. Four of Nosey Parkers five wins have been on this track, and Alysha Collett has the mount for the first time. His last start run was exceptional as he raced keen three wide no cover when he joined in at the top of the straight, he unleashed. Two starts back in a stronger class Nosey Parker again ran on from near last to finish fourth.
The Perry stable have another good chance with Uncle Harry to be ridden by McEvoy in the 1600 metre The Prince Of Merewether Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap. The 6-year-old has finished a close up fourth in his past two starts at Wyong and he races best on dry surfaces. He has won twice at Newcastle and barrier 2 is ideal.
BEST BET: RACE 4 – GOLD GLOBE
BEST VALUE: RACE 7 – NOSEY PARKER