Gary Harley
Newcastle -Hunter Hall Of Famer Paul Perry was the only local trainer to saddle up a winner on the Maxium Business Advisors Race Day at Newcastle Racecourse on Saturday. A crowd of more than 4000 supported the meeting which also features the ever popular Invades concert.
Perry’s 6-year-old mare Princess Cruizer won her sixth race and took her prize money to more than $220,000 when successful in the 900-metre Robinson Property Benchmark 64 Handicap. Ridden by Central Coast based Jess Taylor the mare was a clear second last to leave the barriers and after being well back on the home turn Taylor drove the mare through a gap halfway down the straight and she sprinted clear to win by 1.39 lengths running away from the opposition. There was speaking for Princess Cruizer firming from $9.00 into $7.00 and four of her six wins have been at Newcastle.
Princess Cruizers win at Newcastle on Saturday secured legendary trainer Paul Perry’s 4000th win.
Taylor was the most successful jockey at the meeting with a double. She piloted previously unraced Karkadan to victory in the 900 metre Tooheys Midway Maiden Plate. Karkadan trained by Jason Coyle was heavily backed from $2.60 into $1.75. The winner had a nice trail behind the leaders and finished along the rail without going around any other horse.
7-year-old Zamborghini won his first race since winning at Benalla in September 2024 when he won the 1500 metre Maxium Business Advisors 5YO & up Benchmark 64 Handicap. Sydney apprentice Zac Waddick rode the gelding for Tamworth trainer David Hatch. It was the geldings’ ninth start and first win since the son of leading sire Zoustar entered the trainer’s stables. Zamborghini bred at Widden Stud in the Hunter Valley was originally sold for $1,250,000 at the 2021 Inglis Easter sales to Victorian trainer Matt Laurie. In December 2025 he was sold for $25,000. Ridden patiently by Waddick he steered Zamborghini along the rail from the top of the straight to win by a nose.
Horses trained by two of Sydney’s leading stables fought out the final event the 1400 metre Tooheys Super Maiden Handicap. the Gai Waterhouse- Adrian Bott trained Caviar a son of the world’s best sire, Frankel was backed form $11.00 into $6.00, and he attempted an all the way win however, he was nailed on the post by the John O’Shea -Tom Charlton trained Concrete Storm. The latter bred in New Zealand had a dream run on the rail behind Caviar before overpowering the runner up.
The next race day at Newcastle will be the first day of the Spring Racing Carnival on Friday September 18 with the second day on Saturday September 19.