Gary Harley
Central Coast based trainer Nacim Dilmi landed a double for the Domeland stable at Tuesdays Newcastle Jockey Club race meeting. The French born trainer who joined Domeland as head trainer last season worked alongside James Cummimgs at global racing giant Godolphin for eight years before joining Domeland. On Tuesday he trained the last two winners, River Jordan ($16) ridden by Reece Jones in the 1300 metre Drinkwise Provincial Maiden Plate and $2.60 favourite Great Idea in the Reward Hospitality Benchmark 64 Handicap with Christian Reith in the saddle.
River Jordan had been unplaced in two starts this preparation and had to carry 59 kilograms. However, after racing outside the favourite and leader Wan Lost he surged clear halfway down the straight and won the race by .84 of a length. Great Idea a lightly raced seven-year-old is unbeaten in two starts since he was transferred to Dilmi. He bolted in with a Taree class 3 first up from a spell on August 31 and on Tuesday the son of So You Think led all the way to win by 2.23 lengths.
An impressive winner on Tuesday was the speedy Just Awesome in the 900-metre TAB Benchmark 68 Handicap. Ridden by apprentice Leeshelle Small, the 4-year-old sped out of the barriers to lead by three lengths after 100 metres. The odds on favourite Generous Harry chased the winner all the way but was out classed going down by 2.06 lengths. Nathan Doyle was the only Newcastle trainer to taste success at the meeting when Perini Miss bolted in with the 1500 metre New Era Technology Maiden Plate. A drifter in betting from $6.50 to $8.50 on race day the mare with Regan Bayliss in the saddle led throughout to win by 2.78 lengths. Perini Miss was bred by former Newcastle Jockey Club CEO Maurice Sinclair who shares the ownership with Kurrinda Bloodstock and others. She had been unplaced in her previous three starts, two I Queensland when trained by Stuart Kendrick and one at Taree for Doyle.