Gary Harley – 17.10.26
Top weight Oakfield Utah took his racetrack record to six wins from ten starts when he overcame a tough run in transit to score the narrowest of victories in Saturdays 1350 metre Jungle Juice Cup at the Newcastle Racecourse. The $2.35 favourite with Aaron Bullock in the saddle was only moderately away from the barriers and was trapped three wide with no cover for the majority of the trip. He cruised up to hit the front 200 metres from home and then starved off the fast finish of Cessnock trained Unreachable to win by half a head. Bred by owner Bruce Mackenzie and trained at Scone by Scott Singleton Oakfield Utah is unbeaten in four starts at Newcastle.
The Datatech Newcastle Cessnock Cup (1900m) was dominated by Sydney trained gallopers with Lee & Cherie Curtis’ Sumac appreciating the drop-in class to defeat David Paynes Agita by a nose with Matthew Smiths Can’t Recall One a close third. It was Sumac’s maiden victory in nine starts however the filly was only beaten three lengths in the Group 1 Randwick Flight Stakes in her previous start on October 3. Hawkesbury based Jeff Penza rode the winner.
Victorian jockey Liam Riorden rode his second winner since relocating to New South Wales recently when he steered the Newcastle trained Howzat Harry to victory in the opening event the 1250 metre APS Industrial Maiden Handicap. The Mark Minervini trained six-year-old was a $7 chance on Friday but was backed into $3.90 in the lead up tot eh race. The gelding was a close second at the Newcastle meeting on October 6 when ridden by Riordan. The latter is 29 years old and started his career many years ago apprenticed to Victorian trainer Troy Cortens. Riordan rode 60 winners int eh 2025/26 season in Australia and Malaysia and he had his first New South Wales ride this season at Muswellbrook on October 5.
The other Newcastle trained galloper successful at the meeting was Nathan Doyle trained Zouboy, ridden by local apprentice William Stanley in the 1250 metre NHP Electrical Engineering products Midway Class 1 Handicap. Zouboy is unbeaten in two starts both at Newcastle and he was resuming from a spell on Saturday. After travelling in third position he raced away to win by more than 1.5 lengths.
Following Saturday’s meeting Aaron Bullock has ridden 34 winners after two and half months of this season which has him in third place int eh New South Wales Jockey Premiership. Kris Lees has trained 19 winners and Nathan Doyle 17 int eh current season.
The Newcastle Herald Hunter Race Day, the NJC’s richest race meeting, will be held on Saturday November 14.