Gary Harley
Scone trained 3-year-old filly Ole Steele bounced back from a barrier incident at Newcastle two weeks earlier to trounce her rivals at the Newcastle Racecourse on Saturday. It was the Maitland Rugby Club race meeting and Ole Steele was the $2.05 favourite in the 900-metre Hunt Hospitality Super Maiden Plate. On October 17 the filly was an odds-on favourite in a similar Newcastle Maiden before she reared in the barriers and her off foreleg was cast. On veterinary advise Stewards scratched Ole Steele and required her to trial before racing again. On Saturday the filly displayed brilliant speed to quickly lead the field, and she raced away in the straight to win by 3.92 lengths. The promising daughter of Ole Kirk is trained by Scott Singleton and was ridden by apprentice Izzy Neal.
Another promising Scone trained female Imalda bred and owned by the Arrowfield Group was the $1.70 favourite in the 1600 metres O’Neill Tyres- Steve O’Neill Memorial on Saturday. The promising stayer made short work of her opposition at Muswellbrook when a $1.09 on October 19. On Saturday the 4-year-old with Aaron Bullock in the saddle settled in fourth place in the small field and she secured a rails run from the top of the straight inside second favourite Italian Spirit. It took most of the straight for Imelda to gain the upper hand, but she was drawing away on the line to win by .66 of a length.
Former Victorian galloper Sabi Storm was a shock winner of the final event the 1300 metre Newcastle Car and Truck Rental at odds of $61. The 4-year-old was trained by Trent Bussuttin and Natalie Young in Victoria where he won one of six starts. Sabi Storm on Saturday was having his second start for Wyong trainer Mark Sues after finishing seventh of nine at Newcastle on October 17. On Saturday 4 kilograms claiming Sydney apprentice Matt Kirt was desperate to hold the lead on the rail despite being challenged early in the race. Sabi Storm raced clear in the straight and after drifting out to near the outside fence he won by close to two lengths. Aaron Bullock was $1.10 with TAB to win the jockeys challenge, and he was successful with one win and four seconds.
Only two favourites were successful in the eight races.
The next race meeting at Newcastle is the Newcastle herald Hunter race day on Saturday November 14.