The eight race Newcastle and Hunter Racing Hall Of Fame meeting on Tuesday coincides with the induction of another eight inductees into the Hall Of Fame. The function will be held in the Australian Bloodstock marquee during the race meeting.
Joe Pride, who won the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm on Saturday with Think About It will send his lightly raced filly Mount Warning up the freeway to contest the ANZ Bloodstock News F&M Benchmark 64 Handicap (1250m). The three-year-old is the least experienced in the race with only four starts under her belt, however she is talented.
On Anzac Day the filly resumed from a spell over 1000m at Gosford and she was an odds-on favorite. After a fast-beginning Mount Warning sat on the leader’s heels and after taking the lead late in the race she ducked out but still won by a length. Last start at Warwick Farm, Mount Warning was a clear last to leave the barriers, and after still being last on the home turn, the filly kept coming to finish fourth. She was doing her best work late and will appreciate the longer trip. The prospect of a soft track will be ideal as her two runs this preparation have been on soft tracks, and Sam Clipperton has the ride.
Track specialist Super, winner of five races at Newcastle will have a change of jockey in the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Benchmark 68 Handicap (1400m). Claiming apprentice Georgina McDonnell has ridden the seven-year-old in his past five starts but the state’s leading jockey Aaron Bullock rides on Tuesday. Super carried 57kgs when a fast finishing fourth on the track last start and he will carry 57.5 kg on Tuesday. He will appreciate the longer trip.
Arrowfield Stud and Bullock combine with smart Snitzel three-year-old Unravel in the TAB Venue Mode Benchmark 64 Handicap (1250m). Unravel has won two of his three starts but has not raced since an easy Scone win on December 9. On debut at Muswellbrook on November 1 he was dominant on heavy track. Second up in a Rosehill Benchmark 68 in November, he led and was run down late. Unravel has been trialing well and has drawn nicely.
Sydney’s number one racecaller Darren Flindell is a part owner of two-year-old filly Nightcapped who is on debut in the opening event, the Newcastle And Hunter Racing Hall Of Fame Maiden Plate (900m). Bred at Newhaven Park Stud and raced by a group including members of the Kelly family, Nightcapped cruised to victory in a Newcastle synthetic trial recently. Nathan Doyle trains the Xtravagant filly, and he also trains Pridefilly in the same race.