Tuesday’s Newcastle Jockey Club meeting has attracted a record 169 acceptors spread across eleven races.
The top Sydney and Provincial trainers are well represented on what is a high-quality Provincial Class meeting. Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride will send a team of five up the M1 and the popular trainer is confident of a successful day.
Pride will be represented by Red Hot Chillypins, Sea Echo, Romalette, Galahad’s Quest and Menangere.
Red Hot Chillypins steps up to 1875 metres in the Hungerford Hill Maiden Plate on the back of two close second placings over 1600 metres at Kembla Grange. Pride has declared the mare is the best of his quintet. “I am very confident that Red Hot Chillypins will win on Tuesday. This mare is crying out for this trip after two eye catching runs on the big track at Kembla. The blinkers go back on her on Tuesday and she is the best of mine on the day,” Pride said.
Sea Echo, a lightly raced four-year-old, resumes in the Next Payments Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m). The gelding had his first preparation late last year and from four starts he had a win, two seconds and a fourth. He is a front runner and he resumes after two recent trials.
Romalette is second up in the 1200 metre Bass Flooring Fillies and Mares Benchmark 64 Handicap. The mares only win was second up, as she is a backmarker the long straight is ideal.
Pride will saddle up Menagerie and Galahad’s Quest in the penultimate event, the Sharp Electronics Group Conditional Benchmark 70 Handicap (1400m) Menagerie broke through for her first win at Newcastle on March 19 and she will probably lead.
Galahad’s Quest is at big odds and this is a classy field. Pride’s comments re the latter four of his runners when contacted on Sunday were. “Sea Echo has had two quiet trials without blinkers, but the blinkers go on race day. She raced in very strong races first prep and is ready to win.
Romalette loves a wet track so a bit more rain won’t hurt. She has a bad racing pattern and gives them a good start, but I give her a good chance down the long straight.
Menagerie is a nice mare going forward and has never been out of a place in six starts. She is a leader coming off a tough last start win at Newcastle.
Galahad’s Quest hasn’t been far away in two starts this prep but has a terrible barrier” Pride said.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott can continue their run of success when Lancer steps out in the New Zealand Bloodstock Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m). Lancer has no speed and he came from near last when beaten a head at Gosford first up recently. He will love the long Newcastle straight.
Mark Newnham has two very good chances at Tuesday’s meeting. Soul Purpose will appreciate the longer trip in the 1875 metres Hungerford Hill Maiden Plate. Maroch hasn’t been far away in recent placings at Hawkesbury and on the Kensington track. He runs in the 1400 metre Sharp Electronics Group Benchmark 70 Handicap.
The Wyong Polytrack Provincial Championships Qualifier that was postponed on Saturday will be run at Newcastle on Tuesday. It will be race 11 on the marathon program and is set to jump at 6.05pm.
Kris Lees will saddle up two favourites. Lifetime Quest and Bubbles Ball.
The latter finished strongly into fourth place behind Asharani in the Gosford Qualifier at Newcastle on March 19. She won her only start on a wet track. Lifetime Quest has only been out of a place once in eleven starts and he is at his top, after two runs this prep. She has drawn wide, but he has genuine speed and has been placed on soft and heavy tracks.
Another of Lees’ runners Juventus, can improve sharply while stablemate Animate is chasing a hattrick of wins.
Of the visitors, Miss Scorcher and Celer should run well.