James Cummings blue blood filly Blue Willow, a half-sister to the trainers nine-time Group 1 winner Anamoe heads back to Newcastle for her second race start on Saturday. The daughter of Godolphin sire Blue Point and Group 1 winner Anamato was responsible for an eye-catching performance when placed on debut at Newcastle on April 12. The filly was backed from $2.70 into $2.00 but she was slow away and in a field of ten Blue Willow was at the tail of the field 12 to 14 lengths from the leaders 800 metres form home. She knuckled down in the straight and eventually got within 3.47 lengths of the winner. Blue Willow had four barrier trials in three preparations prior to his debut run.
A rain affected track should not be a problem as Anamoe loved a wet track and Anamato was a winner on soft tracks. On Saturday Blue Willow contests the 1250 metre Ausure Hospitality Fillies & Mares Maiden Plate and Jean Van Overmire has the mount.
Cummings is also sending the consistent Reducio to Newcastle to run in the 1300 metre Class 1 Handicap after a win and placings at Wyong in two race starts this preparation. She has a chance in an open race.
Kris Lees has accepted with six gallopers, most of which are expected to be well fancied. Andrew Gibbons rides five of the six, Rustemo, British Gem, Golden Smile, First Person and Tasoraay. Rustemo is bred to handle a wet track, and the 2-year-old is well placed under the set weight conditions of the 1250 metre Bottlemart Maiden Plate. The colt was beaten a length in the Max Lees Classic in November and he came from second last on the turn when a two length fourth first up at Hawkesbury on April 5. Both starts have been on soft tracks.
Golden Smile has been placed in all three starts this preparation and should run well in the 1890 metre Supagas Maiden Plate. First Person appreciated the heavy track when he stormed home to win and land a good plunge at Wyong on March 12 and he won his only start at Newcastle. The step up to 1250 metres in the Pitcher Partner Newcastle and Hunter Benchmark 68 Handicap is ideal. Tasoraay resumes in the final event the 1300 metres McCain SureCrisp Class 1 Handicap, but he has to overcome a wide barrier. He broke through for his first win on the Beaumont track on December 19 and he has had two recent trials.
Chris Waller’s filly Tempranillo will be hard to beat in the opening event the 1890 metres Supagas Maiden Plate. The Autumn Sun filly has only had two starts and last start on this track was slow to leave the barrier and ran on strong when beaten less than a length over 1500 metres. The longer trip suits and Grant Buckley has the mount.
Paul Perry’s General Soho is ready to return to the winners list in the 1890 metre Impact Building Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap. Three starts back he was beaten less than a length in a Benchmark 78 on the Kensington track on March 13. Last start at Newcastle on April 26 he was placed after leading over this trip. He has won three of seven starts at Newcastle and three of them on soft tracks.
Annabel and Rob Archibald saddle up Pieronimo in the 1500 metre The Tooheys New Plate Super Maiden Handicap and he can break through for his first win. He was unlucky first up at Scone on April 14 when held up in the straight before dashing late to finish an unlucky third.