Newcastle trained four-year-old Dalaalaat is set to win his second race since entering the Nathan Doyle stable earlier this year when he contests the TAB Venue Mode Benchmark 64 Handicap 1400m at Thursday’s Newcastle Jockey Club race meeting. The high-profile Victorian training partnership of Hayes and Dabernig trained Dalaalaat for his first six race starts. The gelding won a Wagga Maiden in February 2020 and was placed in three country races.
The talented sprinter has had four starts for his new group of owners which include Sydney’s number one Race Caller Darren Flindell. He was an impressive first up winner at Scone on January 28, followed by a closing fourth at Doomben and a close second at Warwick Farm on March 3. In his last start at Canterbury on April 7, Dalaalaat made good ground to go down by 2½ lengths.
Doyle has booked talented Newcastle apprentice Dylan Gibbons to ride the horse and he has a soft draw. The gelding is crying out for the 1400 metres and he will have visors on for the first time.
Godolphin’s trainer James Cummings will send two well fancied runners to the Newcastle meeting. Two-year-old colt Wheel, a son of champion sire Exceed And Excel, will make his debut in the 900 metre Simtrack 2YO Maiden Handicap. In his only trial at Kembla on April 7, Wheel travelled three-wide before cruising to the lead in the straight. He was never off the bit and went down by a head. He has the rails barrier and Tim Clark has the mount.
The well performed Godolphin filly Mollycoddle steps out in the 1200 metre Yarraman Park Benchmark 68 Handicap. She has not raced since an easy win at Wyong on January 2. Prior to a spell, Mollycoddle had three wins and two placings from five starts. The filly has drawn nicely and Josh Parr has the ride.
Chris Waller will be represented in two races and trains well-fancied runners in both events. In the Sage Painting Maiden Plate 1300 metre, the champion trainer saddles up Tuscan Gaze and Maramoti. The Coolmore owned Tuscan Gaze has raced well in his past at Newcastle and he was runner up at Warwick Farm last start. Maramoti’s first up placing at Newcastle on April 10 was an eye catcher.
Waller has three runners in the OAS Technology Benchmark 64 Handicap 1880m. The best of the two appear to be My Delight, a last start Canterbury Maiden winner.
John O’Shea has three good chances at Newcastle. The Kiwi bred Cotehele is on debut in the Sage Painting Maiden Plate 1300m, following two nice trials.
Alura resumes from a spell in the 1200 metre The Prince Of Merewether Maiden Handicap. The filly won a recent Randwick trial and she has drawn well.
Sophomore has two wins and a placing in three starts at Newcastle and her first up run was good. She contests the Hungerford Hill F&M Benchmark 64 Handicap 1400m. Brenton Avdulla rides two of O’Shea’s runners.