Kris Lees’ three-year-old filly Kind Words can return to the racetrack a winner when she contests the Harcourts Super Maiden (1200m) at the Newcastle Jockey Clubs race meeting on Saturday. The Written Tycoon filly carries the colours of Lees’ three-time Group 1 winner Lucia Valentina, and she only had two starts in her two-year-old season, and both were full of merit.
Kind Words debuted in a two-year-old fillies maiden at Canterbury on June 21 when last to leave the barrier before running on strongly to finish second, 1.35 lengths from the winner. Last start on July 12 at Canterbury, the filly drifted back three wide, no cover and flashed home to go down by .43 of a length. Kind Words has had two recent trials and hasn’t been off the bit, ridden quietly back in the field. Andrew Gibbons has the mount on Saturday, she has drawn okay and will relish the long home straight.
Michael Freedman has a good strike rate at Newcastle, and he sends the lightly raced five-year-old Giancarlo up the M1 to run in The Entrance Leagues Club Class 1 Handicap (1500m). Raced by the Kolivos family of Pierro fame, Giancarlo has only had three starts, the first two in which he finished fourth at Warwick Farm and third at Newcastle in the Autumn of 2022. The gelding was very impressive in a first up Newcastle win two weeks ago. Unwanted in the betting, he was a $13 chance in a 1250m maiden, and he came from third last on the turn in a field of thirteen to reach the lead in the shadows of the post. He will race much closer over the longer trip, and he has drawn nicely.
Chris Waller trained Kiwi Ahuriri has her chance to break through for her first win in the Booth Contracting Maiden Handicap (1500m). The three-year-old filly has had two starts for placings at Sandown and Newcastle. The Sandown race was in July where she was beaten a head, and first up at Newcastle on Cup Day recently she had every chance but was only beaten half a length. Ahuriri has the speed to race forward, and this is a lovely race for her.
The new training partnership of Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich could strike in the final race of the day, The Bradford Hotel Benchmark 68 Handicap (1300m) with Zoustar mare Justfour. The five-year-olds three wins have been on Good tracks, and a Good 4 is expected on Saturday. Her last run was at the Scone Cup Carnival in May when she was beaten 2.25 lengths in a Class 3 Highway by Steplee. Justfour was never extended when beaten a nose in a recent Scone trial. Th mare has barrier two, and in form jockey Jean Van Overmeire has the mount.
Expect an improvement from local galloper Harvey’s Way in the A-Plus, Poly Welding, Sleapy’s Foundation Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m). He races well on the home track, and he was only 2.20 lengths from the winner first up on this track two weeks back. Harvey’s Way will get back from the barrier and he will be fitter second up. Alysha Collett has the mount on Saturday.