Newcastle mare Dreaming of Gold ended a frustrating run of minor placings when she easily won the Suez Maiden Plate at Tuesday’s Newcastle race meeting.
Nathan Doyle’s four year old had been runner up in all six starts prior to Tuesday. Her trainer claimed prior to the race that Dreaming Of Gold was better chasing and she had reached the lead too early in her previous three starts. The mare was given a gun run by Christian Reith who positioned her in fourth place before gradually unwinding in the straight.
Crack apprentice Tom Sherry continued his love affair with the Newcastle track when he steered the John O’Shea trained Cajetan to victory in the opening event the 2300 metre Prime 7 Class 1 Handicap. The winner could only run third at Queanbeyan in his previous start but he raced well behind black type gallops Icebath and Amitto two and three starts back.
The Paul Perry trained Stooge landed a good plunge in winning the 900 metre Westfield Kotara Maiden Plate. Backed from $4.20 to $2.40, Stooge in his first run since being gelded, hit the ground running and won by 1 ½ lengths. Stooge was the first of a winning double for Samantha Clenton. The latter piloted the odds on favourite Mo’s Crown to victory in the Rarity Wholesale Class 2 Handicap (1200m) Jason Coyle’s 3 year old was only a length and a half from the winner in the Listed Darby Munro on March 21.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s regally bred three year old Reinvest, was impressive on debut in the Sage Painting Maiden Handicap (1500m). Allowed to settle off the speed, the son of Redoubt’s Choice was strong late and he hit the line with his ears pricked. Newcastle’s premier jockey Andrew Gibbons combined with trainer Bryce Hey’s to win the Advanced Pest Control Class 2 Handicap (1600m) aboard Trust The Process. The three year old’s two wins had been at Canberra but he beat a smart field on Tuesday.
Big Bad Bruce was rewarded with his consistency with a gutsy win in the 1400 metre Reward Hospitality Benchmark 64 Handicap. Placed in both starts this prep Big Bad Bruce overcame a wide draw to claim the lead in the shadows of the post.