Gary Harley – Wrap – 26.05.25
Newcastle trainer Mark Minervini’s eye for a tried horse was confirmed at Monday’s race meeting when his three-year-old Pratt toyed with his opposition to win the opening event the 900 metre Varley Group Maiden Handicap by more than 3 lengths. Pratt was formerly trained by Chris Waller and in his only preparation was unplaced in three starts during December and January. The son of champion sire Exceed And Excel was offered for sale at the Inglis Online sale in February and was knocked down to Minervini for $45,000.
The former South Australian trainer put a syndicate together and in his first start for the new owners returned $20,550 of his purchase price. Minervini was aware that he had made the right choice by purchasing the gelding when he impressed in two Beaumont trials displaying exceptional speed. On Monday with Aaron Bullock in the saddle Pratt cruised to the lead from the outset and reveling in the heavy going he bounded away halfway down the straight. It was Minervini’s 31st Newcastle win.
Godolphin’s blue blood filly Blue Willow broke through for her first win in the 1400 metre Damar Minyak DF Super 3YO Maiden Plate. The half sister to Group 1 winner Anamoe has had three starts, all at Newcastle and finished strongly into the placings in her initial two starts. On Monday trainer James Cummings stepped the 3-year-old up to the 1400 metre trip and she bolted in by more than three lengths. Grant Buckley rode the winner.
Paul Snowden who trained in partnership with his legendary father Peter. Relocated from Sydney to Port Macquarie late last year, has a smart filly Lunaite, an easy winner of the 1250 metre Aaron Walter Century 21 Edgeworth F&M Benchmark 64 Handicap. The filly is the first galloper that Snowden has raced since moving to the Mid North Coast. She obviously loves a heavy track as the filly won a Newcastle Maiden by 4.35 lengths on a heavy 10 track last start. On Monday Lunaite with Mitchel Bell in the saddle raced in second place until halfway down the straight where she bounded away to win by 3.5 lengths.
Kris Lees finished the meeting on a high with his stablemates French Marine and Bengal Boy successful on the final two events. The 7-year-old French Marine took his racetrack prizemoney to $315,980 with a gutsy win in the 1250 metre Newcastle Skin Check CG&E Benchmark 64 Handicap. The win brought up a double for Aaron Bullock who rode Pratt to victory in the opening event. The gelding was three wide with no cover in the closing stages to win by 2 lengths.
It was French Marine’s seventh win, five on rain affected tracks. For Bullock, despite missing many meetings during the year, has moved into fourth place in the NSW Jockey Premiership with 83 wins, nine behind leader Ash Morgan.
Bengal Boy formally trained in Victoria landed a nice plunge in the 1870 metre Fulton Hogan Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap. Backed from $7.50 into $4.60 Bengal Boy raced three wide without cover near the tail of the field before making a long searching run from the ‘500’ to win by 1.88 lengths. He has only been successful in one of fifteen starts prior to Monday but he appreciated the heavy track. Lees has trained 109 winners this season.