Newcastle Jockey Aaron Bullock is set to win his second New South Wales Jockey’s Premiership after a treble at Saturdays Newcastle Jockey Club race meeting. In six days, Bullock rode 12 winners, 4 at Scone on Monday, 2 at Port Macquarie on Tuesday, 3 at Tamworth on Friday and 3 at Newcastle on Saturday.
Following Saturday’s meeting he has ridden 107 winners for the season in New South Wales, six more than Scone apprentice Briath Nock and Newcastle based Ash Morgan. Bullock won the Australian and New South Wales Premiership’s in the 2022/23 season and was runner up in the New South Wales Premiership last year. The season ends on July 31.
Port Stephens owned filly Oakfield Neptune raced by Bruce Mackenzie and ridden by Bullock was impressive on debut in the 1200 metre Skillons Constructions Maiden Handicap. Sold for $650,000 when a yearling the 3-year-old won a trial on a heavy track on the Beaumont on June 2, and she was well backed into $2.10. After settling in fourth place Oakfield Neptune made a long run down the long straight and after taking the lead 200 metres from home was strong to the line to win by three quarters of a length. Kristen Buchanan trains the filly at Wyong, and the lady completed a double for the day when Stylebender ridden by talented apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald, won the final event the 1890 metre P&K Garage Doors Midway 64 Handicap by a nose.
Champion trainer Chris Waller quinellaed the opening event the 1400 metre Fay & Kalan Memorial Maiden Plate. In the small field Bullock settled the winner Le Troisir in third place and at the top of the straight he drove the Liwi bred 3-year-old up the inside of the field. The son of Newcastle Group 3 Spring Stakes winner Proisir held off stablemate Kikoira to win by just under a length. Le Troisir drifted in betting from $3.70 to $5.50 on race day.
Newcastle trainer David Atkins and Kris Lees quinellaed the 900 metre Independent Mobility & Rehab Super Maiden Plate. Rockbarton Max on debut after a number of trial was ridden by Bullock and he held off the strong finish of Newy, ridden by Andrew Gibbons to win by just over a length. While the winner raced on the speed, runner up Newy was the eye catcher. The colt was allowed to drift back to the tail of the field from his wide barrier, and he flashed home down the outside. Newy (named after Australia’s sixth largest city) is raced by the popular My Racehorse syndicators in conjunction with Kris Lees and his mother Vicki, Macquarie Studs David Baxter and a host of Newcastle locals and Jockey Club members. The Newcastle Jockey Club invited people to join in the ownership some months back.
While Newcastle & Hunter Hall Of Famer Peter Snowden was in Brisbane where he won the Group 1 Tatts Tiara with Tashi, another of his stable California Secret completed a hat trick of wins at the Newcastle meeting. The 3-year-old owned by Snowden’s wife Lyn won first up from a spell at Muswellbrook on June 1 followed by a Newcastle victory on June 14. Hawkesbury based jockey Chad Lever allowed California Secret to settle a clear last from the outset and he stormed home along the inside of the field.
While Scone trainer Jeremy Gask was celebrating at Rosehill after his galloper Red Rags To Bulls was successful in the TAB Highway, another of his team Crop Duster was successful at Newcastle in the 1400 metre JHH Pharmacy Benchmark 68 Handicap. The winner has won five of ten starts at Newcastle.