Gary Harley
The Archibald stable enjoying a successful season with 157.5 winners Australia wide will send well bred mare Autumn Dream to Saturday’s Newcastle Jockey Club meeting and the daughter of The Autumn Sun has bright prospects in the final event the 1600 metre Chamberlains Law Firm Benchmark 68 Handicap. The 4-year-old has solid metropolitan form where two of her three wins at been at Warwick Farm and three starts back on that track she was beaten less than a length by Group 3 Adian Knox winner Profoundly.
Autumn Dream raced on the speed when she won a 1400 metre Benchmark 73 at Warwick Farm on March 4 and last start on March 25 on the Kensington track the mare did not have the best of luck when down the track on a Benchmark 78. Bred at Arrowfield Stud the mare carries the Arrowfield colours and she has the rails barrier and stable apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald will claim 1.5 kilograms.
The $1.5 million yearling Tuscany a disappointment to date only has to mend his racing style to be hard to beat in the 1250 metre SafeGroup Automation Maiden Plate. He was the unplaced favourite in the 2024 Breeders Plate and failed to win a race in his first five starts before being sold for $210,000 in the Inglis Online Sale in October 2025. The 3-year-old has been gelded and has only races once since joining the Tom Charlton and that was on the Beaumont track on March 23.
He went to the barrier as the $1.26 favourite and Tuscany finished runner up after racing too keen and pulling hard throwing his head in the air before the home turn. Tuscany had been trialing nicely prior to the first up run and if he settles during the race on Saturday he can win. Keagan Latham rode him first up and retains the mount.
Showtime Shadow a ‘Good Thing’ beaten at Wyong on March 28 can atone in the 1500 metre Dalton Partners Provincial Class 1 Handicap. He won impressively for new trainer Adam Duggan at Gosford in February 11 then placed in a strong class 1 at Hawkesbury on March 7. Last start at Wyong on March 28 Showtime Shadow was badly held up all of the straight when beaten a neck. Jockey Mitch Stapleford fired in a protest which was dismissed.
The Hawkes stable brought their promising stayer Cavalry back form Victoria to bolt in with a Newcastle 1850 metre Maiden on March 31 and the 4-year-old is the one to beat in the 1890 metre Lamborne Partners Benchmark 64 Handicap. A son of the Hawkes family’s group 1 winner Brutal Cavalry indicated he was a stayer of promise with his 3-length win coming from well back at Newcastle last start and Grant Buckley has been booked for the mount.
The consistent mare She’s A Dame from the Beer- Carpenter stable has a good chance when she steps up in distance when she contests the 1890 metre Dynamic Business Technology Midway Maiden Handicap. The 4-year-old was narrowly beaten over the Wyong ‘Mile’ last start on March 28.