Gary Harley – Herald – 24.01.26
The Newcastle Jockey Club will stage its annual Legends Race Day honouring local Legends on Saturday. Newcastle racing reverts to the course proper on Saturday after a renovation to the track that has taken place during the summer months.
Legends honoured by the NJC on Saturday include World Champion Paralympian Lauren Parker OAM, multiple gold medalist Paralympic games Kurt Fearnley OA PLY, the late great Australian golfer and thoroughbred owner Jack Newton, Robert Thompson OAM, Kris Lees, Paul Perry and yours truly.
The barrier draw has been kind to the Lonhro filly Pazyryk when she steps out in the 1300 metre “Legend” Kurt Fearnley Maiden Handicap. The Godolphin bred and raced 3-year-old was first up for eleven months when an eye catching fourth in a 1100 metre Gosford Super Maiden on a Good 4 surface on January 9. Pazyryk was slow away from the rail’s barrier and after racing midfield on the rail charged home to finish .67 of a length from the winner. She has trialled nicely on the bit prior to the first up run on December 18. Trained these days by Michael Freedman, the longer trip and the rails barrier are in the filly’s favour and Keagan Latham has the mount.
The ultra consistent Bjorn Baker trained mare Cuesta can atone for a close second at Gosford on January 9 when she contests the 1850 metre “Legend” Jack Newton Benchmark 64 Handicap. Cuesta bolted in with a Beaumont Super Maiden three starts back on December 13 before the mare was a good thing beaten when checked on the straight and flashed home to go down by a nose at Orange on December 30. Last start at Gosford the mare went forward to sit outside the winner Federal Reserve and went down by a head over the 1600 metre trip. The Kiwi bred 5-year-old steps up to the 1850-meter trip and Chad Lever has the mount.
Baker also has a chance with another Kiwi bred galloper Almanzas in the 1850 metre “Legend” Gary Harley Super Maiden Plate. The 3-year-old is yet to be placed in three starts however he came from 15 lengths from the leader when beaten less than two lengths at Orange last start on January 6. He was first up for 10 months and back in March in his previous start he finished three lengths behind Napoleonic in a quality maiden at Newcastle. Napoleonic won a Group 3 by 4.25 lengths at the Melbourne Spring Carnival in October. The 1850 metre trip should be ideal if breeding counts as his sire Almanzor is one of New Zealand’s successful sires and Almanzas dam is by Zabeel.
The inform Federal Reserve has the speed to overcome a wide barrier in the NZB ‘100 years’ Karaka 25-29 January Benchmark 68 Handicap (1600m). The 3-year-olds past five starts have resulted in two wins and three placings including recent victories at Gosford and on the Beaumont track. He is a front runner and Mitchell Bell who rode the gelding in his two wins has the mount. Federal Reserve is trained by Nacim Dilmi who has trained 17 winners in his first season since joining the Domeland stable