Gary Harley – Herald
The Newcastle Jockey Club will host another charity day on Saturday with eight races programmed for the Maxim Business Advisors Race Day supporting HMRI. Sydney’s champion apprentice for the 2025-26 season Siena Grima will make the trip to Newcastle for the one ride aboard last start Newcastle winner Reg Rags To Bulls in the 1500 metre Maxim Business Advisors Benchmark 64 Handicap.
The mare had her first experience on the Newcastle track when an impressive win in a 1600 metre Benchmark 68 on August 1. The mare was impressive coming from eight lengths off the lead metres from home to win by three quarters of a length with a huge gap to the third placegetters at the winning post. The 6-year-old trained at Scone by Jeremy Gask had solid Highway Class 3 form at Randwick and Rosehill prior to her Newcastle victory.
Grima rode her in all four of those Highway events, and she claims 1.5 kilograms on Saturday.
Wyong trained Robbed By Rob put the writing on the wall when beaten a nose on this track on August 13 and he will be hard to beat in the 1600 metre Ascension Finance Home Loan Specialist Maiden Plate. Grant Buckley retains the mount on Sara Ryans 4-year-old, and the gelding has drawn well.
Former Victorina Close To Midnight runner up in a similar class race on this track on August 1 can atone in the 900-metre Robinson Property Benchmark 64 Handicap. trained in Victoria by the Corsten family where he had ten starts for a win and four placings. The son of I Am Invincible is now in the stable of Port Stephens trainer James Harding. Second up for Harding over this short course the gelding shared the lead only to be run down late. Aaron Bullock rode Close To Midnight last start and he has the mount again on Saturday.
Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle has enjoyed a good start to the new season, and he prepares the speedy Excels, one of the chances in the 900 metre Tooheys Midway Maiden Plate. The 4-year-old daughter of great sire Exceed And Excel is arced by Hunter Valley Torryburn Stud and she had her first two starts in Victoria for Grahame Begg. She was runner up at Seymour in December. Since joining the Doyle stable, she’s had two impressive trials at Scone and Gosford before being a $1.80 favourite when she led and folded to be beaten four lengths at Scone on July 31. However, there were excuses as she was making a respirator noise on returning to scale stewards told her jockey. The Veterinary surgeon reported a slow recovery and the jockey advised Excels may need a tongue tie to which she will have on Saturday. Mitchell Bell has the mount on Saturday.
Green Winter an impressive Kembla Maiden winner on debut on August 8 can repeat that performance in the 1600 metre Ellona’s Queens Wharf Hotel Punters Club Class 1 Handicap. The Blake Ryan trained 4-year-old was challenged up front from the ‘400’ but was too tough. Jeff Penza was aboard at Kembla, and he is in the saddle on Saturday.
Best Bet; Race 7,# 7, Red Rags To Bulls
Best Value: Race 4, # 5, Royal Princess