Gary Harley – Herald
The Newcastle Jockey Clubs seven race Provincial type race meeting on the Beaumont track on Tuesday will be clubs final meeting before the annual Spring Racing Carnival on Friday September 18 (Sharp Office Newcastle Gold Cup Day) and Saturday 19 (Ladies Day).
Kirren McEvoy has been booked to ride six of the seven favourites on Tuesday’s seven race program. McEvoy will be aboard Yvonne’s Joy (TAB$2.40) in the 1350m Tab Midway Maiden Plate for trainer John Thompson and all three starts this preparation indicate the 3-year-old filly is close to her first win. Bred and raced by Newcastle Hall Of Famer Neville Begg -OAM the filly was placed 2.16 lengths from the winner first up on the Newcastle course proper on July 1. Second up at Randwick in a 2-year-old Handicap on July 25, Yvonne’s Joy came from last on the home turn to be beaten 2.12 lengths. Last start at Canterbury on August 12 she was slowly away before finishing strongly into fourth place 2.31 lengths from the winner. Yvonne’s Joy will appreciate the step up to 1350 metres on Tuesday.
McEvoy’s mount Divine Secret’s (TAB $3.10) has to overcome a wide barrier in the 1350 metre A-Plus Contracting & Poly Welding Fillies & Mares Benchmark 64 Handicap. The mare raced midfield first up on the Newcastle course proper on August 13 before finishing strongly along the rail to finish second 0.60 of a length from the winner. Another Newcastle Hunter Hall Of Fame trainer, Peter Snowden trains the Deep Field 4-year-old.
McEvoy’s remaining four favourites are Private Liaison (TAB $3.20) in Race 1, Wan Lost (TAB $4.60) Race 3, Canal (TAB $4.40) Race 4 and Stallone (TAB $2.70) in Race 5.
Joe Prides, 4-year-old mare In Circles (TAB $4.00) has been placed in two of three starts and she has a good chance in the opening event, the 1250 metre Dailey Family Funerals Super Maiden Handicap. In Circles finished strongly when beaten .89 of a length last start in an 1100 metre Super Maiden at Gosford first up on August 6. The longer trip is ideal, and Andrew Adkins has the mount. She was narrowly beaten on debut at Hawkesbury on February 19.
Locally trained Force March (TAB $5.00) resumes from a spell in the 1150 metre NZB Maiden Handicap and a recent Beaumont barrier trial indicates he will be hard to beat. Trained by Andrew MacDonald, the 4-year-old had three starts in his only preparation earlier this year. He wasn’t far away when placed twice at Wyong and he was narrowly beaten unextented in a recent Beaumont trial. He should have a nice trail back off the speed from barrier two.
Kris Lees mare Issy’s Star (TAB $5.00) narrowly beaten first up at Gosford on July 9 can race well in the 1150metre Horsepower Feeds & Supplements Class 1 Handicap.
Best Bet: Race 2, 11 Yvonne’s Joy
Best Value: Race 3, 2 Force March