Gary Harley – 27.06.26
A massive number of acceptors for Saturdays Cystic Fibrosis Race Day at Newcastle including a number of gallopers which were to run at Thursdays abandoned Wyong meeting has led to Newcastle Jockey Club staging a 10-race program. The NJC received 136 acceptances when the fields were declared on Thursday resulted in the 1300 2-year-old Handicap and 1200 Benchmark 64 being divided.
Kris Lees will saddle up a quality lightly raced 4-year-old mare Oakfield Neptune unbeaten in 2 heavy track appearances in the 1200m Cystic Fibrosis Benchmark 64Handicap. A daughter of Deep Field, Oakfield Neptune has had 5 starts for 2 wins and 2 placings and on her home track she has two wins and 2 placings from 4 starts. After an easy all the way Newcastle win on May 23 Grant Buckley had his first ride on Oakfield Neptune last start at Newcastle on June 13 and after leading most of the trip was run down late to finish second. Buckley rides the mare again on Saturday and from her positive barrier 3 the wet track specialist will race on the speed.
Lees has another good chance in the 1400m Hunter Street Chambers Maiden Plate. His inform 3-year-old Agraffe Rocket is knocking on the door with two placings in stronger races recently. A son of Lees The Everest runner Graff, many years back Agraff Rocket has displayed no speed in his 4 race starts but is a very strong finisher. On debut on Boxing Day the gelding flashed home to be beaten less than half a length at Randwick. On Scone Cup Day in May, he again came from well back to be beaten less than a length. Last start on the Kensington track Agraff Rocket came from second last to finish second a little more than a length from the winner on soft 5 track on June 10. He’s crying out for the 1400m on his home track and Jean Van Overmier has the mount.
Randwick trainer John Sargent has booked 3-kilogram claiming apprentice Claire Ramsbotham to ride the Irish bred Claim The Crown in the 1850m Doc JHH Pharmacy midway 64 Handicap. The 7-year-old was originally handicapped to carry 63 kilograms. Originally in the Archibald stable the gelding has had 3 metropolitan placings since joining the Sargeant’s stable and he was only beaten length when placed on a soft 5 track at Canterbury on June 8.
Two last start Newcastle winners Aethelwulf and Funshow clash in the 1400 metre Skillons Constructions PTY LTD Class 1 Handicap. The Matthew Smith Aethelwulf in his second race start bolted in by more than 5 lengths on a soft 6 Newcastle track on June 6. Nathan Doyles Funshow was placed in all four starts before a 4.85 length, all the way win on a soft 7 Newcastle track on June 13. Keagan Latham rides Aethelwulf while Jean Van Overmier has the mount on Funshow.
3-year-old Zoustar gelding Algorithmic is an interesting runner in the 1200m Independent Mobility and Rehab Provincial Maiden Handicap. Widden Stud sold the horse for $760,000 at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale he was trained by The Hawkes family and finished fifth behind Vinrock in the 2025 Group 2 VRC Sires Produce. Algorithmic was bought for $60,000 by his current owners at the 2026 Inglis Early Online Sale. The 3-year-old is having his first start for his new owners on Saturday and Wyong trainer Nikki Hodgson now trains the gelding, and his two recent trials have been impressive.