Gary Harley:
The Newcastle Jockey Club will host its second race meeting in four days on the course proper on Saturday with eight races programmed. Tom Charltons 3-year-old Three Arrows scratched from Tuesday’s meeting is accepted is an acceptor in the 1250 metre PBE Group Benchmark 64 Handicap after a successful first campaign during the Spring. In his three start career the grey gelding was beaten half a length in a Newcastle Maiden on October 18. Then won two in succession at Newcastle and Hawkesbury on November 1 and 27 before being spelled. Three Arrows has had two recent trials and was ridden out by Zac Lloyd to win a Randwick trial on May 4. In his two wins he had led throughout and at Newcastle the track was rated a soft 6. Talented apprentice Mitch Stapleford has the mount, and he will claim 1.5 kilograms.
Chris Wallers Kiwi bred 3-year-old Konsa is knocking on the door and is well placed in the 1400 metre Webber Architects Super Maiden Plate. He has drawn the outside barrier but in his previous couple of starts o Metropolitan track the gelding has been ridden at the tail of the field and finished strong so the barrier may not be an issue. First up from a spell at Warwick Farm on May 6 on a soft track Konsa was taken back to last in a 1300 metre Super Maiden and when clear halfway down the straight finished strongly into third place at Randwick on Boxing Day after coning form a long way back. The spacious track is ideal, and Lee Magorian has his first ride on the son of Ocean Park.
Attractiveness a scratching at the barrier at Newcastle on Tuesday resumes from a spell in the 1250 metre Farrelly Construction Services Fillies & Mares Benchmark 64 Handicap. The 3-year-old is trained by Richard and Will Freeedman and in her four starts has recorded a Gosford Maiden win and a close second on the same track. She started favourite when beaten 1.74 lengths in a Rosehill Saturday Midway last start on January 31.
Attractiveness has had two recent trials and hit the line when narrowly beaten on a Rosehill Trial on May 11. The New Zealand bred filly has drawn ideally in barrier 4 with Lee Magorian in the saddle.
In the opening event the 2200 metre Newcastle Skin Check Class 1 Maiden Plate both Canjustify and Dance With Destiny should run well. Canjustify from the Richard Litt stable stormed home from the tail of the field after racing keen early and mid-race to win a 1900 metre Maiden on May 2. The 3-year-old is very consistent, and she has been placed on a soft track. Jeff Penza will ride her on Saturday. Dance With Destiny from the John Sargent stable is yet to be placed in six starts but had no luck when finishing 1.63 lengths behind Canjustify on May 2 after a tough run three wide no cover throughout.
Port Macquarie trainer John Sprague heads down the coast with First Landing which contests the 900 metre Total Tools Benchmark 64 Handicap. an impressive first up winner over this Newcastle short course in a heavy track in June last year, the 5 year old resumes from a spell after winning a Port Macquarie trial on a soft track on April 26. Aaron Bullock in great form with five winners over the two-day Scone Cup Carnival will ride the top weight.
Nathan Doyles, 3-year-old filly Zouboy is on debut in the 900 metre Varley Engineering Maiden Handicap after a nice trial on the Beaumont track on May 4. He led in the trial and was run down late by Agraffe Rocket which was narrowly beaten during the Scone Cup Carnival