Gary Harley
Newcastle based apprentice Liberty Smyth who moved from Queensland to join the Nathan Doyle stable late last year rode her first Newcastle winner at the AHA & Pitcher Partners race day on Saturday. The 28-year-old is a late comer to the apprentice ranks but is an experienced horse woman as she had previously gone to Europe as a member of an International Show Jumping team and rode trackwork and barrier trials in Queensland. On Saturday Smyth was aboard the 8-year-old gelding Auzstar for Port Macquarie trainer Marc Quinn in the final event the 1500 metre Farm Frites Benchmark 64 Handicap.
Auzstar was first to leave the barriers then settled third on the rail and never went around another horse. Smyth drove the gelding along the rail in the home straight and the son of champion sire Zoustar won by more than a length. The apprentice had her first ride on Auzstar in his previous start when a close third in the Tamworth Cup Prelude in April. Smyth had her first ride on December 27 last year and is in good form with 19 winning rides since.
Nathan Doyle was not at Newcastle to witness the win of his talented 3-year-old Just Response in the 1250 metre Pitcher Partners Newcastle & Hunter Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap. Doyle was at the Hawkesbury meeting where his four-year-old mare Churchill’s Choice won the Group 3 Hawkesbury Cup. The ultra consistent Just Response went to the barriers as the shortest priced favourite of the meeting backed from $1.55 on Friday into $1.30. Jockey Mitchell Bell was keen to lead on the favourite and travelled sweetly before racing clear halfway down the straight. The 3-year-old won by three quarters of a length and his race record stands at three wins and three placings from six starts. Just Response is bred and is part owned by Geoff Boyd a former Cessnock rugby league player and businessman.
Mitchell Bell is once again enjoying a successful season with 78.5 winners with three months of the season remaining. Just Response was at the second leg of a winning double for Bell as he piloted Can Justify ($6.50) to victory in the 1900 metre SV Partners Maiden Plate.
Legendary Newcastle trainer Paul Perry and local apprentice William Stanley landed a long price double at the Newcastle meeting on April 11, and the pair combined with $31 chance Rothrock winner of the 1900 metre Ausure Hospitality Benchmark 64 Handicap on Saturday. It was a patient ride by Stanley as Rothrock was a clear last in the early stages and fifteen lengths from the leader mid race. Stanley steered Rothrock into the clear in the straight and the 7-year-old mare outstayed opponents. It was Rothrock’s eighth win and her first time since April 12, 2025. Stanley has ridden 149 winners including 33 in the current season. The next Newcastle meeting is scheduled for Tuesday May 19.