Gary Harley
Newcastle – Hunter Hall Of Fame trainer Peter Snowden trained his fourth Newcastle Stakes (formally Newcastle Newmarket) winner when talented mare Tuileries won the Group 3 Horsepower sponsored event on Friday. Tuileries ($5.50) had to overcome a wide barrier however jockey Chad Schofield fired the mare out of the barriers and she settled in a great spot in third place behind the $4 favourite Coal Crusher and Just Feelin Lucky. Schofield steered the 4-year-old around the leaders halfway down the home straight and she was strong to the line holding off the fast-finishing Newcastle mare Churchills Choice ($10) to win by just under half a length with the luckless Scone mare Melody Again ($7) in third place.
Snowden praised Schofield’s ride following the race. “The barrier worried me as I didn’t know where we were going to be in the race. However, Chad put her in the perfect spot, and it was a great ride. She was Stakes placed twice at Newcastle and Flemington in the Spring. I will probably run Tuileries in the Hawkesbury Fillies and Mares race at Hawkesbury in May and the Scone Dark Jewell and then maybe head to Brisbane” the Scone born and bred trainer said following the Newcastle Stakes. Snowden’s previous winners in the race were Falaise (2008), Bello (2013), and Artistry (2016) when the race was transferred to Rosehill. The $4 favourite Coal Crusher was taken on in front under his big weight and tired to finish sixth.
Has the Prince Of Merewether Paul Perry 2YO Handicap held on Newcastle Stakes Day produced another potential Group winner? On Friday the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou trained colt Southend, part owned by the Burford family Sponsors of the race, stormed home from last halfway down the straight to win by more than a length. Patiently ridden by former Newcastle jockey Dylan Gibbons, Southend on debut was very impressive. The $7 chance is a son of Great Britain stallion Palace Pier which stood at Darley’s Kelvinside Stud in the Hunter Valley. Southend was purchased for $425,000 at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale. Ryan was over the moon after the race “Nice horse. I told the owners on Thursday night he would not miss the top three. He is awesome, we loved him at the sales. His dam is a three-quarter sister to Peltzer, which was a good flyer but this one’s going to get more ground. He is going to be a hell of a lot better over ground”.
Graduates from previous Paul Perry 2YO include 4 times Group 1 winner Broadsiding and Group winners Kintyre, Inhibitions, Wymark and Napoleonic.
Nathan Doyles talented apprentice Shannen Llewellyn produced a classic ride on Wyong mare Titanium Miss winner of the 1300 metre NZB Samantha Miss Fillies & Mares Benchmark 68 Handicap. Taken back to second last from a wide barrier the 4-year-old was second last into the straight where Llewellyn started to angle for a split between horses, her patience paid off when clear Titanium Miss stormed home late to win by .26 of a length.
The International Women’s Day function on course was again a huge success with over 300 guests attending the popular annual event. Macia Hines and Natalia Hogan were special Guests for the event.
The 2026 theme “Give to Gain”, this year’s event proudly supported Samaritans Newcastle, raising awareness and funds to help young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness across our region.