The 2024 Sharp Office Newcastle Gold Cup Day was one of the Newcastle Jockey Club’s greatest race days in the modern era with a huge crowd, perfect weather and track conditions and importantly the quality of horse flesh in the Group 3 events was exceptional. The NJC promoted the Carnival magnificently and received the rewards the administration and staff deserved.
$300,000 Group 3 Sharp Office Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m).
Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller won his sixth Newcastle Cup in nine years when Irish import Etna Rosso gave lie to be his poor performance when favourite in the Wyong Cup two weeks earlier with a frighting win in the Newcastle Cup. Ridden patiently by multiple Melbourne Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy, Etna Rosso the $3.40 favorite made his move form near last on the turn, but Ciaron Maher’s outsider Wycliff came from last and sprinted past Etna Rosso 250 meters form home, however the favorite outstayed Wycliff to win by 0.89 of a length with the pacemaker Sir Lucan in third place.
McEvoy told the media following the race that Etna Rosso relished the bigger Newcastle track. “It was a good win, and it was good to see him bounce back because we expected more at Wyong but maybe the circuit didn’t suit him. We were confident that Newcastle was going to be more to his liking, and he was really bright and well in himself, so I knew he was feeling good” McEvoy said.
Zane Jones, who represented Waller said the winner had thrived in his second full preparation in Australia. “Last start was a stop, start affair and it was again today but on the bigger track it gave him a chance to wind up” Jones said.
McEvoy’s previous Newcastle Cup winners were Streetfighter (2009), Carzoff (2018) and Mugatoo (2020). The TAB shortened Etna Rosso’s price to $15 in the Metropolitan Handicap after the Newcastle win.
$250,000 Group 3 Australian Bloodstock Cameron Handicap (1500m)
There will be a Victorian galloper in the $3 million Big Dance at Randwick in November after the famous Hayes stable won the Cameron Handicap thirty-one years after the stable then with David Hayes in control won the Newcastle Cup with the grey stayer Azaam.
On Friday David’s three sons Ben, Joe and Will sent smart Victorian Here To Shock to win the Cameron which carried eligibility for the Big Dance. Ben represented the stable in Newcastle and the $3 favorite Here To Shock scored a tough win. Nash Rawiller sat off the leader Matcha Latte from the outset and the pair fought the race out all the way down the straight before Rawiller lifted the favourite in the latter stages to win by less than half a length.
Ben Hayes praised Nash, Here To Shock and gave the track and club a huge wrap. It was a great ride by Nash. “The horse travelled up here, and I was a little bit worried because we normally canter him on race morning so not to over race but he released beautifully for Nash, he nursed him. Thrilled with the ride and very excited, he is now qualified for The Big Dance. Our Racing Manager Dom Rhoden alerted us that this race was a qualifier. It is a great race for him and a great opportunity and it’s a great incentive and exciting. The track is beautiful, my first time here, and it looks like it has been a great day for the Club, lots of happy people” Hayes said.
$250,000 Group 3 Reward Hospitality Tibbie Stakes (1400m)
Champion jockey Nash Rawiller believes the $1 Million The Hunter would be a nice race for bonnie Warwick Farm mare Terra Mater after she completed the Wyong Mona Lisa- Newcastle Tibbie double on Friday. The $3.40 favorite in The Tibbie, Terra Mater had a gun run off the leader Overriding before taking the lead in the straight and holding off Roots to win by less than a length.
An excited Rawiller spoke to the media following the Tibbie. “I know The Hunter is a long way off but it would be a nice race for Terra Mater at the end of the carnival if she is still going as well”.
Trainer Jarrod Austin said she may head to Melbourne. “We threw a sneaky Nom in for The Epsom but there is a nice fillies and mares race over the Carnival in Melbourne. We had a plan for her first three races this prep, and we got two Black Type wins and a second. It’s fantastic”
Less than two months to The $1 Million The Herald Hunter Race Day- Bring It On!