Novocastrians Kris Lees, Nathan Doyle and Dylan Gibbons all enjoyed success at the Newcastle Jockey Clubs race meeting on Saturday.
Lees’ unbeaten 4yo Fleet Air Arm resumed from an eleven month spell with a brilliant win in the 900m Benchmark 64 Handicap. The gelding put the writing on the wall with an easy barrier trial win on January 24. Fleet Air Arm began quickly and the apprentice Dylan Gibbons was content to sit outside the leader on the odds on favourite and the speedster raced away to win by 2.3 lengths. In his only two previous starts he won by 2 lengths at Port Macquarie and Scone.
The Doyle trained filly Super Bright was backed off the map before winning the 900m Maiden Plate by 2.76 lengths. Backed into $2.35 favourite, Super Bright hit top gear to win by 2.76 lengths. “I accepted with this filly for the Muswellbrook meeting on Monday but she drew barrier 13 so I decided to run today. Super Bright has been trialling very well and has a bright future” Doyle said. Dylan Gibbons rode the winner.
Irish bred blueblood Forever You confirmed her staying potential with a 4.36 length victory in the Class 1 & Maiden Plate 2350m. The mare, a daughter of Europe’s super sire Galileo has put two wins together by big margins. She is trained by Annabel Neasham who has gradually stepped Forever You up in distance and the sky’s the limit.
The Waterhouse/Bott partnership sent the former Kiwi Notabadbuy to Newcastle and the 3yo delivered in the 1400m Maiden Handicap. It was a gun ride by Winona Costin who put Notabadbuy third on the rail and gained a late split, and the horse was strong to the line.
Michael Hawkes was as at Newcastle to see the family trained Kaptive win the Class 1 Handicap 1500m. The 5yo had been well beaten in two Victorian starts this preparation but he improved immensely on Saturday.
Coffs Harbour trained This Is So, trained by Dan Edwards delivered a knockout blow to quadrella punters when he won the final event – the 1400m Benchmark 68 Handicap. The $34 chance staved off a late challenge from favourite Steplee to score by ½ length.