Trainers Jason Deamer and John Sargent along with jockeys Christian Reith and Tom Sherry all bagged doubles at the Cessnock race meeting on Tuesday. It was the first meeting at Cessnock since the Jungle Juice Cup Day in October. Deamer’s two winners Constanzia and The Deel Is Dun both landed plunges and the pair were ridden by Reith.
Constanzia an easy last start winner went up $4.40 with TAB Fixed odds but firmed into $2.20 in the 1350 metre Class 3 Handicap. The mare was trapped three-wide from her outside barrier but when Reith made his move approaching the home turn Constanza sprinted quickly and she raced away in the straight. The four-year-old has won four of her nine starts with two placings and she will win better races.
Deamer was impressed “She has returned in great order this preparation. She was impressive in a lesser grade first up at Tuncurry and she backed up today.
Dynamic Syndications who race Constanzia have given me a nice team of horses and I can’t be happier with the success we are enjoying,” Deamer said. From an opening price of $5, The Deel Is Dun was backed into $2.70 in the 1570 metre Benchmark 58 Handicap. Backing up from an unplaced run at Gosford five days earlier, the mare was given a rail hugging ride by Reith and she overpowered the leaders late.
Sydney apprentice Tom Sherry was riding at Cessnock for the first time and he combined with Randwick trainer John Sargent to win with Prince Camelot and Most Welcome. Prince Camelot was given a peach of a ride by Sherry in the opening event the 2125 metre Maiden Plate.
A drifter in betting, the winner opened up at $2 but was a $3.10 chance at barrier rise. After leading past the post with a lap to run, Sherry allowed Prince Camelot to ease back to fifth on the rail.
The Irish boy let the favourite rip before the home turn and after reaching the lead at the top of the straight he had to fight off the challenge of the runner up The Borough.
Most Welcome formerly trained by Chris Waller was starting for Sargent for the second time after a narrow defeat at Kembla first up. Sherry hunted the three-year-old to the front soon after the start and he bolted in. Sherry who only had his first ride in Australia in October has ridden 82 winners for the season.
Kris Lees and Australian Bloodstock combined to win with thre-year-old Daltoro in the 900 metre Hunter Valley Premium Meats Maiden Handicap.
It was the geldings second start and he is immature but has a future. Paul Perry’s Mahogany Bay foiled a plunge on a long odds-on favourite Rifles in the 1150 metre Class 1 Handicap.