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The opening event at Saturdays Newcastle Jockey Club race meeting, the 900 metre Girls Day Out- Women In Sport Maiden Plate is a cracker with speed galore. The Warwick Farm trained colt Barracuda, Blanc De Noir, Ocean Joy and Flying Argyle all possess genuine speed and all four have drawn positivity. Barracuda, formerly in the Waterhouse- Bott stable is having his first start for trainer Jarrod Austin and his recent trials have been outstanding.
The son of Trapeze Artist has only started once when in the Waterhouse- Bott stable and he was a close fifth in the ½ Million ‘Debut’ at the 2024 Magic Millions Carnival. He subsequently bled in trackwork and was listed for sale online. “One of my owners bought Barracuda online and he is spot on for his first start for me on Saturday. He is a lovely horse, and his trials have been very impressive. Barracuda has speed to burn, and he led throughout to win a Warwick Farm trial by close on four lengths on January 20. He was never off the bit when second in his first trial for me on January 3. The track condition wet or dry is no issue and he is as good as I can have him” Austin said on Thursday. Blanc De Noir and Flying Argyle have good Newcastle form.
John O’Shea and Tom Charlton will send their promising 3-year-old Hell To Pay to Newcastle to contest the 1300 metre RA Super Class 1 Handicap and the son of Hellbent has bright prospects. The gelding drops sharply after finishing less than four lengths from the winner in the $3Million Magic Millions 3-Year-Old Guineas on January 17. Two starts back Hell To Pay won the $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden on the Sunshine Coast. In his only Newcastle start in July the 3-year-old was placed behind the smart Codetta. Braith Nock has the mount, and he claims 2 kilograms.
Miss Jones is knocking on the door after runner up performances at Canterbury and Kembla recently and she has a perfect barrier in the 1300 metre Ryan Assell Investments Solutions Maiden Handicap. The filly trained by Richard and Will Freedman was a heavily backed odds-on favourite when unplaced on debut at Newcastle on December 14. She was an on-speed runner and second up was beaten 1.3 lengths at Kembla and third up the 3-year-old led when beaten 1.88 lengths at Canterbury on January 17. This is a nice race for the filly with Andrew Adkins in the saddle.
Locally trained gallopers dominate the 900-metre Matthew Chisholm’s Birthday Benchmark 64 Handicap. Paul Perry’s Curl Curl has a good record over the short course at Newcastle and he races well second up. The four-year-old has had six starts over this trip on this track for two wins and three placings. He hit the line late first up here on January 10 and he will be fitter, and Mollie Fitzgerald’s 3-kilogram allowance is gold.
Mark Minervini’s Shall Be, an easy winner on this track first up on January 10 is a big threat with two wins and a second from three starts on this track. Both Rapidash and Rubi’s Serve have accepted in the final event the 1600 metre Supporther Co Benchmark 64 Handicap however the pair are dual acceptors. Rapidash has also accepted at Rosehill and Rubi’s Serve has accepted in an earlier Newcastle race and if one or both run in this final event they will be hard to beat