Gary Harley – Herald – 03.09.24

Randwick trained 3 year old Indecisive desperately unlucky first up at Warwick Farm recently can atone when he travels to Newcastle Jockey Club race meeting on Tuesday. The son of Brazen Beau was checked at double figure odds at Warwick Farm on August 21 and from the wide barrier Chad Scofield allowed Indecisive to drift back to last soon after the start. The jockey elected to ride back in the straight when he hugged the rail and the horse was making ground until he ran into a dead end and was stopped in his tracks 100 metres from home. Indecisive finished fifth only 1.76 lengths from the winner in the 1100 metre event and he will appreciate the 1200 meters in the NJC Supports Equimillion 3YO Maiden Plate on the spacious track on Tuesday. Scofield rides the gelding again for John Thompson who has won the three races on the track during August.

The John O’Shea -Tom Charlton stable will saddle up the favorites in the opening two races at Newcastle. In the NZB November Ready To Run Sale Class 1 and Maiden Plate (1900m) the stable’s runner is the lightly raced Kenmare Bay. Bred to stay the 3 year old stepped up to the 1600m in his third race at Kembla on August 17 and he ran out “The Mile” strongly to win impressively. Sam Clipperton has the ride and from the rails barrier he should race behind the speed.

The stable also has Interjection in race 2, the 1350 metre TAB App Maiden Handicap and the 3 year old is resuming from a four month spell. He was placed in his first two starts at Wyong and Kembla before going for a spell after finishing fourth at Hawkesbury in May. Interjection trialled nicely at Randwick recently.

Ciaron Maher’s New Zealand bred Magic Shadow can break through for his first win in the 1250 metre Hungerford Hill Wines Maiden Plate. He missed the start by two lengths at Kembla last start but two starts back at Newcastle he was again slowly away when a solid fourth in a classier field then this. On July 17 Magic Shadow was placed on the Kensington track half a length from the winner. Dylan Gibbons has the mount on Tuesday.

Lady Ichikawa has had no luck in recent starts and she has the rails barrier in the Davali Thoroughbreds Maiden Plate (1250m). She has been runner up in her last two starts both on this track and has had excuses in both. Last start here on August 15 the mare was held up a couple of times in the straight when a strong third. Two starts back on this track Lady Ichikawa missed the start by three lengths and was beaten 1.39 lengths. Chad Scofield is the new rider for the mare.

The lightly raced Draco’s Fire is good value in the final event the Dailey Family Funerals Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m). Kerrin McEvoy rides the 4 year old for the Neasham-Archibald stable and he has a win and three placings from five starts. He is an on pacer resuming from a spell and he was never off the bit in a recent trial when narrowly beaten.

With fine weather continuing the track will be a good 4.