Newcastle based Aaron Bullock, who is enjoying a purple patch of form with 10 winners from his past 25 mounts has taken 6 rides at Saturday’s Newcastle race meeting. Bullocks’ best ride appears to be the consistent placegetter Oxford Vision which carries topweight of 59 kilograms in the All-Metal Roofing Midway Class 1 Handicap (1300m).
Kim Waugh’s 4-year-old has had ten starts for a win and seven placings. Oxford Vision has put the writing on the wall in his past two starts when runner up at Gosford and Hawkesbury. He loomed to win at Gosford on November 19 only to be run down in the shadows of the post. Oxford Vision has drawn soft, and his best form is on firm tracks.
Former Queenslander Debussy a newcomer to Tony Ball’s Taree stable will be ridden by Bullock in his first New South Wales start in the Newsure Insurance Brokers Class 1 Handicap (900m). The 4-year-old, an Eagle Farm 2-year-old winner in April last year wasn’t ridden out in a recent trial in which the son of Choisir wasn’t far away.
Look for a bold showing from Galaxy Belle in the heat of the Sky Racing Summer Provincial Series Class 5 Plate (1600m). The mare finished last at the Canterbury night meeting on November 11 however, she could have won the race. Ridden towards the rear of a big field by Dylan Gibbons the apprentice drove her up along the rail and she was coming quickly in the home straight only to be stood on her head and put out of the race. Bullocks’ other three mounts, Greenheart, Oakfield Macka and Smartawi have each way chances.
The race meeting commences with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service 4YO & Up Maiden Handicap (1400m) and Brad Widdup’s Fudai will be hard to beat. The 4-year-old flashed home from the tail of the field when beaten by .66 of a length on the Beaumont track on November 22. John O’Shea’s Snitzel mare Zimtopia will appreciate the spacious Newcastle track when she lines up in “The Lizard” Maiden Handicap (1600m). Both of Zimtopia’s starts have been on the tighter track at Wyong. Last start she made up many lengths when placed at Wyong on November 24.
David Pfeiffer’s barrier trial star Angel Fund makes her debut in the Commercial Collective 3YO Maiden Plate (900m). The daughter of Capitalist is unbeaten in her three recent trials at Warwick Farm and Hawkesbury. Doubtless Lady a filly by Not A Single Doubt is ready to win in her second race start when she contests the Quarry Mining Construction Equipment Maiden Plate (1200m). Trained by Richard and Will Freedman the 3-year-old ran home strong on debut when beaten a length at Newcastle on November 15. She has a soft draw and Andrew Adkins has the mount.
Zaru, a late scratching at the barrier at Rosehill last Saturday is well placed in the final event the Rescue Helicopter Saves Lives Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200m). Zaru won a Rosehill Highway on August 13, and he has been placed in his past two Rosehill starts.