Talented 4-year-old mare Makarena is set to deliver the Hawkes stable with its fifth success in the time-honoured Group 3 Horsepower Newcastle Stakes on Friday. Previously known as the Newcastle Newmarket the race was first run in 1955 and it’s the first Provincial Group race in New South Wales this year. John Hawkes won the race with Danzippo in 2007, Deposition in 1993 then won the race again with Crawl ridden by Larry Cassidy in 2001 and in 2014 James McDonald steered Mecir to victory for John and his sons Michael and Wayne.
Makarena has outstanding credentials for this race and went up $3.30 with TAB fixed Odds-on Wednesday. In the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill on February 22 the mare was first up and she went forward to share the lead 900 metres out. She got a little tired late but was tough finishing 1.56 metres from the winner Firestorm. Makarena has won two from three second up and can handle soft and dry tracks. Prior to a spell the 4-year-old was beaten 1.3 lengths after a tough run in the New South Wales second richest race the $10 Million Golden Eagle at Rosehill on November 2. In September Makarena beat Amelia’s Jewel in the Group 2 Gold Pendent at Rosehill. On Friday she has drawn nicely and Tyler Schiller who won The Hunter for the Hawkes team in November will ride the mare again.
The Victorian Amenable has only won two races but he is smart when at his best. He was runner up a neck behind Magic Timer in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes at Randwick last April. The 5-year-old indicated that he is ready to perform with a lovely trial at Rosehill recently.
Sandpaper is up in class, but his recent form is very good and has the minimum weight of 54 kilograms. Tim Clark rides the 6-year-old. Nash Rawiller, who rode the 2021 winner Gem Song makes the trip to ride the Richard and Will Freedman trained Coastwatch, a last start winner of the Listed Barton Stakes at Sandown on January 25.
The 2-year-old 1300 metre All Park Projects Paul Perry Handicap was contested by talented youngsters in recent years. Broadsiding finished third in the race last year while Just Party, Kintyre, Inhibitions and Wymark won major races in the last two years.
On Friday John O’Shea and Tom Charlton saddle up Napoleonic a son of Wooton Bassett which was luckless on debut at Warwick Farm on February 19 when midfield behind King Of Pop. The colt was slow to leave the barriers and travelled worse than midfield on the rail. He was looking for room in the straight and appeared to have plenty to offer if sufficiently clear. Zac Lloyd will ride him from barrier one and the spacious Newcastle track is ideal.
The Newcastle Jockey Club have decided to name the fillies & Mares Benchmark 68 Handicap on Newcastle Stakes Day the New Zealand Bloodstock Samantha Miss Handicap. Kris Lees trained Samantha Miss to win three Group 1’s and she is a member of the Newcastle & Hunter Hall Of Fame. It is a wide-open race but Fastnet Rock mare Elba from the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable should run well. Originally weighted at 62.5 kilograms the Victorians have booked Newcastle, 2 kilogram claiming apprentice Ben Osmond for the ride. The mare has been out of form on very firm Victorian tracks but if the track is soft, look for a big improvement.
The sold-out International Women’s Day function featuring four-time Para World Surfing Champion Sam Bloom will be held in the Trackside Marquee on track.