Newcastle apprentice Benjamin Osmond rode six winners during July including three on Metropolitan tracks has three mounts at the Newcatsle Jockey Club meeting on Thursday and his best chance is trained by his boss Kris Lees. Last Wednesday at Warwick Farm Osmond steered the Lees trained Sabor to victory and on Thursday he will ride stablemate Lost Illusions(TAB $2.90) in the Kloster Motor Group Maiden Plate (1850m).
The Kiwi bred daughter of Group 3 Newcastle Spring Stakes winner Proisir has been placed in four of her seven starts but has always indicated that she would stay. The mare has had a good lead up preparation to the 1850 meters which is the furthest trip she has encountered in her career. First up at Muswellbrook on June 17 Lost Illusions came from last in a 1280m Maiden when a fast finishing fourth second up at Scone in a 1600 metre Maiden on July 2. The mare again finished strong back in the field to place third 1.91 lengths from the winner on a bottomless heavy 10 track.
Last start during the Grafton Cup Carnival on July 17 Lees stepped the 4 year old up to 1700 metres and she went down by a neck doing her best work late. The prospect of a wet track wont be a problem and after Osmond’s claim the favorite will carry 55 kilograms. The 25 year old apprentice, a late comer to racing, other two mounts Adjourn (Race 5) and Always In (Race 7) may need the run but are each way chances.
Chris Wallers blueblood colt Māori Chief is set for a debut win in the 1250 metre Horsepower Maiden Plate. The 3 year old son of champion sire I Am Invincible and Group 2 winner Heatherly has never been let off the bit in two recent Rosehill trials. On July 23 she raced on the speed and cruised to the line under a hold to be beaten 1.42 lengths. Duan
On July 12 the colt won a trial un-extended , that trial was a heavy track and Jason Collett has the mount on Thursday.
Winx’s half sister Wings Of Desire an impressive debut winner at Hawkesbury on July 21 will have her second start in the 1250 metre New Era Technology Fillies & Mares Benchmark 64 Handicap. The filly is trained by Michael Freedman and Tommy Berry who rode her at Hawkesbury has the mount. Her trials were good leading up to her debut and she was very impressive after being last to leave the barriers. Berry had to drag Wings Of Desire off heels 250 metres from home and she quickly put the race away. The filly ticks all the boxes on Thursday’s spacious track and long straight with barrier one another positive.
Berry will also ride the O’Shea – Charlton trained 3 year old Komodo Dragon which will be hard to beat in the 1400 metre Lees Racing Super Maiden Handicap .The 3 year olds only start was in a Wyong 2 year old Maiden over 1300 metres on July 25 and the performance was an eye catcher. The gelding raced midfield on the rail to the home turn and he hugged the rail all the way to the line. He flashed home to just miss and he was in front just past the line. Komodo Dragon will relish the 1400 metres on the spacious track.
The Ryan- Sterling stable opted to put the blinkers on the speedy Carpaccio in the final event the Prince Of Merewether Benchmark 64 Handicap (1250m). The lightly raced 4 year old was beaten just over a length first up at Wyong after chasing the winner all the way. He has raced well second up.