Blueblood colt Format from the Waterhouse-Bott stable travels to Newcastle for the NJC’s Beaumont track race meeting on Monday with connections hoping for better luck than his last start appearance in the city on January 21. The 3-year-old is a son of champion sire Frankel and Nechita a Fastnet Rock mare which won the 2012 Group 1 Flemington Coolmore and 2012 Group 3 Silver Slipper at Warwick farm. Format has only had three race starts, the last two on the Newcastle course proper and Beaumont.
Last start on January 21 on the course proper he was heavily backed into $2.40 favouritism in the 1600 metre Maiden, and he travelled sweetly third on the rail but in the home straight jockey Regan Baylis attempted a run on the rail, but the gap closed, and he was cut out and allowed to canter to the line. Two starts back first up from a spell Format was a 2.34 length third in a 1350 Maiden on the Beaumont track on Boxing Day. The winner of the race, Chris Wallers Pretty Powerful, then won the next start at Canterbury. On Monday Format lines up in the 2110 metre TAB App Class 1 & Maiden Plate with Jean Van Overmeire in the saddle.
Alysha Collett’s mount Magic Elegance from the Annabel Neasham- Rob Archibald stable will be hard to beat in the 1150 metre Horsepower Feeds & Supplements Maiden Plate. The Canadian bred mare was nailed on the line on debut at Nowra on New Years Eve before having no luck when beaten 2.8 lengths at Newcastle in a stronger race on January 21. After being slowly away last start the mare was trapped four wide with no cover but still loomed 200 metres out. The tough run took its toll in the end. The 4-year-old from a positive barrier should race handy.
Cessnock trainer Jeremy Sylvester has enjoyed a successful season and his mare Unreachable has a good chance in the 1150 metre Dailey Family Funerals Fillies & Mares Benchmark 58 Handicap. The mare put the writing on the wall with an eye-catching performance second up at Scone last start on January 30. She drifted back near last three wide with no cover and after being held up in the straight flashed home to go down by a nose. Taree apprentice Shae Wilkes rode Unreachable last has the mount again and claims 2 kilograms.
Local mare Lounerse last two runs indicate a win is not far off and Aaron Bullock rides her in the 1350 metre The Advisor Collective Benchmark 64 Handicap. The 4-year-olds only start on the Beaumont track on Boxing Day was full of merit. Lounerse finished fourth 2.3 lengths from the inform winner Rubi’s Serve after racing her keenly early in midfield and she arced in limited room in the closing stages. Last start on the Newcastle course proper on January 25 Lounerse was only beaten .84 of a length. She fought hard after being forced very wide from the 400 metres.
Scone trained Giving Delight resumes from a spell in the final event the 1150 metre NZB Weanlings 26 June Benchmark 58 Handicap and this is a suitable race. The 5 year old won a recent trial at Scone by 6 lengths on January 22. Last prep he was only beaten 1.28 lengths in a Rosehill Highway in August. Rod Northam trains and his 3-kilogram claiming apprentice Leeshelle Small has the mount.
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