Race 1 – Lake Macquarie Carpet Cleaning Super Maiden Plate 900m
Tampa Bay had no luck on debut on this track recently when three wide with no cover outside the speed before tiring to finish fourth. She has drawn okay and will only carry 53kg in what is an open race.
Rare Moon led until well into the straight when a close fourth on debut here a month ago and should run well while Ride The River was placed when an odds-on favourite at Scone in January and has had two recent trials.
Selections: 12 – Tampa Bay 11 – Rare Moon 8 – Ride The River
Race 2 – Keep Looking When Cooking Midway Benchmark 64 Hcp 1850m
Whetu bolted in on a heavy track at Wyong last start and he will benefit from the 3kg claim for the apprentice. He raced well in his only Newcastle start and he is a strong stayer who will appreciate the long straight.
Waverley finally broke through for his first win on this track last start and he will be hard to beat. Dreamdeel is a front-runner in good form.
Selections: 1 – Whetu 8 – Waverley 2 – Dreamdeel
Race 3 – Newcastle Bathrooms 2yo Hcp 1300m
Howler’s only start at Canterbury on June 10 resulted in an eye-catching close second. She was tailed off at one stage before going down by half a length. The filly has barrier one and the in-form Mitchell Bell in the saddle.
Manos was favourite on debut when a closing fourth at Canterbury on June 10 and the spacious track is ideal. Everybody Rise has been placed in his only two starts at Rosehill and on the Kensington track.
Selections: 13 – Howler 3 – Manos 1 – Everybody Rise
Race 4 – Lake Macquarie Carpet Cleaning Provincial 3yo & Up Maiden Hcp 1200m
Sharpen The Knives’ first up second at Wyong on June 13 was full of merit as she had to be hard ridden to sit outside the leader from a wide barrier. She will be fitter and in her only two previous Newcastle starts she wasn’t far away.
Kervette was placed in all four starts before a spell, and she went very well in a recent trial. My Mate Cobber has been placed in both starts this preparation.
Selections: 3 – Sharpen The Knives 2 – Kervette 10 – My Mate Cobber
Race 5 – AHA Newcastle Maiden Plate 1400m
Fakhra resumes from a spell after a lovely trial at Rosehill on June 11. In her only Newcastle start in February she was placed two lengths behind subsequent Group 2 winner Wymark. The mare has been placed in five of seven starts, has barrier four and Jeff Penza rides.
Altair I Am ran on from last to finish fifth over an unsuitable trip on the Kensington track last start while Wipeout hit the line when placed first up on the Kensington track on June 12.
Selections: 11 – Fakhra 2 – Altair I Am 9 – Wipeout
Race 6 – Coastal Fire Services Class 1 Hcp 1400m
Imposant is a promising filly from the Lees stable and she was impressive coming from last to be beaten a length on this track on June 1. The filly had good provincial form last preparation including a win over Bestower in December, and she was a runner up in January.
Exceed Perfection looks the leader and has a win and a second from two starts this preparation. Waterville will improve on the firmer track.
Selections: 6 – Imposant 4 – Exceed Perfection 8 – Waterville
Race 7 – Newcastle Bathrooms Conditional Benchmark 68 Hcp 1400m
Princess Cruizer is knocking on the door after two recent placings at Newcastle and Scone. She came from well back on the turn when a close second on this track on May 25. Two starts back the filly was beaten less than a length in a strong Class 2 on Scone Cup Day in May.
Nanshe will be fitter for a first up Kensington placing on June 12 and Convincebility was run down late on the Kensington track last start.
Selections: 14 – Princess Cruizer 10 – Nanshe 1 – Convincebility
Race 8 – Only Working Smoke Alarms Saves Lives Benchmark 64 Hcp 1200m
There There had no luck when badly held up at Canterbury last start and went to the line under a hold. The mare is a winner on this track, she has a positive barrier and Anna Roper to claim 2kg.
Unstopabull won well at Wyong last start and will appreciate the long straight while Metallic Ruler raced well in better company last preparation.
Selections: 13 – There There 7 – Unstopabull 15 – Metallic Ruler