Race 1 – NZB Airfreight Max Lees Classic 900m
Market Magic has only had one trial when he travelled in second place before racing away to win by 2.24 lengths at Randwick on November 3. He draws well and could be hard to run down over the short course.
Gram is a nice colt on debut with two trials in November.
Erno’s Cube failed in The Gimcrack, but she went good in a recent trial.
Selections: 2- Market Magic 1- Gram 5- Erno’s Cube
Race 2 – Karaka 2024 Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap 1600m
Resistible is very quick and she draws perfectly. The mare led when a close fourth in The Four Pillars at Rosehill two weeks back. She is a winner on this track and Dylan Gibbons rides.
Toesonthenose ran okay in The Four Pillars from barrier 18 and he has a chance in an open race.
Modern Millie will be fitter third up and is on her home track.
Selections: 5- Resistible 2- Toesonthenose 6- Modern Millie
Race 3 – TAB Highway Handicap 1600m
Arrowfield’s Rematch is lightly raced and has a good record. He came from last to win on this track on October 10 before a fast finishing second at Muswellbrook. He will relish the tough Newcastle mile.
Sharp Shock has been disappointing at Randwick recently but can improve sharply in this field. Skyforger has sound country form.
Selections: 2- Rematch 7- Sharp Shock 8- Skyforger
Race 4 – NZB Insurance F&M Benchmark 78 Handicap 1400m
Lekvarte resumes here and she has a good record. The mare has had two recent trials, and from two starts at Newcastle she has a win and a second. She wasn’t far away in a Group 3 at Scone in May and she has a positive barrier.
Portray was narrowly beaten at Randwick last start and Fall For Cindy is in good form.
Selections: 5- Lekvarte 3- Portray 4- Fall For Cindy
Race 5 – Alf Kneebone Trans-Tasman Trophy Benchmark 88 Handicap 1850m
King Of The Castle comes to Newcastle for the first time in good form. He finished strongly to win at Randwick two starts back and then finished fourth in The Big Dance. He has good form over this trip and Nash rides.
I’mintowin is a Kiwi who bolted in at Rosehill in his first Australian start on November 4 and he will probably lead.
Aramayo is close to a win and the apprentice claims 3kg.
Selections: 2- King of The Castle 12- I’mintowin 1- Aramayo
Race 6 – New Zealand Bloodstock The Beauford 2300m
Sky Lab was desperately unlucky in the Rosehill Cup last start. He won the Magic Millions Cup in January and he has raced well in the past on this track. Most of his wins have been on rain affected going.
Numerian is the class stayer who won last year’s Gosford Cup and was beaten a neck in The Group 1 Doomben Cup in May.
Stroke Of Luck was a close second in The Rosehill Cup last start.
Selections: 3- Sky Lab 1- Numerian 5- Stroke Of Luck
Race 7 – New Zealand Bloodstock 3YO Spring Stakes (Group 3) 1600m
Until Valhalla is a promising filly with only two starts under her belt. She came from a mile back when beaten at Hawkesbury on debut on October 8 and then led all the way in a Super Maiden on The Kensington track.
Invincible Spy is a front runner who is unbeaten in two starts.
Sly Boots got a long way back last start and can improve.
Selections: 9- Until Valhalla 3- Invincible Spy 4- Sly Boots
Race 8 – The Newcastle Herald Hunter 1300m
Mazu is the best performed horse in the race thus he carries 59 kilograms. He was stood on his head when making late ground in The Everest, and then last start he was strong late when beaten 2.15 lengths in The Giga Kick. He loves wet tracks if it happens to rain.
Coal Crusher gets the blinkers on and he is a bold front runner and has a lovely barrier.
Far Too Easy is up in class but his Kosciuszko run was outstanding, and he should have won the Grafton Ramornie.
Selections: 1- Mazu 6- Coal Crusher 11- Far Too Easy
Race 9 – NZB Kurt Fearnley Legend Mile Benchmark 78 Handicap 1600m
Tavi Time is second up after a sold first up run on the Kensington track recently. Earlier in the year he won three on the trot at Canterbury and at Taree twice. He is second up but is talented.
Sweet Mercy surged late to win The Four Pillars and he is well placed while Manbehindthemoney resumes after having good middle distance form last preparation.
Selections: 11- Tavi Time 8- Sweet Mercy 1- Manbehindthemoney
Race 10 – 2024 TAB Karaka Millions Benchmark 94 Handicap 1300m
Fender is always thereabouts, and he has barrier one and is racing well enough. He was beaten 2 lengths in a Group 3 at Caulfield two starts back and this is a drop in class.
Much Much Better was gutsy leading all the way at Randwick last start and has a 3kg claim.
Acquitted goes well first up and would love a shower or two.
Selections: 4- Fender 1- Much Much Better 2- Acquitted