Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle declared 3 year old filly Harlem Queen, is potentially the best horse he has trained after her dominant win in the 1200 metre NJC Supports Equimillion 2024 Midway Maiden Plate at the Newcastle Jockey Club race meeting on Tuesday. Doyle told Sky Racing prior to the race, that he could only trial the filly once for her first up run from a spell and she has so much improvement in her. However, that did not stop punters backing Harlem Queen from $3 into $1.70 in a strong maiden event. The 3 year old’s victory was highly impressive.
Ridden by one of the best, Kerrin McEvoy, Harlem Queen settled at the tail of the field, three wide with cover. McEvoy started to ride the filly along near the home turn and steered her to the outside of the field. Harlem Queen sprinted quickly in the last 200 metres to win by 1.3 lengths. McEvoy placed a big rap on the filly and Doyle indicated she may run in the Sydney Spring Carnival and will be even better in the Autumn.
Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride landed a double late in the day with Kiwi import and a lightly raced 5 year old carrying last years The Everest winning colours. Emilia Jane the Kiwi mare was backed from $10 to $6.50 in the Davali Thoroughbreds 4YO & Up Mares Maiden Plate (1250m). Last to leave the barriers the 4YO travelled at the tail of the field until the top of the straight where Regan Bayliss eased her to the outside of the pack. The mare powered home down the outside fence to win by a neck. Emilia Jane was narrowly beaten in her only New Zealand start at Te Rapa in January. She had four trials for Pride prior to a first up unplaced run at Kembla on August 17. There is certainly more wins ahead for the mare.
The final event, The Dailey Family Funerals Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) was won by Prides Iconic Treasure, the $3.50 favorite. It was the gelding’s third win in six starts after he bolted in at Goulburn on August 25th. Tommy Berry rode the first two winners for inform stables. He was aboard the Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich trained Image Of The Sun in the opening event the NZB November Ready To Run Sale Class 1 & Maiden Plate (1900m). The mare wore blinkers for the first time and she was backed into $3.90 second favorite and the mare outstayed the favorite Kenmare Bay to win by 1.91 lengths. The 4 YO a daughter of Arrowfield Studs boom sire The Autumn Sun, has won two of eight starts.
Berry’s mount Interjection was $1.40 favorite in the 1350m TAB App Maiden Handicap trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, the 3YO was resuming from a spell after two placings from three starts in the autumn. Interjection raced on the speed before getting the better of second favorite Firm Agreement to win by a neck.
Dylan Gibbons partnered with champion trainer Ciaron Maher to win the 1250m Hungerford Hill Wines 4YO & Up Maiden Plate with $2.45 favorite Magic Shadow. Five favorites were successful on the seven race program and that followed six favorites winning at last Thursdays meeting.