Former Orange based apprentice William Stanley on loan to Kris Lees rode his first Newcastle winner on Saturday. The 3-kilogram claiming apprentice rode his 84th-career winner when Scone trained Dances With Hooves came from last entering the home straight to win the 1600 metre Coastline Pools & Spas Christmas Plate Benchmark 64 Handicap by .92 of a length.
Neglected by punters the $11 chance trained by Cameron Crockett has a liking for the Newcastle track where she has two wins and a placing from four starts. The mare flashed home from the tail of the field when an eye catching third in the Jungle Juice Cup on October 19. Dances With Hooves has won five from thirteen and $183,000 in prize money.
Talented apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald overhauled senior jockey Jean Van Overmier to take the lead in the NSW Jockeys Premiership when she steered $13 chance Zouprince to victory in the final event the 1200 metre A Plus Contracting Poly Welding Benchmark 64 Handicap. Fitzgerald from Wingham recently had her indentures transferred to leading Sydney trainer Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald. The 23-year-old sent Zouprince to the lead soon after the start and he kicked away at the top of the straight. He went on to win by 2.64 lengths.
In the NSW Jockeys Premiership Fitzgerald has ridden 51.5 winners, Van Overmier 51 and James McDonald 47.
Alysha Collett, enjoying another successful season, rode the first two winners at Newcastle. Paul Perry trained Puerto Banus unlucky when narrowly beaten at Wyong in his previous start when ridden by Collett atoned with a strong win in the opening event, the 900 metre Red Funnel Food Distributors Maiden Handicap. A surprise drifter with TAB Fixed from $6.50 to $10. The 3-year-old trailed the leaders to the home turn and when clear in the straight fought hard to hold on and win by a head.
Collett had a much easier win in the following race, the Tooheys Class 1 & Maiden Plate (1850m). The former Kiwi jockey was aboard the Neasham-Archibald imported 4-year-old Akkadian Emperor. All the rage with punters the $1.75 favourite bolted in by 4.29 lengths in her fifth start.
Wyong gelding Rhinestone Lad landed a big plunge in the Rarity Wholesale Maiden Handicap (1600m). Trained by Kim Waugh the 4-year-old was backed from $11 on Thursday into $3.30 on Saturday and under strong riding from Keagan Latham reached the lead in the shadows of the post. The winner had to survive a protest from runner up Think We’re There. The Kiwi bred is half owned by Waugh’s husband and former Test Cricketer Mark.
Latham completed a double for the day when successful on another Wyong galloper Apache Breeze in the 1200 metre River Realty Class 1 Handicap. The gelding was most unlucky when runner up at Newcastle on December 1.
The shock result of the day came in the Dynamic Bradview Roofing Super Maiden Plate. The Anthony Cummings trained Doradus placed once in his previous five starts drifted to $51 before winning the race by half a length. Jeff Penza rode the winner.
There was a massive plunge in the race on the filly Miss Jones, which was disappointing, finishing seventh after being backed from $3 into $1.60.
The NJC back up with a race meeting on the Beaumont track this Thursday and a week later the club hosts the iconic Boxing Day meeting.