Saturdays Newcastle Herald Hunter Race Day attracted 6000 people, the largest crowd in the six-year history of the richest race day on the provincial program. Outstanding promotion of the day by the NJC, Sky Channel and the media saw more than 5000 bookings prior to race day and the engagement of iconic Newcastle band The Screaming Jets to perform following the final event added spice to a memorable day.
On the track the spotlight was on the emerging star Briasa in the headlines during the week after the TAB was swamped with an avalanche of wagers pre acceptance and the days after. Stable supporters secured $12 when the TAB framed the markets and when the barriers opened the grey gelding was the $3.10 favourite. There were plenty of doubters concerning Briasa’s ability to win the $1 Million Group 2 The Herald Hunter in only his seventh start. However, confidence was high in the Team Hawkes stable prior to the race with foreman Steve Thompson advising yours truly that the stable considered Briasa a potential contender for next Springs the $20 Million Group 1 The Everest.
Briasa had a tough run during the race on Saturday trapped three wide with no cover, but his courage was undoubted as he set out after the leader Felix Majestic in the closing stages. Australian Hall Of Fame trainer John Hawkes who trains the winner with sons Michael and Wayne weren’t at the race meeting but when contacted predicted the best was yet to come “He has done a great job this Spring so he can go for a spell now. He should be unbeaten, and he has a bright future.”
Richmond based jockey and new dad Tyler Schiller rode Briasa after winning The Hunter last year on Coal Crusher which finished third in Saturdays race “Briasa doesn’t know how to lose, he just loves a dog fight. We thought it would have been easier than it was but being three wide the trip wasn’t great. He is a lovely laid-back horse, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he is a Group 1 horse” Schiller said. Part owner Ian Johnson bred Viewed, winner of the 2008 Melbourne Cup and 2009 Caulfield Cup.
Newcastle trainer Kris Lees was consulted by the Newcastle Jockey Club prior to the NJC introducing the 2-Year-Old Max Lees Classic in honour of his father Max Lees is father. The 900-meter event was first run in 2017. Lees has had an ambition to win the race with a number of runners ever since, however, he trained his first Max Lees Classic winner on Saturday. Gobi Desert, a $600,000 purchase at the Inglis Classic Sale is raced by global powerhouse Yulong and like the remainder of the field was on debut. Kris Lees has trained 17 Group 1 winners but to win Saturdays race would have given him great satisfaction. “I have tried a few times to win this race, and I have had the odd placing, so it is great to finally win it. It is an honour to have a race named after dad and to win it is something special” Lees said. Gobi Desert drifted in the market to $11 and she led most of the way to win by half a length.
Lees also had Rustemo in the race and the colt finished fourth with David Atkins gelding Buffalo an eye-catching fast finishing third.
Irish jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle a Group 1 winning jockey introduced himself to Newcastle racing by landing the Group 3 New Zealand Bloodstock Spring Stakes (1600m) aboard Snitzanova. In only her third race start Ciaron Mahers filly was three wide with no cover close to the speed and when she took the lead in the straight fought off the fast-finishing French Ruler to win by a short head. It was only Snitzanona’s third race start following a start Kensington win. She is the fourth consecutive filly to win the Spring Stakes. The 21-year-old kau spur Browne McMonagle is in Australia for a short riding stint and he has ridden more than 330 winners including seven in Victoria last year. This time around he is based in New South Wales.
Queensland stayer Nikau Spur was well backed in the New Zealand Bloodstock The Beauford (2300m) and in a drawing finish nailed Victorian stayer Herman Hesse in the shadows of the winning post. Backed from $11 into $7 the Queensland Cup winner was given a patient ride by Tim Clark ten lengths off the lead until nearing the home turn when he started his winning run. It took the length of the straight for the 8 year old to put his nose in front and give Tim Clark a winning double. The winner is trained at Toowoomba by Corey and Kylie Goran.
Newcastle trained gallopers book ended the meeting when the Scott Asprey trained Uzziah landed a huge plunge in the final event the 1300 metre Ausure Insurance Newcastle Benchmark 94 Handicap. Ridden by promising apprentice Molly Bourke Uzziah backed into $2.60 led all the way to continue his good form this preparation. Uzziah won first up at Randwick on September 7 before a Rosehill last start on November 2.