Gary Harley – Wrap – 18.02.25
Former Newcastle Knights first grader Darren Treacy, who trained his first starter at Muswellbrook in November 2023, was on cloud nine after saddling up his first winner at the Newcastle Jockey Clubs race meeting on Tuesday. Treacy’s 3-year-old Dance Dance Dance was resuming from a spell in the 1400 metre Horsepower Feeds & Supplements Provincial Maiden Plate in which the gelding was a $31 chance. Dance Dance Dance had only been placed once in six previous starts but had been gelded and had blinkers on for the first time.
Ridden by Kacie Adams, the 3-year-old was a clear last to leave the barriers before taking on the field before the home turn. Adams steered Dance Dance Dance to the extreme outside of the field at the top of the straight and he unwound with a storming finish to win by close on a half a length. Treacy now aged 53 played 61 games for The Knights, 106 games for St George Illawarra. He journeyed to England and played in 26 games with Salford and returned to play 15 games with Parramatta in 2003. Treacy only has a small team in work and Tuesday was his 45th starter with three previous placings.
Richard Freedman was on course to witness an impressive win by promising 3-year-old filly My Phar Lady which he trains in partnership with his son Will. The filly, an impressive first up winner on the track on February 1 stepped out in the 1400 metre A-Plus Contracting & Poly Welding Midway Class 1 Handicap. Very heavily backed into $3.30 second favourite the daughter of American Pharoh part owned by Coolmore’s Tom Magnier settled second last but with he two leaders leading out with a 6 or 7 length break jockey Andrew Adkins started to rev her up 700 metres form home. My Phar Lady made a long searching run all the way to the finish claiming $2 favourite Zounaka in the shadows of the post. “The fast pace suited our filly, and she was impressive. She is nominated for some good races in the Autumn” Freedman said.
Paul Perrys Flying Argyle broke through for a well-deserved win in the opening event the 1250metre Dailey Family Funerals Maiden Plate. It was the 3-year-olds eighth race start, and all have been on the Newcastle track where he had been runner up in four starts over 900 metres. The in-form Alysha Collett had the mount on Tuesday as Flying Argyle stepped up to 1250 metres. He raced fiercely early outside the leader before Collett settled the gelding and in a driving finish he prevailed by a head.
Leading trainers Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald 3-year-old Zousain Bolt led all the way to win the final event the 1400 metre The Adviser Collective Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap. It was a well-judged front running ride by the stables top apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald and the result was never in doubt from the time Zousain Bolt reached the early lead.
Two outsiders were successful in the meeting both starting at $21.
Medinah trained by Mack Griffith at Mudgee was successful in the 1250 metre Davali Yearlings @ Easter Benchmark 64 Handicap with Braith Nock in the saddle. Hawkesbury 7-year-old Socrates with Winona Costin in the saddle was a narrow winner of the 1500 metre The Windsor Castle Happy Birthday Kim Benchmark 64 Handicap.