Two visiting Irish jockeys Ronan Whelan and Harry Davies rode their first Newcastle winners at Tuesdays Gosford Race Club meeting held at Newcastle Racecourse. Both jockeys are based in Sydney and are highly regarded in their own country. Racing Australia statistics indicate Whelan rode a winner in his last ride in Ireland in October and after a couple of Kembla placings earlier this month he travelled to Newcastle on Tuesday for his only mount aboard the Matthew Smith trained Final Reset in the 2300 metres The Prince Of Merewether Benchmark 64 Handicap.
Final Reset had finished last in a field of five at his previous start at Canberra on December 27 however he was well backed on Tuesday, backed from double figures into $5 third favourite. It was a patient ride by Whelan as he allowed Final Reset to settle near the tail of the field until the top of the straight where he elevated to steer the 5-year-old into space along the rail. The Irishman then came around tiring horses at the ‘200’ where he dashed clear and held on to win by half a length. Final Reset was Whelan’s fourth Australian ride.
Davies attached to the Annabel Neasham- Rob Archibald stable had two mounts at Tuesday’s meeting for the leading stable. Neasham was on track to witness the stables 3-year-old Rampazetto win in the 1600 metre TAB Maiden Plate after a gun ride by Davies. The latter settled Rampazetto in fifth place with a nice trail and the Irishman was desperate for a split between runners 200 metres out. When clear the $10 chance sprinted quickly to win by half a length. Davies has had 43 rides in Australia for two wins. The previous victory was at Wyong on January 11.
The only locally trained galloper to win on the day was the $15 chance Movin Denman in the 900 metre NZB Karaka 99th Yearling Sale Benchmark 64 Handicap. Trained by Rodney Ollerton the 6-year-old has been ultra consistent with two wins and five placings this preparation from seven starts. Movin Denman races well on his home track where he has two wins and a second from four starts. It was his sixth win for prizemoney of more than $155,000. Ollerton is from a well-known Hunter Valley family with his dad Tom, a former jockey and present-day trainer and brother Mal a senior member of the Kris Lees stable.
Newcastle apprentice Ben Osmond rode Movin Denman, and he was in the leading bunch all the way. The winner survived a protest from the jockey of runner up Akaka Falls. Osmond apprenticed to Lees is enjoying his best season with 35 winners including 13 winners on Metropolitan tracks.
A heat of The Rising Star series for apprentices only, was held and Hawkesbury apprentice Zac Wadick was successful on $16 chance Binkou for Hawkesbury trainer Garry Frazer.
The Newcastle Jockey Club have a huge race meeting scheduled for this Saturday January 25, 221 nominations have been received for the Velich Brothers Memorial & Legends Race Day.