Three from three for Tim Clark and a double and three placings for Tommy Berry made the car trip up the M1 worthwhile as the two leading jockeys had a day out at the Newcastle Jockey Club’s race meeting on Wednesday. Clark one of Australia’s best front running jockeys started the day by steering $9 chance Vieste to an all the way victory in the opening event the TAB APP Class 1 Handicap (1850m). In doing so he relegated the two favourites Squeezebox ($2.70) and Hardpoint ($3) into the minor placings. The winner is trained at Kembla by Kerry Parker, and it was her second win from fourteen starts.
Thirty-five minutes later Clark sat off the leader in the 900m Allied The Careful Movers 2YO Maiden Plate aboard Snitzel colt Blitzburg before taking the lead in the straight and holding off the $2.60 favourite Offenbach to win by a neck. Blitzburg ($4.60) like the rest of the youngsters was on debut and is trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou for Arrowfield and Kia Ora Stud. Clark was to ride Missile Charm later in the day but the horse was scratched at the barrier. However, he completed the perfect three in the final event. The Prince Of Merewether Maiden Plate (1500M), when the shortest priced favourite of the day Rumbling Night led all the way. Backed from $2 into $1.40 the Irish Bred 3-year-old from the Waterhouse-Bott stable won by 7.5 lengths.
Champion trainer Ciaron Maher combined with Berry to easily win the 900 metre Dailey Family Funerals Maiden Handicap with 3-year-old filly Overtook. The latter was on debut after a Hawkesbury trial win, and she was eased down to win by two lengths.
Runner up Shropshire Lad also on debut had no luck after going to the barrier as the $2.25 favourite with Overtook a $2.60 chance. Shropshire Lad was slowly away and badly held up in the straight before finishing strongly. The winner bred at Bruce Neill’s famous Cressfield broodmare stud at Scone is owned by the breeder, a former Sheffield Shield cricketer.
Berry had an armchair ride on $1.75 favourite Art Volant in the 1250 metre Rarity Wholesale Benchmark 64 Handicap. The mare trained by Richard and Will Freedman went straight to the front and was never challenged winning by 2.83 lengths.
The Kris Lees trained Oakfield Hawk ($5) out staged more fancied stayers War Ribbon ($1.80) and Vaguer ($3.10) to win the 2300 metre Davali Thoroughbred Benchmark 68 Handicap to win by 2.91 lengths. The winner is raced by his breeder former Port Stephens mayor Bruce Mackenzie and was ridden by Lees in form apprentice Ben Osmond. It was Lees 30th New South Wales winner this season.
The other Newcastle trainer to enjoy success at the meeting was Mark Minervini who prepares 4-year-old mare Rubi’s Serve, winner of the 1300 metre Red Funnel Food Distributors Maiden Plate. Rubi’s Serve won courtesy of a gun ride from Ash Morgan and the $6.50 chance ran down Lees’ odds-on favourite Star Of Paris. The winner was bred and is part owned by Gerry Harvey.
Wyong trained Prince Of Sorts led all the way to win the Adviser Collective Class 1 Handicap (1400m) trained by Allan Kehoe and ridden by apprentice Olivia Chambers was a solidly backed $3.10 second favourite.
The next Newcastle race meeting is this Sunday with the Cessnock Cup the feature event.