Newcastle Preview – Saturday 26 January

RACE 1 – FOTEFF PROPERTY GROUP CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE 2200M

Mushroom Rock is knocking on the door after placings in three of his past four starts. He should have finished closer when runner up on the Newcastle track on Boxing Day and he made good ground when a distant second at Gosford last start.

My Kinds Counsel is racing well enough to be conceded a good chance.

Sytus is ready to improve in an open race.

Selections:

4 Mushroom Rock

1 My Kings Counsel

5 Styus

 

RACE 2 – LAMBTON LAW 4YO & UP MAIDEN PLATE 1150M

First Reading deserves a chance of luck after seven placings from nine starts. She is an on pacer and has been beaten less than a length in her past three starts.

Elgin was formerly with Lloyd Williams and is starting for the first time for Kris Lees. He may want further, but his trial form is good.

Spirited Belle is consistent and only has 52 kilograms.

Selections:

3 First Reading

1 Elgin

11 Spirited Belle

 

RACE 3 – MATES HELPING MATES 2YO MAIDEN PLATE 1200M

The Snowden stable has four of the ten runners. One of their fillies Capitoline Lady looked good when a close fourth on debut at Gosford two weeks ago. The longer trip is in her favour and from barrier one she be hard to beat.

Stablemate Howra was on the speed all the way when second at Canterbury last start.

Godolphin’s Bollywood was placed on debut at Kembla and she has a chance.

Selections:

6 Capitoline Lady

8 Howra

5 Bollywood

 

RACE 4 – DENSTOJ AUTO CENTRE MAIDEN PLATE 1300M

Sizzling Ace is a weighted special under the conditions. She was three quarters of a length behind Lean Mean Machine and Zousain in the Group 2 Doomben Sires Produce in May. The filly was beaten a head on a heavy track at Warwick Farm two starts back and she was a close fourth at Canterbury last start.

Pop Girl ran on well when runner up at Wyong on January 5 and she will be fitter.

Be Mindful is first up after two placings on the Newcastle track in the winter and he could fill a place.

Selections:

10 Sizzling Ace

9 Pop Girl

1 Be Mindful

 

RACE 5 – PAUL MCKENZIE SCAFFOLDING NEWCASTLE NOBBYS BENCHMARK 70 HANDICAP 1350M

Fratellino is back to his best with two all the way wins at Newcastle and Wyong recently. The apprentice rides him well and her three-kilogram claim is a positive. He has raced well on this Beaumont track in the past.

Clifton County is second up, and he had very good form last prep.

Oakfield Missile had good Newcastle form before a city failure and should run well.

Selections:

2 Fratellino

3 Clifton County

4 Oakfield Missile

 

RACE 6 – CROSSPOINT BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP 1150M

Exclusive is a smart colt resuming on the back of a Rosehill trial win. He was only three lengths behind The Autumn Sun in a Randwick Maiden on Anzac Day. He was strong in a Kembla Maiden win in June before heading for a spell.

Feather resumes, and she went for a spell after she bolted in at Kembla in September. She trialled nicely recently.

Fallgold was run down late first up at Wyong and will be tougher this time.

Selections:

3 Exclusive

6 Feather

10 Fallgold

 

RACE 7 – JIM VELICH MEMORIAL CLASS 1 HANDICAP 1350M

Oakfield Twilight is well placed and has drawn nicely. He was beaten less than a length in a strong race at Wyong last start and he is a winner on this track.

Intense Focus has his foot on the till after recent placings at Canterbury and Wyong.

Chocolatier is first up and had good form last prep.

Selections:

7 Oakfield Twilight

3 Intense Focus

1 Chocolatier