PROVINCIAL trainers took advantage of a rare midweek Wednesday metropolitan meeting at Newcastle.
They won four of the eight races as a Provincial-Midway Championships hopeful emerged in the process.
Wyong trainer Allan Kehoe named the lightly-raced Prince Of Sorts ($3.10) as a Championships contender after winning the Midway Class 1 Handicap (1400m) at only his fifth start.
Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker continued his good form by taking the Class 1 Handicap (1850m) with Vieste ($9), whilst Newcastle trainers Kris Lees and Mark Minervini joined in as well.
Lees took the Benchmark 68 Handicap (2300m) with Oakfield Hawk ($5), and Minervini the Provincial Maiden Plate (1300m) with Rubi’s Serve ($6.50).
Prince Of Sorts was sold to go to Hong Kong but failed the stringent vet test, and has now won two and been placed twice.
Under apprentice Olivia Chambers, he led throughout and was too good for $2.90 favorite Aroha Stone.
“He’s a very nice horse but probably still six months away,” Kehoe said afterwards.
“Hopefully, his benchmark rating (now 63 after this win) has gone up enough to give him a break and look to The Championships in autumn.”
The first PM Qualifier will be run over 1400m at Hawkesbury on February 20.
Parker followed recent victories with Tom Cruising (Hawkesbury) and Justela at his home track’s The Gong meeting last Saturday by winning with Vieste, the first of jockey Tim Clark’s treble from his only three rides.
It was the “Dark Dream connection” back together again.
Clark won the 2018 Group 1 Queensland Derby (2200m) at Doomben on Dark Dream when under Parker’s care before being sent to Hong Kong.
Vieste, a $95,000 Inglis Classic yearling sale buy in 2022, was having her third run for Parker, and was too strong for $2.10 favorite Squeezebox and recent Wyong winner Hardpoint ($3).
Lees said Oakfield Hawk had been a slow maturer, but was now shaping as a promising stayer.
Given a perfect ride by apprentice Ben Osmond from a favorable draw, he outstayed $1.80 favorite War Ribbon to post his fifth win from 13 starts.
“We tried him in town on a Saturday recently and he was a little luckless when nothing went right for him,” Lees said.
“It was a different story this time. Ben gave him a beaut trail behind the leaders and produced him at the right time.”
Lees had hoped to clinch a double with odds-on favorite Star Of Paris ($1.65) in the Provincial Maiden Plate, but couldn’t hold off Minervini’s Rubi’s Serve (Ash Morgan).
A $25,000 Magic Millions National yearling sale buy in 2022, the daughter of Rubick had been placed four times from her previous seven starts.
Morgan gave her a cosy run back on the fence from an inside draw, and she really hit her straps when he got her out into clear running in the straight.
“Rubi’s Serve has been threatening to do that, and I’m delighted to see her finally do it,” Minervini said.
In an all-Newcastle finish, Rubi’s Serve defeated Lees’ Star Of Paris and Paul Perry’s Cup Of Ambition ($21).
. RacingNSW stewards on Wednesday at Newcastle concluded an inquiry opened last Saturday into apprentice Will Stanley’s ride on runner-up Barazin ($8.50) in the Class 1 Handicap (1600m) at Wyong, and took no action.
Story John Curtis, November 27, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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