4 weeks ago
12
By Neil Evans
February 1, 2026 — 5.45pm
It may only be a modest maiden, but a fascinating battle awaits two girls at very different ends of the spectrum when they clash at Monday’s Newcastle meeting on the Beaumont track.
In fact, it’s hard to imagine an unraced filly whose only trial was in Queensland eight months ago fighting for favouritism with a six-year-old ex-Victorian mare which hasn’t started since mid-September in 2023.
They’re racing on the Beaumont track in Newcastle on Monday.Credit: Jenny Evans
Back then Arabian Melody was a promising enough four-year-old in the Victorian stable of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, having placed twice at Echuca and Bendigo in the winter of that year before finishing down the track in a Swan Hill maiden over a mile.
All sorts of problems ensued, not the least being a string of “Not To Race” bans issued by Victorian vets.
Yet seemingly with her career in mothballs, a transfer to the John Bannister stable at Muswellbrook only a month ago shone an unlikely ray of light on the daughter of Pride Of Dubai.
She finally got a veterinary clearance to race and was given two easy trials through January.
Now after nearly 900 days off the scene, Arabian Melody resumes from a low draw on the Beaumont circuit over 1150m, with a 4kg-claiming apprentice aboard, and as an early $2.05 favourite across betting markets.
But drawn the outside gate in a final field of eight is the latest three-year-old from the Brett and Georgie Cavanough stable at Scone.
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Flying Truffles, a daughter of Group 1 winner Flying Artie, has also taken her share of time to debut, having only been seen at official trials early last June at Beaudesert.
It’s been a slow-burning process since, yet Flying Truffles is ready to race and duly opened on the second line of betting around $3.40, with a big gap to the rest.
And she could add to what’s been a successful week for the Cavanough stable, with three winners from its last 10 runners, including Saturday’s long-priced Highway winner at Rosehill.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
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