Race-by-race preview and tips for Newcastle on Saturday

Race 1: 12:35PM MINCO TECH MAX LEES CLASSIC (900M)

All two-year-olds on debut over the short course. 8. Mystical was saved from the Golden gift last week to run here and has come up with a nice gate to help her out. Had to like how she breezed through the line in her only public trial and the stable has been lethal with their youngsters so she commands respect. 3. Seeiaye has the inside gate advantage and if he can make use of it, based on how he went about it winning his latest trial, he should be very hard to beat. Looked to be full of running and that’s a good sign. 1. Elio has the Waterhouse/Bott polish and just had the one trial leading in when just touched out by Threesome. He was scratched from a trial on Thursday so that says he’s ready to race. 4. Tenenbaum was a $750,000 yearling and he’s done everything right in winning both barrier trials. Market a handy guide in general given they’re all inexperienced.
How to play it: Mystical WIN

It’s going to be a packed day of racing at Newcastle on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images

Race 2: 1:10PM NOVOCASTRIAN ELECTRICAL MIDWAY HANDICAP (1600M)

This is a big race for 9. Strawberry Impact whose record stands at one win from 10 starts with six seconds. Found the line well in tough conditions at Randwick two weeks ago, comes back to Midway company. Dry track suits. Not sure where he finds himself from the tricky gate but this is a race he should be in the finish of. 7. Diamond Show hit the ground running with a dominant enough performance when resuming at Hawkesbury. That was her first win when fresh and the mile will suit. Can measure up here. 8. Perfect Justice is another last start Hawkesbury winner and he was a solid favourite when getting the job done at the mile. Last run in this grade was a game effort beaten a length at Scone. In the mix. 2. Prince Of Sorts battled on fairly in midfield in the Four Pillars but this race might suit him with not a lot of speed on paper.
How to play it: Strawberry Impact WIN

Race 3: 1:45PM TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1600M)

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8. Upwardly Mobile is bursting to win a Highway and this one looks a good opportunity. She’s been dictated to a bit by barriers getting a long way back in three runs in this grade but continues to hit the line just behind the placings. Draw’s a bit more in her favour this time and if she can hold a position a bit closer she’s hard to hold off. 5. Off The Scale is a big watch resuming at the mile in what’s likely been a target race for her. Raced consistently in winning a couple just beyond a mile. Travelled well in her recent trial. 6. Pharoahzano found himself a fair way back in the Highway at Randwick two weeks ago and did a solid job to run on beaten two lengths in sticky conditions. Back on top of the ground and if he can run the mile out he’s in the finish. 7. Next Pay Run improved with each run and dominated when she reached the 1410m at Grafton a few weeks ago. You’d have to think she will push forward again and give herself every chance.
How to play it: Upwardly Mobile WIN

Race 4: 2:20PM KOMPLETE LAUNDRY SOLUTIONS BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (1400M)

Wide open race and 9. Miss Hades looks a good each-way chance. She’s been scratched a couple of times and comes up with the inside gate on the back of two pretty nice trials. She does tend to run well fresh. From the draw she should land right on the back of the speed and give herself a chance. 10. Maid Of Moolah was a scratching at the barriers at Randwick on Big Dance day and has been back to the trials. Led all the way to win at Hawkesbury a month ago, up and comer who can give a good sight. 1. Waimarie ran an improved race second-up at Randwick, while she had her chance she stayed on okay and comes back a grade or two here. Penalised with top weight but keep in mind. 2. Yankee One didn’t do much when resuming then a bit better at Randwick two weeks ago, though weakened a bit late.
How to play it: Miss Hades EACH-WAY

Race 5: 2:55PM LEES RACING ‘LEGEND’ MILE (1600M)

4. Meridiana was enormous in defeat in the Four Pillars, she had no right to finish as close as she did given the ground she gave away around the turn. A promising mare, you’d expect her to take up more of a position around up to the mile and gets a good chance to atone. 10. Éclair Encore won a good form race at Newcastle first-up then seemed to struggle in the heavy ground at Rosehill. Down 5kg and back onto the home track she can run a cheeky race. 8. Rotagilla ran right up to his luckless first-up effort when cruising home at Randwick two weeks ago. He’s won up to 1800m so the mile will suit. Hard to leave out. 5. Fear No Evil led all the way for a comfortable first-up win at Bendigo and from the wide gate he’d be more than likely to look for the front again. Well worth including.
How to play it: Meridiana WIN

Race 6: 3:30PM ALF KNEEBONE TRANS-TASMAN TROPHY BENCHMARK 88 HANDICAP (1850M)

Happy to stay with 1. Hollywood Hero who was game in running second in the Little Dance at his second run back. Down sharply in class and while he is very effective in the wet he’s pretty consistent. With his racing style of settling back a little the extra trip should hold no fears. 4. Pocketing is showing signs of getting back to form finishing close up in his past two. Did battle a bit in the heavy ground at Rosehill last time, but draws well and back onto a good track he has the chance to fire. 10. Belle Detelle settled last and found the line okay running into third behind Rotagilla when resuming at Randwick. She’ll appreciate the step up in distance. 11. Kind Words is fitter for two runs back for two placings and if she can offset the wide gate this looks a race she’s been targeted at.
How to play it: Hollywood Hero EACH-WAY

Race 7: 4:05PM NZB 3YO SPRING STAKES (1600M)

3. Green Spaces only beat three rivals in winning at Wyong but it was his first go at the mile and he was strong at the finish. No doubt this is a hike in class but he’s on the up and from that inside gate he can park right behind the speed again. Bit of a leap of faith but a number of rivals are in a similar boat. 1. Grand Prairie is the benchmark being a Group 3 winner and he’s performed against some of the better three-year-olds this spring. Can forgive his Flemington failure and he’s also drawn to get all the favours. 6. Ratify is an interesting runner. He’s settled well back in both starts at 1400m and ran on when the race was all over so he’s going to relish the mile. He might be a next prep type of horse but expect him to be running on. 8. Probability Theory is on the back up after winning at Hawkesbury last week where she posted her second win at the Hawkesbury 1300m. She could be up to the task. 7. Long Legs comes off an easy all the way win at Rosehill and is next best. She’s yet to see a dry track.
How to play it: Green Spaces WIN

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Race 8: 4:45PM THE NEWCASTLE HERALD HUNTER (1300M)

14. Yorkshire is the most promising horse here and he’s arriving first-up since a dominant win over the Randwick mile in February. Won six of eight and showed he’s to return with a stylish trial win last week. This promises to be a strongly run race which can suit him with the light weight, he’ll just need to land in a good spot. 16. Clear Thinking has won five from seven and is unbeaten against country opposition. Her two defeats have been in Group 3 mares company where she’s run on well from the back. First go beyond 1200m but the way she won The Kosciuszko you’d be certain another 100m will be no problem. Must be respected. 3. Coal Crusher won this race two years ago and was third last year. Coming off an enormous run in the Russell Balding where he sat three wide on speed all the way and still boxed on to run fourth. That’s the best form leading into this and you know what you’re going to get from him. 2. Robusto has been freshened up since taking on weight-for-age company in two starts since winning the Winter Challenge. The draw really suits and can put himself somewhere in the finish. 11. Accredited gets the chance to measure up while 8. Brudenell could be a good roughie who can sneak into a placing.
How to play it: Yorkshire WIN

Race 9: 5:20PM THE NZB THE BEAUFORD (2300M)

6. Grand Pierro brings handy form from Victoria and finds his preferred dry surface. Placed behind Half Yours in the Naturalism and was a bit stiff in the Moonee Valley Cup as he was tightened up late. Didn’t cost him a win but 2.4 lengths is a bit misleading. Strong stayer and chance to break through. 2. Maison Louis can be forgiven for his failure when well-supported in the Rosehill Gold Cup. Derby winner in Queensland and chance to bounce back onto a dry track. 7. Firm Agreement has run on quite fairly in two runs back and has the blinkers on first time which is interesting. Not sure where he goes from the wide gate but he was placed in the ATC Derby and is a chance to improve. 1. Huetor showed a glimpse of his best running into fourth in the Rosehill Gold Cup. That was his first run in the blinkers. Won at this meeting in 2021 at his Australian debut and has an each-way chance if he can back up.
How to play it: Grand Pierro WIN

Race 10: 5:55PM HALL & WILCOX BENCHMARK 94 HANDICAP (1300M)

18. Bojangles doesn’t always have the best of luck but he was excellent chasing home Midnight Dynamite at Randwick two weeks ago. There was about four lengths to third and didn’t give up the chase. Right down in the weights to 52.5kg and drawn to get another perfect run. A good each-way hope. 14. Brave One is the logical horse to beat. An up and comer and he attacked the line with gusto when it was all over when resuming at 1100m. The trip suits, the only box he has to tick is a dry track but he’ll get every chance to do that here. 5. Whinchat can be problematic at the gates but when he jumps with them he can land in front and take running on. Ran a blinder first-up last prep in the Luskin Star at Scone over this trip off a 61-week break. Trialled well and a definite chance but you hold your breath at the start. 4. Mayfair should press forward from the wide gate and he can be forgiven for failing in the Golden Eagle. Game effort in the Silver Eagle first-up behind Linebacker and this is a sharp drop in class. Chance with any luck. 1. Xidaki is another who can run well. Fresh coming from the back.
How to play it: Bojangles EACH-WAY

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