Son of So You Think in box seat to upset short-priced favourite

A lightly raced and emerging home track four-year-old is out to repel a hot favourite when he resumes at Thursday’s Newcastle meeting.

Oakfield Mercury, a gelded son of ill-fated dual Cox Plate winner So You Think in the Kris Lees stable, hasn’t raced since landing a second win from only his third start in a Class 1 at Scone over a mile in early June.

There’s a seven-race card at Newcastle on Thursday.Credit: Getty Images

Given more than five months off, and two very quiet lead-up trials, Oakfield Mercury is seemingly nice and fresh for a first-up Provincial Benchmark 64 Hcp over 1250m.

But from a wide draw, the market says he’ll have to do everything right to hold out early short-priced favourite and cleverly named Oui Oui Oui, also resuming for the Jason Attard stable at Hawkesbury.

A four-year-old daughter of 2019 The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes, Oui Oui Oui has enjoyed a similar break, and returns off two progressive trials, winning the latest at Rosehill over 1030m.

The mare opened a short-priced favourite around $2.10 in early betting, with Oakfield Mercury out at $7.50.

Both runners are drawn well away from the inside, and with the rail pushed out 7m from the True position for last Saturday’s feature Hunter meeting, early positioning and cover will be crucial.

Naturally in those ever-familiar lime green colours, Oakfield Mercury is another one from the long breeding line of former Port Stephens Mayor Bruce Mackenzie who is not far off his 86th birthday.

It will also be a welcome result for long-time leading provincial trainer Lees who has had a lean trot, with only three winners from his last 42 runners.

Earlier in the meeting there’ll be plenty of eyes too focused on his talented three-year-old Trumper who resumes for his second start in a Super Maiden Plate over 900m.

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A gelded son of Russian Revolution, Trumper hasn’t started since failing at Taree on debut in early winter, but he’s looked noticeably stronger finishing close-up in two provincial trials.

Yet priced around $8.50 in early betting, connections will get a quick and solid pointer as to the campaign ahead.

Progressive metropolitan-based four-year-old Apollo Ridge second-up for the Archibald stable emerged an early $3.10 favourite ahead of debutant colt Aeternum ($5.00) who has won both lead-up trials, and talented filly Precious Girl ($5.50) who has beaten all but the winner in two provincial runs back from a break.

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