Yard to the Post | The Hunter
Race Day: Newcastle on Saturday, 16 November 2019
‘The Hunter’ was launched in style at Newcastle today, perfect conditions and exciting racing giving the vibrant crowd their money’s worth.
It was a mixed day for most in the betting ring though, especially the followers of leading local trainer Kris Lees, who left the track with no winners, three seconds and three thirds. In-form sprinter TACTICAL ADVANTAGE was backed into $7 in the feature ‘The Hunter’ but couldn’t catch Godolphin’s all-the-way leader SAVATIANO (picture) despite a powerful finishing burst. Then an even bigger plunge came for JUVENTUS in Race 8, who could only manage 3rd in a sprint home behind STROME.
The most active betting race didn’t involve a Lees runner though, the Snowden-trained LEVIATHAN a firm favourite from the heavily backed BURNING CROWN for Sue Grills in Race 9. In the end, BURNING CROWN led all the way and was simply too good as they both kicked away from the chasing field.
A full review can be found below.
Jump to Races
#1 AUSTRALIAN BLOODSTOCK BENCHMARK 88 HANDICAP
#2 SAGE PAINTING MAX LEES CLASSIC
#4 SHARP ELECTRONICS GROUP F&M BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP
#5 NEW ZEALAND BLOODSTOCK NJC 3YO SPRING STAKES
#6 THE $1M PAGES EVENT HIRE HUNTER
#7 PRIME7 BENCHMARK 88 HANDICAP
#8 HUNTER VALLEY PREMIUM MEATS T-BONE STEAKS BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP
Track Info
| Rail | TRUE |
| Conditions | GOOD 4 |
| Weather | FINE |
| Bias | FAIR |
Race 1 AUSTRALIAN BLOODSTOCK BENCHMARK 88 HANDICAP
Progressive stayers sprint home best
slow tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | House Of Cartier | John Sargent | Brenton Avdulla | 2 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Sir Pippin | Chris Waller | Glyn Schofield | 7 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | Master Shuhood | Richard Litt | James McDonald | 4 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
No yard notes available for this meeting.
In The Running
RAPIDO CHAPARRO took up the lead and only went at a SLOW tempo despite stepping back from 2400m to the 1850m. HIGH OPINION made an early move to settle outside the leader. FALCON ISLAND over-raced just behind the leaders and MASTER SHUHOOD was keen near the back too. HOUSE OF CARTIER and SIR PIPPIN settled midfield.
The Result
HOUSE OF CARTIER (1st) quickened up and was too strong for SIR PIPPIN (2nd 0.86L), who dashed home from the pack well too. A gap back to MASTER SHUHOOD (3rd 2.53L) running on past FALCON ISLAND (4th 3.21L) for a place.
The Interest
Did the Waterhouse Bott runners RAPIDO CHAPARRO and FALCON ISLAND simply go too slow? It seems the tactics were their undoing and progressive types HOUSE OF CARTIER and SIR PIPPIN were left to pick up the scraps, both dashing home in fast sections to win. HOUSE OF CARTIER has strengthened up and showed her SOFT track form can transfer to GOOD tracks too (profile updated). Nash really didn't get stuck into RAPIDO CHAPARRO at all, an odd ride in the lead.
Race 2 SAGE PAINTING MAX LEES CLASSIC
Snowden class takes out the two-year-old sprint
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tilia Rose | Peter & Paul Snowden | Tommy Berry | 6 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Redoute's Image | Kris Lees | Brenton Avdulla | 8 | 54.5 | |
| 3 | Zeftabrook | Kris Lees | Kerrin McEvoy | 1 | 54.5 |
In The Yard
No yard notes available for this meeting.
In The Running
DOMINANT LADY led at an honest FAIR tempo with TILIA ROSA cruising up on her outside and REDOUTE'S PASSAGE out 3W NC on the pace.
The Result
TILIA ROSA (1st) fought on best from a game REDOUTE'S PASSAGE (2nd 0.89L) sticking on. ZEFTABROOK (3rd 2.65L) worked off heels and found the line OK.
The Interest
The runs of the top two clearly the best here, TILIA ROSA winning with style and there could have been more up her sleeve, while REDOUTE'S PASSAGE did well after a wide run. ZEFTABROOK not too bad after working off the heels of REDOUTE'S PASSAGE 300m from home.
Race 3 TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP
Get the luck, win the Trophy
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trophies Galore | Andrew Robinson | Andrew Gibbons | 16 | 54.0 | |
| 2 | Weather Channel | Jeremy Gask | Ms Rachel King | 12 | 53.5 | |
| 3 | Axella | Matthew Dunn | Jason Collett | 8 | 57.0 |
In The Yard
No yard notes available for this meeting.
In The Running
LOSE THE SNIP worked across to take up the lead at a FAIR tempo, getting a bit of a rest mid-race. AXELLA moved up outside the leader, with MAID MARILYN out 3W NC and LUFF 4W NC. TROPHIES GALORE was midfield 3W with cover and WEATHER CHANNEL got out the back. A few horses found trouble in the straight.
The Result
TROPHIES GALORE (1st) ran on well and WEATHER CHANNEL (2nd 0.74L) was strong from the back. AXELLA (3rd 1.97L) and LOSE THE SNIP (4th 2.02L) fighting on OK.
The Interest
Very nice runs from the top two, but there were a few without luck here. LUFF (13th 6.07L) much too wide to have a hope, DANZIBAR DANCER (10th 4.6L) never clear from the box seat, TEXAS STORM (11th 5.01L) finding trouble back on the inside and DENMISS (6th 2.38L) finding the line well late once clear. The fav' SMART MOOVE (5th 2.27L) seemed to have every hope from near the pace, but did pull up with a poor recovery in the vet notes.
Race 4 SHARP ELECTRONICS GROUP F&M BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP
Country form measures up when the weight is right
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pinup Miss | John Ramsey | Robbie Dolan | 5 | 52.0 | |
| 2 | Miss Redoble | Tracey Bartley | Aaron Bullock | 13 | 58.0 | |
| 3 | So Taken | Chris Waller | Brock Ryan | 1 | 60.0 |
In The Yard
No yard notes available for this meeting.
In The Running
SUPER CYCLONE took up the running at an honest FAIR tempo with VITESSE on her outside. VALREE stuck 3W NC on the pace. PINUP MISS and MISS REDOUBLE back in the pack with cover peeling wider.
The Result
PINUP MISS (1st) ran on best from the back to grab MISS REDOUBLE (0.2L), who had hit the lead. SO TAKEN (3rd 0.79L) challenged gamely up the inside after getting held up and blocked. A gap back to VITESSE (4th 2.05L) heading the pack.
The Interest
PINUP MISS dropped right down in the weights (down 11kg from a 2nd in a Class 1) and chased hard to run down a perfectly-ridden MISS REDOUBLE. SO TAKEN probably unlucky not to win (held up early straight, blocked 150m), the unlucky runs of Brock Ryan's rides mounting up every weekend. LET'S REBELLE (9th 3.69L) never really clear on the inside and LUCCIOLA BELLE (11th 4.99L) was disappointing too after racing inside horses.
Race 5 NEW ZEALAND BLOODSTOCK NJC 3YO SPRING STAKES
Tiny in stature with plenty of heart
steady tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asiago | James Cummings | Ms Rachel King | 10 | 54.5 | |
| 2 | Game Of Thorns | Kris Lees | Brenton Avdulla | 7 | 54.5 | |
| 3 | Donandkim | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | James Innes Jnr | 4 | 56.5 |
In The Yard
No yard notes available for this meeting.
In The Running
RULE THE WORLD took up the running at a FAIR tempo from ASIAGO on his outside. ELVEZIO 3W NC just forward of midfield.
The Result
ASIAGO (1st) moved up and fought on best from GAME OF THORNS (2nd 0.24L) running on from the back and DONANDKIM (3rd 0.84L) sticking on. CONVINCED (4th 1.67L) ran on hard late after getting tightened on the inside of runners. RULE THE WORLD (5th 2.11L) only plain late.
The Interest
RULE THE WORLD looked like a miler, raced like a miler over 1400m, but maybe the big-striding son of Hallowed Crown isn't? We'll find out over his next few runs, none of the Waterhouse Bott runners went well today. The tough little filly ASIAGO back to Newcastle after failing at The Valley in Melbourne and gave a nice kick. GAME OF THORNS and CONVINCED both very good running on too off a STEADY tempo. KAVALMO (10th 5.9L) missed the start, got near the pace, then laid in badly and was beaten off. He pulled up with a poor recovery and the colt may need to be gelded soon.
Race 6 THE $1M PAGES EVENT HIRE HUNTER
Speed, power and the perfect ride
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Savatiano | James Cummings | James McDonald | 18 | 55.5 | |
| 2 | Tactical Advantage | Kris Lees | Nash Rawiller | 12 | 56.0 | |
| 3 | Bon Amis | Jason Deamer | Jason Collett | 6 | 53.5 |
In The Yard
No yard notes available for this meeting.
In The Running
SAVATIANO got across from the outside to lead with LE ROMAIN moving up on her outside. INVINCIBLE GEM a few pairs back wide no cover.
The Result
SAVATIANO (1st) gave a big kick and held on from TACTICAL ADVANTAGE (2nd 1.49L), who was patiently ridden and stormed home late. BON AMIS (3rd 2.25L) not far off after finding the box seat and FIESTA (4th 2.79L) peaked on her run after looming.
The Interest
SAVATIANO was so dominant over 1400m two starts ago and simply found the wide run and tough 1600m too far last start. Back to a dry 1300m was perfect here, simply showing too much power after James Mac eased the tempo enough mid-race. TACTICAL ADVANTAGE has found another level of late, the quiet rides letting him produce a powerful burst late. MANICURE (6th 3.17L) and SIREN'S FURY (7th 3.2L) both notable runs from the back, finding the line well. Unfortunately LE ROMAIN (15th 10.23L) bled and will now have three months off racing.
Race 7 PRIME7 BENCHMARK 88 HANDICAP
The boys beat each-other into the Abyss
strong tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Into the Abyss | John Thompson | James McDonald | 5 | 56.5 | |
| 2 | Murillo | Peter & Paul Snowden | Joshua Parr | 12 | 56.5 | |
| 3 | Star Reflection | Kris Lees | Hugh Bowman | 4 | 57.0 |
In The Yard
No yard notes available for this meeting.
In The Running
YOU MAKE ME SMILE went forward and MURILLO moved up to put the pressure on, rolling along at a STRONG tempo. INTO THE ABYSS was just ahead of midfield on the outside of OUTRAGEOUS.
The Result
INTO THE ABYSS (1st) chased down a brave MURILLO (2nd 0.47L) and STAR REFLECTION (3rd 0.57L) ran on solidly from midfield. A gap to BOBBING (4th 1.77L) running on OK.
The Interest
MURILLO suddenly hit form at Warwick Farm and he was huge again today, pushing forward up on a STRONG tempo and only getting run down late. The hard luck story was clearly OUTRAGEOUS (5th 1.86L), who was badly blocked the final 200m and should have won. INTO THE ABYSS and STAR REFLECTION both honest mares that got the right runs here. BOBBING just OK, he did have every chance first-up in the Kosciusko and may have been over-played in this race.
Race 8 HUNTER VALLEY PREMIUM MEATS T-BONE STEAKS BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP
Sprint power the difference in a slowly run race
slow tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Strome | David O'Prey | Ms Samantha Clenton | 11 | 60.0 | |
| 2 | Mushaireb | Michael Freedman | Brenton Avdulla | 10 | 60.0 | |
| 3 | Juventus | Kris Lees | James McDonald | 1 | 57.5 |
In The Yard
No yard notes available for this meeting.
In The Running
GOT UNDERS took up the running from TAHSIN and they only went at a SLOW tempo. STROME stuck 3W NC midfield.
The Result
STROME (1st) powered down the outside to win easily from MUSHAIREB (2nd 1.89L) and JUVENTUS (3rd 2.19L) chasing solidly. A gap back to MR RECKLESS (4th 4.55L) and the pack.
The Interest
MUSHAIREB and JUVENTUS had similar form and produced a similar finish, no match for STROME who seemed to relish the SLOW tempo despite the wide run, a horse with 1200m form that simply had too much power when asked. MR RECKLESS might be better back to Rosehill. GOT UNDERS and TAHSIN need more tempo to perform, the steady rides on-pace their undoing.
Race 9 HUNTER CIVILAB 3YO & 4YO BENCHMARK 72 HANDICAP
Sue Grills' sprinter burns the turf
fair tempo
Bias:
Fair
| Place | Silk | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Gate | Kgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burning Crown | Sue Grills | Jason Collett | 6 | 55.0 | |
| 2 | Leviathan | Peter & Paul Snowden | Tim Clark | 7 | 55.0 | |
| 3 | He's a Hotshot | Bjorn Baker | Joshua Parr | 12 | 57.0 |
In The Yard
No yard notes available for this meeting.
In The Running
BURNING CROWN took up the running and LEVIATHAN was urged into the box seat after a slowish jump. HE’S A HOTSHOT a couple of pairs back 3W NC.
The Result
BURNING CROWN (1st) kicked well and held off the chasing LEVIATHAN (2nd 0.84L). A gap to HE'S A HOTSHOT (3rd 2.12L) fighting on with COTERIE (4th 2.24L).
The Interest
Heavy market support was right on the mark here, BURNING CROWN ($4.4 to $3.5) beating home LEVIATHAN ($2.2 to $2.2) with a gap to the rest. You can follow the top two as they progress, especially LEVIATHAN up to 1300m+ in future runs. HE'S A HOTSHOT ($41) clearly underestimated by the market and returned with a very nice effort.