LAST year’s Caloundra Cup produced the subsequent Caulfield and Melbourne Cups hero Half Yours. And whilst Kris Lees certainly isn’t thinking that far ahead, he is keen to back up Bestower in tomorrow’s renewal of the $500,000 Listed feature to be run over 2400m at the Sunshine Coast. The five-year-old mare, proven at the distance, made good ground when fourth to Zuleika in the Listed Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2100m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday. “I backed Bestower up just over

SPARE is one of the best named horses currently racing – but there was much more to his brilliant breakthrough victory at Hawkesbury yesterday. The now four-year-old’s belated beginning to his career was worth the wait when he romped away with the Essential Asset & Fire Midway 3YO & Up Maiden Handicap (1000m) at only his second start. Hawkesbury trainer Jason Attard was understandably thrilled to see the son of Harry Angel (Spare is the name of Prince Harry’s 2023 memoir book

LUKE Price says it was a tough decision to make determining dual acceptor Island Dec’s mission at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. But he is confident the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m) is the right race. Last start Canterbury winner Island Dec also was an acceptor for the slightly shorter Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m) against her own sex. Price trains in partnership with his father Rob at Kembla Grange, and each had their views on which race to target. “Rob was keen on th

Hawkesbury Race Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Lea Porteous as its new CEO, effective July 18, 2026. Lea brings more than 23 years of dedicated service to Hawkesbury Race Club. She has most recently served as Chief Operating Officer where has been responsible for finance, operations, racing administration, hospitality, and commercial activities including the Hawkesbury Race Club Motel. Lea will succeed current CEO James Heddo after his recent decision to step

RETIRING Hawkesbury Race Club chief executive James Heddo says it would be a “special thrill” if he can win the race named after him at his home track tomorrow. The popular administrator, who officiates at his last meeting before finishing his four-year tenure on July 17, part-owns Squeezebox, who lines up in the Good Luck James Heddo Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m). “I’ve raced horses with Squeezebox’s trainer Kim Waugh for more than 20 years,” he said today. “Kim has done a

Newcastle Jockey Club has announced the appointment of Mr David Irwin as its new Chairman, following the previously announced retirement of Mr Brian Judd. The appointment was resolved at the NJC Board meeting held on 25 June. Mr Irwin has served on the NJC Board since 2021 and has held the role of Vice Chairman since 2024. Mr Irwin brings extensive governance and executive leadership experience to the role. He currently serves as Independent Chair of RailFirst and as a Non-Ex

NATHAN Long didn’t mince words! It was Monday, February 8, 2016 and the Newcastle businessman (Adamstown Glass Windows and Doors) was at the Inglis Classic yearling sale at the company’s old Newmarket complex in Sydney. He was outbid by Melbourne trainer Troy Corstens on a Magnus filly, even after going past his budget. “My wife told me not to pay more than $25,000; I went to $34,000 and Troy got the filly for $36,000,” Long recalled today. “I had never met Troy, but went up

LIKE mother, like daughter! Whilst she has a fair way to go to emulate the deeds of her dam Princess Posh, at least Poshy’s Girl is off the mark – and in the process led the way for a four-peat for Newcastle’s leading trainer Kris Lees at his home track yesterday. A lightly-raced four-year-old mare, Poshy’s Girl ($7), a daughter of Pierro, broke through in the Provincial Maiden Handicap (1200m) at only her fourth start. She is Princess Posh’s second foal; her first (a half-si

WHEN you’re hot, you’re hot! With four winners from his last six starters, there’s no surprise that Fabio Martino is having his best season in his brief career to date. The young Hawkesbury trainer, who launched his career four years ago, returned to the scene of his maiden success when bargain buy Olivia Mia at Canberra last Friday gave him his 10th winner this current racing season. Ridden by the State’s premiership front-runner Pierre Boudvillain, Olivia Mia ($4) trounced

YOU can take the boy out of the bush – and keep him here! Former country apprentice Will Stanley, who relocated to Newcastle in the latter part of 2024 on the recommendation of former Group 1 winning jockey Corey Brown to join leading trainer Kris Lees’ stable, was back in the Saturday metropolitan winning list at Rosehill Gardens yesterday. His victory on Cold Brew ($5 favorite) in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m) was his 10th city winner this season – four more than

KERRY Parker says he won’t mind at all if hat-trick seeker All The Way Mae strikes a heavy track at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. The multiple Group 1 winning Kembla Grange trainer is ready to test the filly out of Midway class, and will line her up in a Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m) against other three-year-olds. All The Way Mae, a daughter of 2019 The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes, is showing the ability her trainer knew she possessed earlier in career. Her three starts this c

IT’S been quite a few moons, but Andrew Gibbons knows his last city winner. Nearly six years to be precise, and it was Redoute’s Image at Canterbury on July 22, 2020 in a 2YO Maiden Plate (1100m) on a heavy track. “I couldn’t forget that,” Newcastle’s senior jockey said today. “It was my 400th winner for Kris Lees, and also my first in town for him. “Redoute’s Image was resuming from a break, and I had ridden her in a Wyong trial leading up to that midweek race. “She had been

IT was fitting on a couple of counts that Marc Chevalier should celebrate his first training double at Hawkesbury today. Not only did the expatriate Frenchman also get his first provincial winner at his home track, but the horse who clinched his maiden double today was bred and is raced in partnership with syndicate members by his long-standing client, Dr Ulysess Crosson. Chevalier’s double with He’s Got Grunt (pictured $21) in the XXXX Gold 3YO Maiden Handicap (1400m), and

BRAD Widdup took an important step at home today toward retaining his Hawkesbury trainers’ premiership title. Hawkesbury’s leading trainer took his season’s number of winners to 60 when he scored with Mulberry-owned favorites Internal Affairs and Escargoes – and it gave him a two-win buffer over Sydney’s champion trainer Chris Waller. There are only two meetings left (July 2 and 19), and 13 of his 60 winners so far this season have been at his home track. Internal Affairs ($1

MAY the force be with you! Wyong trainer Sara Ryan has opted to run Galactic Force in the Midway Family Funday Midway Maiden Plate (1300m) rather than against his own age in the XXXX Gold 3YO Maiden Handicap (1400m), where he drew awkwardly, at Hawkesbury tomorrow. And she has been able to secure Tim Clark to ride the former Victorian gelding, who is lining up for his third start since being transferred from co-trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. “I don’t often get th

TALK about throwing sand in their faces! Theresa Bateup has been looking forward to getting three-year-old Sablonneuse out over a distance, even though his sire Sandbar (by Snitzel) was a sprinter; his four wins being between 1100m and 1200m. She was proven correct when the gelding, at his first attempt at 2000m, came through with flying colours at the Kembla Grange trainer’s home track yesterday. Ridden by Brock Ryan, Sablonneuse ($4.80) was convincing in his defeat of Hawke

FABIO Martino’s stable is on a roll, and Tommy Wong is becoming a deft hand at winning with two-year-old debutantes. The Hawkesbury trainers each had their own special result at Kembla Grange yesterday; Martino posting his fourth winner from his last 11 starters, and Wong made it two wins in consecutive months with “babies” kicking off their careers. Martino also made it two in a row with his winner All Star, and is understandably talking great pride in what he has achieved s

BETTER late than never! Multiple Group 1 winning Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker quickly made up for lost time when the previously unraced Street Vanquisher was successful on debut at his home track yesterday. Ridden by Chad Lever, Street Vanquisher ($10) finished with determination to lead a home a local trifecta in the Midway Maiden Handicap (1200m), defeating Ross McConville’s Creator Of World ($4.40), and Rob and Luke Price’s Yougotme ($3.90). The three-year-old son of

DENIM Wynen set herself a goal at the beginning of the season to train 10 winners in this current racing year. It has already been the Wyong conditioner’s best season with nine winners out of a career 30, and she is looking to accomplish that target at Royal Randwick tomorrow with a relative newcomer to her small team. Wynen saddles Hereward in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m), with apprentice Anna Roper’ 2kg claim lessening his weight to 56.5kg. Hereward, a three-yea

PROVINCIAL trainers dominated today’s meeting at Gosford, snaring five of the eight races. Hawkesbury’s leading trainer Brad Widdup led the way with a double, and was joined by leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, Gosford’s Kylie Gavenlock and Wyong’s Tracey Bartley. Widdup sent two horses to Gosford, and the lightly-raced three-year-olds gave him a 100 per cent result. His successes in consecutive races were with a pair of homebreds, Mind Ya Bizz and Satono Jasmine. Mind Y