DAIS ADDS CAMERON HANDICAP INTEREST WITH HIS NEWCASTLE DEBUT

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BRISBANE trainer Bryan Dais is planning to have his first Newcastle starter in Friday’s $250,000 Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Broadmeadow.

All he awaits to confirm the trip is a good barrier for his in-form five-year-old Golden Cross in the Group 3 feature, which carries eligibility to the $3m Listed Big Dance (1600m) at Royal Randwick on November 3.

But expatriate New Zealander Dais doesn’t have to worry about that as Golden Cross has already earned a ticket by brilliantly winning the Murwillumbah Cup (1550m) on August 21, clinching a hat-trick in the process.

Dais entered Golden Cross for both the Cameron and Saturday’s Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) at Randwick, but favours the former race.

“I have been in touch with Newcastle Jockey Club to arrange stabling,” he said today.

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“Provided he draws a decent barrier, we will make the trip, and Brisbane’s premiership winning jockey Ben Thompson has agreed to ride him.

“Golden Cross hasn’t had much luck with barriers draws at recent starts, so hopefully we are due for a nice draw at Newcastle.”

Dais intends to have two runners at Friday’s Newcastle spring carnival opener, with In Society to contest the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1500m).

The six-year-old mare won a Benchmark 70 Handicap (1600m) at Doomben last month as a $31 outsider.

Dais had an interesting story to tell about Golden Cross, who didn’t begin racing until late in his three-year-old season, and broke through in a Sunshine Coast CG&E Maiden (1400m) with 60kg in June last year at his third start.

“I bought the mare Jawdaa online from Emirates through Magic Millions in 2021 for not a lot of money, and she was in foal to Artie Schiller carrying Golden Cross,” he explained.

“I bred two more colts (so far unraced) by Flying Artie and Lean Mean Machine from her, but unfortunately Jawdaa died two years ago.”

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Dais also purchased Golden Cross’ older half-sister Fashion Belle (by Flying Artie) the same month (March) he secured Jawdaa, but also lost her in November 2023 when she died without getting to the races after two trials earlier that year.

“It was hard to take losing both mares within 12 months of each other,” he said.

“Golden Cross kept going shin sore, and that’s why he didn’t begin racing until May last year.

“Because he was light, we kept him a colt to try to build him up, but eventually we had to geld him.

“He’s now a five-year-old and in the form of his career with six wins, including four from his last five starts.

“We’ll go to Newcastle for the Cameron and come home again afterwards as the Big Dance isn’t until early November.”

STORY JOHN CURTIS, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 - PICS DARREN WINNINGHAM