DEAMER RAPT TO CHASE BLACK TYPE WITH MARE IN MELBOURNE

DUAL State acceptor Rapt is on her way to Melbourne tonight for an important mission at Caulfield on Saturday.

Th Dynamic Thoroughbreds raced mare will contest the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at the Cup meeting rather than the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1400m) at Royal Randwick.

Rapt drew awkwardly in both races, and Newcastle trainer Jason Deamer readily explained why the Melbourne event was chosen.

“Rapt is a half-sister to Peter Snowden’s Sebring mare Tashi (now retired), who won the Group 1 Tatts Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm during the winter,” he said.

“The Tristarc is for mares four-year-old and upwards, and if Rapt can sneak a placing then her value as a future broodmare will increase greatly.”

Purchased by Dynamic for $130,000 at the 2022 Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling sale and raced by a ladies’ syndicate, the now five-year-old old has well and truly repaid that initial outlay.

She has won five races and been placed six times, and earned just over $315,000.

Rapt won the Grafton Guineas (1600m) as a three-year-old last year, a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m) at Randwick later the same year, and a $150,000 Qualifier of the Provincial-Midway Championships (1400m) at Hawkesbury in February.

Ash Morgan rode her in her Grafton victory, and Tim Clark was aboard in her Randwick and Hawkesbury successes.

This will be Deamer’s first Melbourne runner since his eight-times winner and $800,000 plus earner Hard To Say contested the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield in February.

Rapt hasn’t raced since May, but has had two recent trials at Wyong (September 8) and Newcastle (September 24) to get her ready for her resumption.

“Whilst Rapt hasn’t won first-up, she has been placed three out of four and won the Hawkesbury Qualifier after a break of nearly seven weeks,” Deamer said.

“Beau Mertens will have his first ride for me on Saturday, and is in great form.”

Mertens has tallied 767 winners in a career which began 11 years ago, and 20 of those have come already this season.

His Group 1 breakthrough came on $26 chance Attrition in the 2023 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield.

Leading Kembla Grange trainers Rob and Luke Price were the sole provincial winners at today’s eight-race Hawkesbury meeting.

The father and son team landed the Provincial Class 1 Handicap (1500m) with lightly-raced mare Miss Hvar.

Ridden by Tommy Berry, Miss Hvar ($4.20) easily defeated Gosford trainer Adam Duggan’s Oh Deer (whom RacingNSW stewards reported had a poor post-race recovery) and Wyong trainer Kim Waugh’s $2.80 favorite Squeezebox.

A five-year-old daughter of Cox Plate winner Ocean Park, Miss Hvar was racing for only the sixth time.

She won a Provincial Maiden Handicap (1300m) at Kembla Grange in April at $51 when on debut.

Team Price put winkers on Miss Hvar today for her third start this preparation.

An $80,000 New Zealand purchase in 2022, Miss Hvar’s entry to racing until a rising five-year-old was delayed because she ripped muscles from her hamstring as a three-year-old.

Story John Curtis, October 16, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos