NEWCASTLE trainer Jason Deamer is in for a busy week.
Not only will he have his first Group 1 runner in Melbourne on Saturday, but also a representative in the opening Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier at Hawkesbury on Thursday.
Deamer this morning confirmed plans to send his consistent sprinter Hard To Say south for the $750,000 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield, and Craig Newitt has been booked for the ride.
Eight-times winner Hard To Say, who races in the Dynamic Syndications colours, has 52.5kg and will be his first Melbourne starter.
But he is no stranger to taking horses south for feature races.
As increasing weight took a toll on his riding career, he began riding work for the late Max Lees at Broadmeadow, and also was his travelling foreman.
He took a number of horses to Melbourne for the carnivals, including 1997 Group 1 VRC Newmarket Handicap winner Ruffles, ridden by Shane Dye.
“Hard To Say deserves his chance to run in a Group 1,” Deamer said this morning.
“All his wins have been at 1000m to 1100m.
“He comes back to 1100m after running fourth in the Magic Millions Sprint (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 17, and fifth in the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 1.”
Hard To Say carried 58kg in the Southern Cross, was beaten less than one and a half lengths, and drops 5.5kg.
Before Hard To Say tackles the Oakleigh Plate, Deamer will attempt to qualify Rapt for the $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 12.
The first two placegetters in Thursday’s series opener at Hawkesbury automatically qualify for the Final.
Also raced by Dynamic Syndications, four-year-old mare Rapt will be ridden by Tim Clark.
She has drawn the outside barrier in a field of 14, and was scratched from a Randwick engagement last Saturday to focus on the PMC Qualifier.
Clark rode Rapt when she won a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on December 21, and also when a close seventh to Miss Joelene in the $500,000 The Wave (1800m) at the Sunshine Coast on January after coming from last at the 400m.
The Wave was run at weight-for-age, whereas the Hawkesbury Qualifier is a set weights Class 5 Plate.
“Rapt has freshened up nicely since coming home from Queensland,” Deamer said.
. Newcastle may have two representatives in the Oakleigh Plate, with Kris Lees to make a decision on Brudenell after the barrier draw.
“Provided he draws okay, he will go and Declan Bates has been booked,” Lees said this morning.
Brudenell ran third with 57kg in the Southern Cross, and has the same weight (52.5kg) as Hard To Say.
Brudenell also contested last year’s feature Caulfield sprint, finishing a close fifth with 52kg to Queman.
Meanwhile, Lees will chase further Brisbane success with his Eagle Farm winners of last weekend, Barazin and Age Of Sail.
“They have remained at our Gold Coast base, and Age Of Sail will have one more run in Brisbane,” Lees said.
“He has been nominated for the Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick in April, and we’ll just have to see how he progresses.”
Story John Curtis, February 18, 2025
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