DILMI’S NEWCASTLE DOUBLE WITH LIGHTLY-RACED PAIR
THEY’RE both lightly-raced but were of contrasting ages and prices!
It mattered not as Wyong trainer Nacim Dilmi reeled in the last two races for Domeland at Newcastle today.
Four-year-old River Jordan ($16) was having only his fourth start when he took the Provincial Maiden Plate (1300m), and seven-year-old Great Idea ($2.60 favorite), in spite of his advancing years, faced the starter for only the 10th time when he won the 5YO & Up Benchmark 64 Handicap (1500m).
River Jordan, a son of Street Boss, fetched $260,000 as a Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling in 2024, and Great Idea realised $150,000 when offered three years earlier at the Inglis Premier sale in Melbourne.
“They were both great,” Dilmi said this evening, now having claimed 43 winners since launching his training career at the start of last season.
“It was a great way to finish off the meeting.”
Dilmi though had to call on leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees to help him score with River Jordan (Reece Jones).
“There was a mix-up with our gear, and I was missing a set of blinkers,” he explained.
“Kris was kind enough to bail me out with a pair of his blinkers, and River Jordan won carrying the LR (Lees Racing) insignia.
RacingNSW stewards fined Dilmi $200 for a late declaration of rider, but at least River Jordan didn’t let him down.
“Christian Reith recommended using the blinkers on River Jordan, and that was the second time he has raced in them.”
Great Idea, a son of So You Think, has had his issues and did his earlier racing in the bush with wins at Tamworth (twice) and Tuncurry last year.
Dilmi was keen to have a crack with the gelding, and his two starts have both produced victories.
He scored first-up at Taree on August 31, and has been ridden in both races by Reith.
Great Idea got very hot prior to the race, but left his rivals cold with a bold front-running performance.
“I purposely gave Great Idea a good gap between the two races, and he worked at Newcastle last Tuesday morning with Matcha Latte,” Dilmi said.
“I feel he might eventually get 2000m.”
Meanwhile, Matcha Latte has pulled up well after his 11th to God’s Window in last Saturday’s Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.
“He loomed up in the straight and I thought he was going to be in the finish, but the ‘mile’ just found him out,” Dilmi said.
“Matcha Latte is coming to the end of his career and may have only one or two more runs.
“I won’t start him again for another few weeks, and will come back to around 1400m.
“He may go to Melbourne or perhaps even The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle in mid-November may be his finale.
“Matcha Latte has done a terrific job, and I would love to win another race with him.”
Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle continued his early season form by taking the opener, the 4YO & Up Maiden Plate (1500m), with $8.50 chance Perini.
Ridden by Regan Bayliss, the Kurrinda Bloodstock-raced four-year-old mare was having only her second start for Doyle since being switched from Queensland.
STORY JOHN CURTIS, OCTOBER 7, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS
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