DUGGAN’S UNORTHODOX MOVE GETS HIM A DOUBLE REWARD

WHEN a trainer thinks outside the square, he or she surely deserves a just reward!That certainly applied to Adam Duggan, whose bold move to do something different clinched him a Newcastle double yesterday; his first in more than two and a half years.

It’s not common place for the skilled Gosford trainer, who keeps a boutique stable of no more than 15 horses, to start two or more of them at a meeting.

Duggan took debutante Erina and proven wet tracker Divine Bene (pictured) to Newcastle to compete on a ‘Heavy 10” track – and won with both.

Four-year-old mare Erina (apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald) took the Maiden Handicap (1250m) at $12 against her own sex, and Divine Bene ($1.75 favorite) in the Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200m) gave him his first double since Boss and Wonder Brahma both won at Port Macquarie on November 10, 2022.

But it was how Duggan specifically prepared Divine Bene which earned him justified plaudits.

He decided to trial the five-year-old gelding at his home track only two days before the race when successful in an 800m heat.

“It was pretty unorthodox, and something I haven’t done before, but it worked perfectly,” Duggan said today.

“Divine Bene is the best wet tracker I have had (all three career wins and four minor placings have been on heavy ground).

“There’s two important points about good wet trackers; their action and fitness.

“I knew Newcastle was going to be heavy, and as Divine Bene hadn’t raced since early July I wanted to make sure by trialling him that he was up to the mark.

“I monitored him closely the morning after the trial and again on race morning, and there was no sign that the trial had affected him, so we went ahead and took him to the races.”

Divine Bene, ridden by apprentice Mitch Stapleford, surged clear over the last 200m to score by three and a quarter lengths from Close Encounter ($2.60) and Princess Cruizer ($9) in the small field of five runners.

Given Duggan’s rating of Divine Bene, it’s not surprising that 10 of the gelding’s 14 starts have been on heavy tracks.

“Many wet trackers can also run well on good ground, but Divine Bene improves five lengths when it’s heavy,” he said.

“He has pulled up well from Newcastle, and with the tracks so wet at present, we’ll look for another suitable assignment for him.”

Duggan’s first-up success with homebred Erina was no less impressive.

Owner Peter Horsnell named the daughter of Kermadec as he grew up at Erina on the Central Coast.

“Peter is the son of the late Gosford trainer Ray Horsnell and has retained his trainer’s licence, but I’m looking after his horses at present,” Duggan said.

“This mare trialled well on three occasions, and she struck a heavy track when runner-up in a Hawkesbury 800m heat last month, and the progeny of Kermadec usually are pretty capable on it.

“Her trial form was good enough to suggest she could run well on debut in a small field, but I guess you really don’t know first time out how they will handle the ground under race conditions.

“When Mollie settled her outside the favorite Luskintyre, my confidence grew.

“It was a very well judged ride.”

Erina stuck to her guns gamely in the straight and defeated other better fancied debutantes Hermione Prancer ($5.50) and Via Flaminia ($4.40).

Erina is the second foal of the 20-year-old King Mambo mare Charmambo, who never raced.

Her first foal, the now six-year-old Pressford (by Press Statement, is yet to race.

HOOFNOTE: Duggan has taken two horses to the races only four times this calendar year, and he also has a “soft spot” for Port Macquarie.

Before Boss and Wonder Brahma (both ridden by Koby Jennings) won there in November 2022, his previous double (with Urban Prince and Blue Phantom) also was at that track on July 29, 2016.

“I thought the two horses could win that day, and talked Josh Parr into going to Port to ride them for me,” Duggan recalled. “They both won easily.”

. Fellow Gosford trainer Kylie Gavenlock’s stable is also in brilliant form.

Gavenlock won her third race from her last five runners when also successful at Newcastle yesterday.

Zip On By ($3 favorite) beat Wyong trainer Denim Wynen’s Alabama Blitz ($7) and Newcastle trainer Mark Minervini’s Tickle Me Pink ($3.10) in the F&M Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400m).

That followed victories with Alfred at Wyong on July 24 and Renoir at Muswellbrook three days later.

Newcastle’s The Everest contender Private Harry was to trial at Rosehill Gardens on Monday morning, but the session has been postponed until Tuesday because of the wet weather. 

Story John Curtis, August 10, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos