GEAR CHANGES TO HELP UZZIAH SHOW HIS BEST AT RANDWICK

SCOTT Aspery has chosen Royal Randwick over a South Grafton Cup weekend assignment for his seven-times winner Uzziah.

And the Newcastle trainer is hoping two important gear changes on the gelding will help turn around what he says has been a frustrating preparation so far.

Apprentice Molly Bourke will ride Uzziah in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday, and Aspery has already withdrawn him from the Big Dance Eligibility South Grafton Cup (1610m) a day later.

“I did give consideration beforehand to the Grafton race, and Uzziah has drawn well in both (the rails at Randwick and barrier three in the South Grafton Cup),” he said today.

“But when he drew the inside in town and the fact that Grafton came up pretty strong and is a Listed level class race, it’s a long way to go for the $38,750 first prize (the Randwick comparison is $82,500).

“Really the decision was a no brainer.”

Uzziah, who won twice (Randwick 1200m in September and a 1300m Benchmark 94 Handicap at Newcastle’s The Hunter Saturday metropolitan meeting in November) last time in work, hasn’t been placed in four runs this campaign.

However, Aspery certainly hasn’t lost faith in his six-year-old and explained the reasons for those performances.

“Because of the wet weather, we were already a run behind when Uzziah kicked off and his first two stats in Listed company at the Gosford and Scone feature meetings were on unsuitable soft ground,” he said.

“Then at his third run he was taken on in front by a 200-1 pop (Tomanga). He tried hard and ran eighth (to South Grafton Cup favorite Headley Grange).

“At his last run he drew the outside over 1400m at Randwick, flew out of the gates and went head to head with another runner.

“Molly (Bourke) rode him that day and afterwards said he was very keen and wouldn’t come back to her.”

Since that June 21 outing, Aspery has set about getting Uzziah to relax in his gallops.

He took both blinkers and a tongue tie off, and the benefit showed when he won a 1200m Open trial on the Beaumont track yesterday.

“The trials were postponed from last Friday, and it suited us when Monty Be Quick raced out with a big lead,” Aspery said.

“Christian Reith rode Uzziah and said he relaxed well, and didn’t need to lead in his races.

“I’m pretty happy with the horse. He looks amazing.

“I’ll ask Molly to ride him where he is comfortable on Saturday and if he relaxes, I’m sure he can run well.”

Aspery also accepted with stablemate Annulus in the South Grafton Cup, but has withdrawn him as well.

“He was going as a travel mate for Uzziah, but drew near the outside.

“I accepted with him for Newcastle on Saturday, but he is an emergency and again drew off the track.

“Even if he gains a run, I will probably wait and start him at Newcastle on Tuesday (in a Benchmark 64 Handicap, 1400m).”

Aspery is in for a busy few days with his small team, as he also accepted with newcomer Jigadee (Jenny Duggan) in the Super Maiden Plate (900m) at Saturday’s Newcastle fixture.

However, as the unraced homebred five-year-old trialled only yesterday because of the postponement, his trainer will wait until Saturday morning before deciding if he makes his debut or is held back for another week.

Aspery also has his recent Tamworth winner Spandex in both a Class 1/Maiden Plate (1600m) at Quirindi on Monday and $80,000 Grafton Guineas (1600m) at Wednesday’s Ramornie Handicap meeting – and is yet to decide where the three-year-old will head.

. THERE are four provincial nominations – from three different venues - for the $200,000 Listed Ramornie (1200m) at Grafton.

Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees has entered Brudenell, Hawkesbury’s Blake Ryan has hat-trick seeker Lady Extreme, and Gosford’s Jake Hull and Greg McFarlane have Flying Crazy and The Great Houdini respectively.

Hawkesbury trainer Fabio Martino has the sole provincial entrant Mr Conspiracy in next Thursday’s $200,000 Listed Grafton Cup (2350m).

Clarence River Jockey Club received 28 nominations for the Ramornie, and 22 for the Cup.

Story John Curtis, July 10, 2025