GELDING SHOWS HE CAN BACK UP – AND WIN
ALEX Lemarie accepted with Showmara for his home track meeting yesterday even though he was planning to run him at Gosford two days earlier.
It turned out to be a smart move on the Hawkesbury trainer’s part as the former Victorian gelding backed up successfully to trounce his rivals, continuing his excellent form for his new stable.
Ridden by Keagan Latham, Showmara ($3.90) was given the run of the race in the Airmakers Benchmark 64 Handicap (1500m) before bolting away in the straight to score by three lengths.
More Mischief ($31) was second, and $2.15 favorite Rolling Home third.
Showmara was beaten only one and a half lengths when fourth, just missing the minor placings, to Unbridled Storm in a 1600m Benchmark 64 Handicap at Gosford.
“Gosford’s first meeting after a break was washed out recently, and I decided to also accept with Showmara at Hawkesbury in case a storm hit the track,” Lemarie said today.
“I was the gelding’s strapper at Gosford, and he ran well and didn’t have a blow after the race.
“He continued to do well, had an easy day on Friday, and it was our home track yesterday and we had Keagan (provincial king) booked.
“There seemed no reason why Showmara shouldn’t back up, and he won really well.”
Lemarie has done a splendid job with the Showtime five-year-old after he and his wife Rebecca bought him online in January for $7000.
He has raced seven times for the couple, and yesterday’s victory boosted his earnings since arriving at Hawkesbury to just over $65,000.
“I gave him a really good break after we bought him earlier in the year,” Lemarie said.
“It did him good, and he put on plenty of weight.”
Showmara has now won three of his last five starts, and Lemarie is hoping to give him a crack at a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap company in town.
“I will give him a freshen up as he had had the two runs in three days,” he said.
“There is a suitable 1500m Midway at Rosehill Gardens in a month’s time, and then another over 1600m at Randwick a fortnight later.
“We’ll see how the RacingNSW handicapping panel treats him after this win, but that’s the plan I have with Showmara.”
Lemarie’s gelding carried a benchmark rating of 60 prior to his Hawkesbury romp yesterday.
Fellow Hawkesbury trainer Ed Cummings also was successful at his home meeting – but it came at a cost!
Cummings landed the Irresistible Pools & Spas Provincial 4YO & Up Maiden Handicap (1100m) with Sauvitude (Grant Buckley), who started favorite at $3.30.
In an all-Hawkesbury finish, the lightly-raced I Am Invincible four-year-old defeated Jason Attard’s Dwight ($3.90) and Brad Widdup’s Southport ($3.80).
Having only his second start, Sauvitude rounded up his rivals in the straight to win convincingly.
However, RacingNSW stewards subsequently fined Cummings $500 after he pleaded guilty to presenting the gelding to race in unapproved steel work plates.
Adding merit to Sauvitude’s performance was that he was reshod on course with aluminium racing plates, then underwent a pre-race veterinary examination at the barriers and was given the “all clear” to start.
STORY JOHN CURTIS, NOVEMBER 8, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS
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