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HAYES BOYS UNLIKELY TO “HUNT” ANOTHER NEWCASTLE FEATURE

Provincial Racing NSW



The Hayes brothers are unlikely to attempt another Newcastle heist in Saturday’s $1m The Hunter.

Having won the Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) in September with Here To Shock, Ben, Will and JD Hayes have nominated Gentleman Roy for Saturday’s Group 2 feature.

The eight-year-old gelding has been given third topweight with 58.5kg for Newcastle’s richest race, behind Sydney stablemates Private Eye (60kg) and last year’s winner Coal Crusher (59kg).

However, Team Hayes’ racing manager Dom Rhoden said on Monday afternoon that it was more likely Gentleman Roy would remain at home in Victoria and chase Group 1 glory in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) – also worth $1m – on Saturday.

“At this stage we may accept with Gentleman Roy at Newcastle, and see how the race turns out,” Rhoden said.

“However, the current thinking is that he will run at Caulfield.”

Gentleman Roy, a winner at Listed, Group 3 and Group 2 level, has twice been placed in Group 1 company; narrowly beaten by Jacquinot in the CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Sandown in February last year, and then third to Pinstriped and stablemate Mr Brightside in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in August. 

Thirty horses have been nominated for The Hunter, and 16 can start with provision for four emergencies if there are sufficient acceptors on Wednesday morning.

The Kosciuszko winner Far Too Easy (Kyle Wilson-Taylor) now a $4.50 favorite after opening at $6.




Joe Pride pair Private Eye and Coal Crusher are on the second line of betting at $8, and the latter will attempt to win the 1300m sprint for the second year in a row.

Coal Crusher carried 56.5kg last year when he led throughout to defeat King Of Sparta and Rocketing By, and rises 2.5kg.

Pride has indicated that Private Eye is likely to head south to contest the Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield.

Fourteen three-year-olds have been entered for the $250,000 Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle.

There are four provincial entries; Hawkesbury’s Alabama State (trainer Jack Pilkington), Newcastle’s Éclair Encore (Kris Lees) and Totoka (Paul Perry), and Wyong’s Titanium Miss (Tracey Bartley).

Eighteen horses have been entered for the $300,000 Listed The Beauford (2300m).

An interesting nomination is New Zealander Dionysus (57kg), trained at Cambridge jointly by Roger James and Robert Wellwood.

James is no stranger to Newcastle feature success, having won the 2012 Group 3 Newmarket (now known as the Newcastle Stakes) with He’s Remarkable when training solo.

Only nine nominations were received for the Max Lees Classic (900m) for two-year-olds, and entries were extended until 11am on Tuesday.

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Talented Brazilian jockey Jose Severo rode his first winner in Australia at Scone on Monday.]

The 24-year-old, a cousin of Brazilian ace Joao Moreira, linked with leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees several months ago.

The winner of four Group 1 races back home, he partnered Lees’ Like Lukey ($2.25 favorite) to an easy victory in the Maiden Plate (1600m).

Wyong trainers Kim Waugh and Kristen Buchanan also were successful at Scone, scoring respectively with Sir Godric (Jean Van Overmeire) at $15 in the Class 3 Handicap (1400m), and Oakfield Badger (Aaron Bullock) at $21 in the Benchmark 74 Handicap (1100m).

Buchanan’s decision to put a Norton bit on Oakfield Badger paid dividends when the five-year-old gelding returned to form at his third run this preparation and posted his fourth career victory from only 11 starts.

Story John Curtis, November 11, 2024

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