HODGE “IN THE SWIM” AT KEMPSEY

TRAINING racehorses is more of a hobby these days for Steve Hodge.

The experienced Newcastle horseman has a full-time job on his hands managing Newcastle Jockey Club’s equine swimming pool at Broadmeadow racecourse.

As a result, he has only four horses in work and relishes the chance to attend country race meetings whenever possible.

It was possible yesterday – and Hodge got the desired result with New Zealand-bred mare Incantress at the Kempsey non-TAB meeting.

Ridden by Ben Looker, Incantress ($3 favorite) trounced her rivals in the Kempsey Macleay RSL Diggers Cup (1250m); a Benchmark 50 Handicap.

She had two and a half lengths to spare at the finish over $3.20 favorite Bondi Prophet, with $31 outsider Pride Of Lanka a distant third.

Hodge paid $12,000 online last year for Incantress, who was an $80,000 New Zealand yearling purchase in 2023.

Fellow Newcastle trainer Kris Lees prepared the mare initially, and gave her eight starts for a minor placing at Port Macquarie in June last year before she was put on the market.

“Incantress is by Per Incanto and they seem to get better with age,” Hodge said today.

“She is only a four-year-old, and obviously needed time.

“After I bought her, I gave her a few runs and she raced pretty consistently and broke through in a Maiden Plate (1300m) at Taree in early November.

“Incantress had a good spell after that, and with maturity has come back a bit bigger and stronger.

“She did a good job yesterday as she came from last and won easily.

“I really enjoy going to these country meetings, and won a couple of races earlier in the year at Tuncurry with Lika Remi, and another with The Final Say.

“It was only three hours to Kempsey yesterday, and definitely worth the trip.

“You often run into people you haven’t seen for a while at these meetings, and they had a really good crowd there yesterday.”

Whilst Incantress’ two wins have been on Melbourne Cup day last year and Anzac Day, she also seems to show her best whenever Looker, who is enjoying another excellent season and currently sits second (behind Pierre Boudvillain) in the NSW country premiership, partners her.

Looker has ridden the mare three times for both career wins and a placing.

As well as enjoying the Kempsey vibe, Hodge had another reason for taking his mare there.

“I feel she can win a race at the provincials, but her benchmark rating was only 50 prior to yesterday’s race,” he said.

“The aim was to win and get her rating up so that she isn’t balloted out and can get a start in a suitable provincial race.”

Whilst Hodge kept the provincial flag flying at Kempsey, Lees didn’t miss out either.

The leading Newcastle trainer posted an interstate double, scoring with Cantiamo at Royal Randwick and Cloudland at a rain-drenched Eagle Farm.

Cantiamo ($2.70 favorite) boosted her record to four wins from eight starts in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m) and soon will get another chance to earn black type, whilst accomplished mudlark Cloudland ($9) relished the heavy conditions to take the Kokoda Cup Open Handicap (1200m) up north.

It was the grey’s ninth victory – he has contested the annual greys’ race the last two years at the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington and won it in 2024 – from 30 starts, giving Lees’ apprentice Ben Osmond another Brisbane winner after a midweek Doomben double last Wednesday.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, APRIL 26, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS