HODGE’S TUNCURRY DOUBLE WORTH WAITING FOR

STEVE Hodge was “in the swim” at Tuncurry yesterday.

When you have only four horses in work, taking half your team to a race meeting isn’t always common place.

Thus the long-serving Newcastle trainer was entitled to be pretty pleased with himself when not only did he have two runners at the TAB meeting – but won with both.

Hodge, who manages Newcastle Jockey Club’s equine pool at Broadmeadow, scored with Lika Remi ($7.50) and The Final Say ($17); the pair ridden by Serg Lisnyy.

Lika Remi, a daughter of Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap winner Under The Louvre, broke through in the Maiden Plate (1000m), and The Final Say did the same, romping home by nearly five lengths in the Maiden Handicap (1400m).

Hodge has cut back his team in recent years because of his role looking after the pool, and couldn’t recall the last time he had clinched a double at the same meeting.

“I’ve had doubles before, including in Sydney, but it’s been quite a while,” he said today.

“Probably a decade or more back.

“The form wasn’t strong in the two races at Tuncurry, but nonetheless it was great to win with both horses.

“Lika Remi is a homebred who we have had to take our time with, hence she is a five-year-old and that was only her seventh start.

“She ran a good third at big odds at Scone last July before a break, and ran in two Maidens at home on the Beaumont track in fairly strong races.

“Shady Road won the first Maiden and then ran second at Royal Randwick and fifth at Eagle Farm, and Siebert won the second Maiden and won again at Gosford before finishing second on the Beaumont track last Thursday.

“Lika Remi appreciated dropping back to country grade yesterday, and won nicely.”

The Final Say, a four-year-old daughter of Astern, shed her maiden status at her 16^th start after three minor placings.

“The Final Say was placed at Taree in November and I gave her a little freshen-up before taking her to Wauchope on Boxing Day,” Hodge said.

“She made the running in a two-horse race, and was beaten on the post.

“Ben Looker rode her and again at Bowraville next time when she didn’t handle the tricky track and ran fourth.

“He said afterwards to take her to Tuncurry and she would win.

“Ben was on holidays, and Serg Lisnyy was happy to come and ride both horses.”

“Serg has been going back and forth from his Wyong base to ride in South Australia, principally for former Tamworth trainer Wayne Brown, who has relocated there.

“He rode at Murray Bridge yesterday week, and again at Strathalbyn last Wednesday.”

Whilst Hodge took the honours at Tuncurry, fellow Newcastle trainers Kris Lees and Nathan Doyle were winners at the Gold Coast and Rosehill Gardens respectively.

Lees’ talented sprinter Hawker Hall ($6.50) outsped his rivals in the Class 6 Plate (1200m) at the Magic Millions meeting at the Gold Coast.

James McDonald, a late replacement for Jason Collett (injured earlier in the day) took no chances, allowing Hawker Hall to roll along in front, and he never looked in danger of defeat.

Lees earlier in the meeting had finished second with You Wahng ($6) in the $1m MM Subzero (2200m).

Doyle’s smart mare Aroha Stone ($5) made it two wins from three starts this campaign, in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill.

Ridden by Regan Bayliss, Aroha Stone gamely defeated $3.50 favourite Changing Colours and Editing ($4.40).

Bayless was subsequently fined $500 by stewards for using the whip nine times (four more than permitted) prior to the 100m.

Wyong trainers Kim Waugh and Tracey Bartley also were weekend winners

Waugh’s four-year-old Bondasong ($1.50 favorite) scored easily at his first start in the Maiden Handicap (1200m) at Gosford before heavy rain put a stop to the meeting, and Bartley travelled to Armidale today to land the Class 2 Handicap (1300m) with Kickoff ($5.50), who rolled $1.55 hotpot Inquisitor.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JANUARY 18, 2026