HOWZAT FOR A NEWCASTLE WINNER

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HOWZAT for a winner for Mark Minervini!

The Newcastle trainer thought six-year-old gelding Howzat Harry might be a 2000m horse when he arrived at his stable.

But he got a lovely surprise when the lightly-raced gelding sprinted well first-up at home when runner-up over 1250m, and then broke through there yesterday in a CG&E Maiden Handicap at the same distance.

Ridden by former Victorian jockey Liam Riordan, Howzat Harry ($3.90) defeated Zousari ($10) and Arthur Park ($6).

“Howzat Harry was a big gangly fellow, and I thought he might need 2000m,” Minervini said today.

“But that’s not the case at all.

“Perhaps later on he will get further, but not for the time being.”

Howzat Harry, a son of Harry Angel, joined Minervini’s team after his initial trainer Joseph Burges recommended that he be trained at a racecourse rather than on his farm.

The gelding has had only eight starts, and his new trainer had an interesting tale to tell as to why he is relatively inexperienced.

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“Howzat Harry had a cancer-like growth on a knee which had to be lasered off a few times,” Minervini said.

“Eventually they got on top of it, but that’s the reason why he had such a long time off.

“He hadn’t raced since January last year when he resumed for me and ran second at Newcastle on October 6.”

Former Victorian jockey Riordan was in the right place at the right time in becoming associated with Howzat Harry.

“Lee Magorrian was to ride him at the trials here on September 23, but had to leave early as Howzat Harry was in the last 800m heat,” Minervini said.

“Liam often went across from Melbourne to ride in Adelaide when I was training there before moving to Newcastle, and he was Johnny on the spot that day.

“He won the trial on Howzat Harry, and the owners were happy to stick with him when he started racing again.”

The progeny of the stallion Astern and jockey Serg Lisnyy gave Newcastle trainers Kris Lees and Steve Hodge both success at Wauchope yesterday.

Lisnyy rode debutante Son Sillage to victory for Lees in the Maiden Handicap (1240m), and The Final Say for Hodge in the Class 1 Handicap at the same distance.

Three-year-old filly Son Sillage ($5.50), with blinkers on, didn’t mess about at her first start, romping home by nearly six lengths.

The Final Say also posted an easy win, scoring by two and a half lengths as a $3 favorite.

That was her second successs, having scored in a 1400m Tuncurry Maiden in January on a heavy track.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, OCTOBER 18, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS