TO coin a well-known election campaign slogan, it’s time!
At least that’s what Australian Bloodstock is thinking ahead of a feature race they have sponsored at Newcastle for the last eight years without success.
The leading Hunter-based syndicator for the ninth time lend their support to the $250,000 Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Broadmeadow on Friday.
Somewhat surprisingly, it is the only one of the three Group 3s at Newcastle Jockey Club’s spring carnival which has so far eluded them.
Princess Posh won the Tibbie Stakes for them in 2018, and Mugatoo took the Newcastle Gold Cup two years later; both trained by Kris Lees.
The closest Australian Bloodstock has come in the Cameron was when Spangler at $10 ran third to Democracy Manifest last year.
In their eight-year sponsorship of Newcastle’s feature spring sprint, Australian Bloodstock has had three beaten favorites.
Inver Park ($3.30) ran fifth last year after racing wide, Special Reward ($3) also ran fifth in 2019, and Plein Ceil ($3.80) finished 10th in 2018.
In another attempt to win the Cameron, Australian Bloodstock will have two representatives, Nugget and Berkshire Shadow, in this year’s edition.
Dylan Gibbons rides Nugget and James McDonald partners Berkshire Shadow.
“We’re certainly due,” Australian Bloodstock principal Jamie Lovett said on Wednesday.
“No doubt it would be a fantastic result to win our own race on our home track.
“One horse (Nugget) has drawn okay, but the other (Berkshire Shadow) has drawn poorly.
“Still it’s a big field and they usually run along in the Cameron, so Berkshire Shadow should get his chance on the big track.”
Both UK imports, the Australian Bloodstock pair go into the Cameron second-up.
Nugget resumed when eighth to Royal Patronage in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on September 7; his first start since finishing seventh to Stefi Magnetica in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June.
Berkshire Shadow raced for the first time since his ninth to Newcastle’s Sky Lab in the Listed Scone Cup (1600m) on May 17 when sixth in Ceolwulf’s Benchmark 100 Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 31.
Ciaron Maher prepares both Nugget and Berkshire Shadow, and sent the former to one of his many training bases at Bobs Farm near Newcastle after his Tramway run.
The Bobs Farm horses can work in a relaxed environment on the long stretch of sand dunes near Anna Bay, and come to Newcastle for their final gallops.
TAB.com.au’s Cameron market on Wednesday afternoon had Berkshire Shadow at $6.50 and Nugget at $11, with Victorian visitor Here To Shock (Nash Rawiller) the $4.80 favorite.
Impressive City Tatts Cup (2400m) winner Redstone Well was $3.50 favorite for the $350,000 Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m), and Wyong’s Mona Lisa Stakes winner Terra Mater headed Tibbie Stakes betting at $3.90.
Wyong trainer Sara Ryan’s Matcha Latte (Regan Bayliss) resumes as a gelding in the Cameron.
Story John Curtis, September 18, 2024
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