IMPORTANT CHANGES AS IBLE CHASES ANOTHER MIDWAY BENCHMARK 72
JOE Ible has made two important changes as he chases another Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap – this time at Newcastle tomorrow.
The Kembla Grange, who won two Midways with the talented Barrengarry at Royal Randwick and another at Rosehill Gardens last Saturday with Common Goal, has Cabbucio representing him tomorrow.
The lightly-raced four-year-old daughter of Too Darn Hot has her hooves on the metropolitan till after placings at all four starts (the last two at Randwick) this preparation.
Ible has opted to put a cross-over nose band on Cabuccio, and also has booked senior jockey Andrew Adkins.
Apprentice Coriah Keatings, who led all the way on Common Goal last Saturday, has partnered Cabbucio at her last two starts.
“Firstly, Cabbucio has had that tendency to lay in when making her run in the straight, and it has probably cost her winning one or both of those last two runs,” Ible said today.
“Hopefully the cross-over nose band will keep her on a straight course.
“Secondly, Coriah has done nothing wrong at all, but I was looking for a little change and Andrew is riding really well.”
Cabbucio is a highly consistent mare. She has won two of her eight starts, been placed in another five has won two of her eight starts, and finished fourth on debut at Goulburn on debut in an 1100m Maiden in September last year at her only unplaced run.
“Cabbucio has trained on well since her last start second to All Star in an 1800m Midway Benchmark 72 at Randwick on November 3,” Ible said.
“She is coming back 200m tomorrow and that’s not ideal, but I feel she can handle it.”
Market assessors share Ible’s confidence as Cabbucio this morning headed the Midway market at $3.50.
Cuban Cigar and Spaceballs (they both run in the Legend Mile Benchmark 78 Handicap instead) have been withdrawn, lessening the field to 10.
. Well-known media identity Gary Crispe will be a keen onlooker from Canberra to tomorrow;s meeting with an interest in two strong chances at the meeting.
Crispe, a co-founder of the now internationally acknowledged Racing and Sports website, which was recently sold to UK based national multimedia agency Press Association, remains on the Australian board of the business, which was successfully listed on the stock exchange five years ago.
A regular visitor to Newcastle carnivals, Crispe has shares in Stellar Ami (Max Lees Classic, 900m) and last start Amreekiyah (Legend Mile Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1600m).
The much hyped debutante Stellar Ami, a $600,000 Magic Millions yearling purchase earlier this year, is the $2.20 favorite for the Max Lees.
Amreekiyah, a last start Warwick Farm winner, is second favorite at $4, behind Wyong trainer Tracey Bartley’s Cuban Cigar ($3.70).
“Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott train Stellar Ami, a daughter of I Am Invincible, and she easily won a Warwick Farm trial late last month,” Crispe said.
“The stable is confident about her chances tomorrow, and all going well she will then go to the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) on December 9 en route to the $3m Magic Millions Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 16.
“Amreekiyah was impressive in scoring first-up at 1400m at Warwick Farm, and her trainer Peter Snowden has been pleased with her progress since.”
Crispe raced another filly (now at stud) Memo, who ran second in both the Wyong Magic Millions in 2024, and also in the 2025 Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast.
STORY JOHN CURTIS, NOVEMBER 13, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS
Comments