McCONVILLE’S PATIENCE BEING REWARDED

PATIENCE is a virtue, we’re often told!

Ross McConville knows all about it, and the Kembla Grange trainer is reaping the rewards.

McConville’s lightly-raced four-year-old Flying Arabesque clinched back-to-back Saturday provincial triumphs, this time at Newcastle yesterday.

As he did when breaking through in a 1600m Super Maiden at his home track a week ago, the son of Trapeze Artist again was strongest at the end when taking the Provincial Class 1 Handicap over the same distance.

Chad Lever has been the gelding’s rider on both occasions.

Flying Arabesque’s two victories boosted his earnings from five starts to just over $54,000 – a nice return on the $15,000 McConville paid for him at the 2023 Inglis Classic yearling sale in Sydney. But patience has been the keynote.

“There was a problem with the x-rays when I bought him, but it wasn’t major,” McConville said today.

“Widden Stud assured me the horse was fine, so I just put him out in a paddock for 12 months. It looks as though showing that patience has been a blessing."

“Flying Arabesque done well after the Kembla Grange race last week, and being a Provincial Class 1, I didn’t hesitate to back him up. He really winds up at the end of his races, and who knows how far he can go. Now that he has raced on consecutive weekends, I will give him a short break and look for another suitable race.”

Newcastle’s trail-blazing trainer Paul Perry was the other provincial trainer to win at his home

meeting yesterday.

The man who took Choisir to the UK in 2003 to capture the famous Royal Ascot sprint double

fittingly scored with one of the stallion’s progeny.

Six-year-old Princess Cruizer ($7), ridden by Jess Taylor, defeated roughies Who Goes There ($26) and Super Sioux ($13) in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (900m).

Perry paid $40,000 for the mare at the 2022 Inglis HTBA yearling sale, and this was her sixth win (she has also been placed on 12 occasions).

Fellow Newcastle trainers Barry Lawrence and Dale Wagstaff were successful at yesterday’s Port Macquarie meeting.

Lawrence won the Benchmark 50 Handicap (1010m) with Take The Jackpot (Ben Looker), who as a $3.50 favorite, edged out another Newcastle trainer James Harding’s Tesorino ($6) despite conceding her 4.5kg.

The now eight-year-old Casino Prince gelding Take The Jackpot was purchased for only $700 online in 2022, and has won four races and been placed six times.

Wagstaff’s six-year-old Farraige (Jenny Duggan) carried 61kg to take the Benchmark 50 Handicap (1512m).

This was also his fourth win, and he has been placed no less than 19 times.

Apprentice Liberty Smyth, indentured to Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle, went home with a Port Macquarie double.

She won the opener on Narukami ($3.40) and closer on $2.40 favorite Aerofoil, defeating Wagstaff’s Ken’ker ($11).

Wyong trainer Allan Kehoe made the trip to today’s Narromine Cup meeting worthwhile when Easy Trapezee ($11), ridden by apprentice Shannen Llewellyn, took the 1300m Maiden Plate at his fifth start and first since early April.

However, stablemate Prince Of Sorts ($4.40) and Hawkesbury’s Unreal Expectation ($3.70 favorite) had to be content with third and second respectively behind Dubbo-trained Shadow Dane ($5.50) in the Narromine Cup (1600m). STORY BY JOHN CURTIS, AUGUST 23, 2026. PIC BRADLEY PHOTOS