NOVOCASTRIAN OWNERS CHASING GROUP 1 GLORY

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IT was a profound decision!

Three well-known Newcastle owners, including former Newcastle Jockey Club chief executive Maurice Sinclair, are well placed to win Saturday’s $1m Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Royal Randwick on Day 2 of The Championships.

Sinclair, along with fellow Novocastrians Phil Tonks and Ian Burford, share in the ownership of last Saturday’s impressive Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) heroine Profoundly.

“Phil has a close connection with legendary former trainer Lee Freedman, who bought this filly (for $65,000) at the 2024 Inglis Classic yearling sale,” Sinclair said today.

“He recommended both Ian and myself join him and become part-owners in the syndicate to race Profoundly.

“Lee trained her initially before retiring last year, and manages the Gold Coast stable for his brother Michael, who now trains Profoundly.”

For Sinclair, Saturday is special on a couple of counts.

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“Firstly, Profoundly races for Belsin Thoroughbreds, which is my close friend and racing partner of 35 years, Sydney-based Colin Bell, and myself,” he explained.

“And I’ve never had a runner in an Oaks.

“Profoundly has done well since the Adrian Knox, and she is ready to run well again.

“When Lee bought the daughter of Farnan (2020 Golden Slipper Stakes winner), he was pretty confident she would stay.”

Profoundly has raced 10 times for three wins and four placings; the Group 3 Adrian Knox being her most important to date.

She easily won a 2YO Handicap (1300m) at Eagle Farm in March last year when in Lee Freedman’s care, and on resumption won a Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m) against her own sex at Warwick Farm in February for brother Michael.

Profoundly gave notice of better things to come when a strong finishing close third from a near outside barrier in the Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) on March 13.

Freedman gave her a tick-over trial at Randwick on March 27 (behind one of Wyong trainer Damien Lane’s two $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Finalists, Oakfield Jupiter), and she stepped up to 2000m a week later to trounce favorite Soverato in the Adrian Knox.

“It’s exciting to have a filly with such a great chance in the Group 1 Oaks,” Sinclair said.

“We’re all looking forward to being trackside on Saturday to cheer her on.”

Profoundly (Tommy Berry) is currently $3.40 second favorite with TAB.com.au for the fillies’ classic behind Kiwi filly Ohope Wins ($2.40), to be ridden by James McDonald.

Sinclair also has another Group 1 to look forward to at Randwick on Saturday week.

His Belsin Thoroughbreds, along with Ian Burford, are part-owners of the very promising two-year-old colt Southend, who lines up in the Champagne Stakes (1600m).

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Trained at Rosehill Gardens by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, Southend, a son of Palace Pier, is unbeaten from two starts.

He was impressive on debut in the Paul Perry 2YO Handicap (1300m) – a race which has produced many top horses – at the Newcastle Stakes meeting on March 6 before taking on city class and again impressively took the Group 3 Baillieu Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill three weeks later.

“As with the Oaks, I’ve never had a runner in the Champagne either,” Sinclair said.

. HOOFNOTE: Belsin Thoroughbreds also has Arctic Glamour in Saturday’s Group 1 Queen Of the Turf Stakes (1600m), and Burford is a part-owner of last Saturday’s Chairman’s Quality (2600m) winner Newlook, a top chance in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) the same day.

Lookout if there’s a Group 1 winner amongst them. Newcastle will be rocking with the celebrations!

STORY JOHN CURTIS, APRIL 9, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS