“OLD” RUGBY LEAGUE MATES GET A KEMBLA GRANGE TRIUMPH

A friendship born out of rugby league played a part in Jason Deamer’s two-track double yesterday.

The Newcastle trainer won the opener with African Daisy at Rosehill Gardens, and doubled up by also scoring with lightly-raced Phyxius at the corresponding Kembla Grange meeting.

African Daisy ($21) ran her rivals off their legs in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m) before Phyxius ($3.10) made it two wins from four starts, in the Class 1 Handicap (1400m) at the provincial fixture.

Deamer wasn’t at Rosehill, and arrived at Kembla Grange just in time to watch on his phone his mare’s victory.

A seven-year-old daughter of American Pharoah raced by a Dynamic Syndications group, African Daisy made short work of her wide draw.

“She was able to cross easily and lead, and did a good job,” Deamer said today.

“African Daisy likes the sting out of the ground, and Rosehill as well.”

African Daisy, ridden by Sydney’s champion apprentice Braith Nock, won her fifth race (three have been at Rosehill) in defeating Wyong trainer Wayne Seelin’s Apache Breeze ($9) and late finishing $4.20 favorite Modella.

Deamer had only two starters yesterday, and capped a big day when Phyxius would not be denied at Kembla Grange.

Ridden by Keagan Latham, he fought back gamely to score narrowly when it appeared as though runner-up King Nic ($7.50) would overhaul him.

Phyxius (by Sun City) is a half-brother to fellow Newcastle trainer Kris Lees’ five-times winner Little Beginnings (by Shamus Award).

Gelded after his first two starts, Phyxius was bred by his Newcastle owner Nathan Long from his unraced Magnus mare Novacastrian.

“Nathan and myself played together for Souths Newcastle as youngsters before I started my riding career,” Deamer revealed.

“We won an Under 13 rugby league premiership, and have remained friends.”

Phyxius is raced by a syndicate managed by Long and includes, to use Deamer’s words, a “very important owner”.

That’s the trainer’s partner Tanya Norgrove, a former Newcastle Jockey Club receptionist.

Whilst Deamer won the race, Lees’ $2.25 favorite Via Flaminia pulled up lame in the off foreleg after an incident near the 1100m when she stuck the heels of King Nic, blundered and had to be severely checked by her rider Andrew Gibbons.

King Nic’s rider Angus Villiers subsequently pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge, and was suspended by RacingNSW stewards.

His term begins on Friday, and he may resume riding on September 27.

Another Newcastle trainer Jay Hopkins also was in the winning list at Kembla Grange.

Hopkins posted his first winner of the season – and first since Cassie’s Lane scored at Quirindi on Boxing Day last year – when Sonofdec, well backed to start at $4, landed the CG&E Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m).

Five-year-old Sonofdec was having his first start since June 28 when down the track at home in a Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1890m), and didn’t help his chances when he was slowly away.

Apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald hugged the rails in the small field of five, and Sonofdec edged out Via Flaminia’s stablemate Thundering Soul ($3.60 favorite).

Story John Curtis, September 14, 2025 - Pics Georgia Young Photography