PROVINCIAL YOUNGSTERS SET TO CLASH AT RANDWICK

SHAGGY versus HIDDEN MOTIVE!

It’s Wyong against Newcastle and shapes as a very exciting clash between two brilliant provincial two-year-olds – and coming to Royal Randwick next month.

Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle set up the impending encounter when he decided not to send Hidden Motive north for the $1m Magic Millions National 2YO Classic (1000m) at the Gold Coast under lights on Friday.

Instead, he plans to start the Capitalist colt in a 2YO Handicap (1100m) at Randwick on June 7 – and that’s where Shaggy (pictured above) is heading also.

As it stands, not only will this be the first occasion the two “boys” meet, but also the last time they will race as two-year-olds.

Wyong trainer Allan Kehoe announced earlier in the week that Shaggy, who has won three of his four starts, will resume on June 7, then be given a let-up before beginning his three-year-old season in the Listed The Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 16.

The Sandbar gelding is scheduled to trial at Wyong on Tuesday in preparation for his return at Randwick.

Doyle had been considering sending Hidden Motive to the Gold Coast for the $1m race after he outclassed his opposition in a 2YO Maiden Plate (1100m) at Hawkesbury last Thursday.

“Nathan was concerned both about the state of the Gold Coast track, and backing him up so quickly,” Doyle’s racing manager David Dyson said this afternoon.

“Hidden Motive didn’t back up so well when favorite and third over 1100m at Randwick on April 26, 10 days after being narrowly beaten by Aerodrome (subsequent winner of the 2YO Clarendon Stakes, 1400m, at the Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting on May 3) over 1200m at Warwick Farm at his first start since early October.

“Nathan is planning to start Hidden Motive in the June 7 race, and then give him a break.”

. Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees was the sole provincial winner at today’s midweek Warwick Farm meeting, held on a ‘Heavy 10’ surface.

Lees’ four-year-old mare First Person ($10) made it two in a row when, with Tommy Berry aboard, she led throughout in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m).

First Person again underlined her heavy track prowess, as she also won a Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap (1250m) – again on a ‘Heavy 10’ – at Newcastle on May 3.

Wyong apprentice Anna Roper was nosed out of a Warwick Farm double as she strives to come from behind to win the Sydney apprentices’ premiership.

Roper won the opening race on Fear No Evil ($6), and looked home in the closer on well supported $3 favorite Lady Boss, only to be overhauled on the line by stablemate Piggyback ($13).

It was a bitter pill to swallow as Piggyback was ridden by apprentices’ premiership leader Braith Nock, who now has tallied 26 city winners this season.

He is three ahead of Molly Bourke, who also had success at Warwick Farm.

Provincial trio, Hawkesbury’s Zac Wadick (21 wins), Newcastle’s Ben Osmond (16) and Roper (14.5) are next, with still more than two months of the season remaining.

. Meanwhile, Kembla Grange trainer Mitch Beer has advised RacingNSW stewards that connections had decided to retire dual State winner Mnementh.

The eight-year-old gelding ran last to Caballus in the Listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m) at Scone last Saturday.

Mnementh won 11 races, including the Listed All Vic Sprint (1200m) at Flemington and Wagga Town Plate (1200m) in 2023, and Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) at Randwick last June.

Story John Curtis, May 21, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos