ROUGH RESULT A “TIP” FOR FUTURE

IT was a 1600m Maiden Handicap at a midweek Newcastle meeting – and won by the $61 second rank outsider!

But such is this racing game that down the track we might be looking back and wondering why we didn’t pay more attention to the result.

Having only his third start, Ngunnawal today shed his maiden status in the style of a horse who has the capacity to progress to better races.

The three-year-old’s master trainer, Newcastle’s Paul Perry, s certainly hoping that’s the case.

“I bought him online through Inglis Digital as a n unraced two-year-old with the belief that he might make a nice stayer,” a holidaying Perry said from Italy this evening (it was 6.40am Italy time when the race was run).

“He is a big horse and I didn’t bother racing him as a two-year-old.

“He is still green and I’m sure there is a lot of improvement in him.

Ridden by talented Wyong apprentice Anna Roper, Ngunnuwal was last to leave the gates and back third last at the 600m.

However, once Roper was able to get him out into the clear after straightening, he lengthened stride in the centre of the track and overpowered his rivals.

Ngunnawal defeated $2.20 favorite Dollars by nearly a length, and there was a touch of irony in the outconme.

Ngunnawal is the third foal of the High Chaparral mare Lady Montoya, with whom Dollars’ Newcastle trainer Jason Deamer took over whilst still a maiden and won three races with her, including a Benchmark 60 Handicap over the Newcastle Gold Cup 2300m by a clear margin at Broadmeadow in December 2017.

She also won a similar grade race at Scone over 2000m 12 days later.

Ngunnawal ran last of eighth runners on debut in a 1200m Provincial Maiden Plate at a Gosford meeting held at Scone on February 6, and then resumed and again ran last of seven runners in a Maiden Handicap (1350m) at Wyong on June 24 when a $61 chance after $81 was offered.

Stable representative Nathan Perry, when queried by RacingNSW stewards about the gelding’s improved performance, explained that the gelding was only in its second preparation and had taken some time to mature but had always pleased in his trackwork.

He considered the gelding had been better suited by stepping up in distance to the 1600m, which he felt was the primary reason for his improved showing.

HOOFNOTE: Ngunnawal refers to both a group of indigenous Australians and their language, historically associated with the Canberra region and surrounding areas of New South Wales.Story John Curtis, July 15, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos