SCONE MARE “RIGHT UP TO THE MARK” FOR NEWCASTLE FEATURE

SCOTT Singleton says Melody Again is “right up to the mark” as he chases his first feature success at Broadmeadow tomorrow.

And a Group 1 tilt is in the offing if Melody Again runs up to expectations in the $250,000 Group 3 Newcastle Stakes (1400m).

Winona Costin has ridden Melody Again at her last two starts, including a placing in the Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on November 29, and has the Stakes mount.

Singleton is in his seventh year training at Scone after relocating from Hawkesbury, where he won the Group 3 Guineas (1400m) in 2017 with the now deceased Shazee Lee, who raced in the same colours as Melody Again.

Singleton trialled the six-year-old mare at home over 1000m on February 25 when she finished strongly to defeat Overriding and Blacklist.

Melody Again has won six (along with nine placings) of her 26 starts, and has been successful twice and been placed twice first-up.

“She won the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) at home at the Cup carnival last May, and is ready to go back to the races,” Singleton said this morning.

“She is right up to the mark.

“I’ve had a couple of runners in the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes at Newcastle, but never won a feature race there.

“If Melody Again races as well tomorrow as I expect, it’s not out of the question she will back up eight days later in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500 at Rosehill on Saturday week.”

In latest TAB.com.au betting, Melody Again is a $19 chance, with dual The Hunter winner and topweight Coal Crusher (Adam Hyeronimus) heading the market at $5.

Whilst Singleton is seeking a major Newcastle breakthrough, Newcastle and Hunter Hall of Famer Peter Snowden is indeed no stranger to capturing big races at Broadmeadow.

He is chasing his fourth victory in the Stakes (formerly Newmarket), having previously scored with Falaise (2008), Bello (2013) and Artistry (2016); the latter being transferred to Rosehill.

Snowden will be represented by Tuileries ($9), and Chad Schofield has been given stewards’ permission to ride the mare 1kg over at 55kg.

All but two (Coal Crusher and Welwal) of the 15 acceptors are on the limit weight (54kg).

The lightly-raced Tuileries has won three of her 11 starts, and ran third against her own sex in the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m) at the Newcastle Gold Cup carnival last September.

She resumed when fifth to Weeping Woman in the Group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on February 14.

There are two gear changes; winkers on West Of Africa for the first time, and a cross-over nose band goes on Wyong trainer Kim Waugh’s Berkshire Shadow, also for the first time.

Berkshire Shadow is one of three provincial acceptors, the others being Newcastle trainers Kris Lees’ Imposant and Nathan Doyle’s Churchill’s Choice.

However, Imposant is also an acceptor for Saturday’s Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier (1400m) at Hawkesbury, where she is more favorably drawn.

The Newcastle Stakes market is:

$5 Coal Crusher

$7 Green Fly

$7.50 Hellsing

$8 Just Feelin’ Lucky

$8.50 Welwal

$9 Tuileries

$11 Getafix

$13 West Of Africa

$15 Magnatear

$17 Churchill’s Choice

$19 Melody Again, War Eternal

$61 Show ‘em Howl

$71 Imposant

$126 Berkshire Shadow

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MARCH 5, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS