SWITCH GIVES DUGGAN CHANCE FOR GROUP BREAKTHROUGH
A surprise stable switch has presented Adam Duggan with a Group winning opportunity at Newcastle on Saturday.
The Gosford horseman is the new trainer of debut Hawkesbury winner El Pablo, who steps up in grade to the set weights $250,000 Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) – but against his own age.
Scott Aspery, who no longer trains at Newcastle, transferred the colt to Duggan late last week.
“I knew Scott when he trained at Gosford for a while, and have been friendly with him ever since,” Duggan said today.
“He brought El Pablo to me, and obviously I’m still learning about him.
“But there is plenty of him just the same, and he galloped well here on Tuesday morning.
“Scott trained El Pablo when he won a Provincial Maiden Plate (1500m) at Hawkesbury on October 27 at his first start.
“The plan was always to have a crack at the Spring Stakes.
“Obviously it’s a decent jump from winning a Maiden, but we’ll find out more about him on Saturday.
“It’s not a big field either.”
Molly Bourke, who has been a regular rider of Aspery’s Uzziah, rode El Pablo at Hawkesbury and partners him again on Saturday.
El Pablo will wear ear muffs, which will be removed at the barrier.
Bourke will continue her association with Uzziah (now trained by Albert O’Hearn) in the Legend Mile Benchmark 78 Handicap (1600m) at Saturday’s metropolitan stand-alone meeting.
Bourke has joined the senior riding ranks, and thus will not be able to lessen Uzziah’s 60.5kg topweight.
Duggan won the Listed Civic Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm – transferred from Rosehill Gardens – with accomplished wet tracker Diamond Diesel on a heavy surface in 2024, but has never had Group success.
Newcastle Jockey Club was pleased to get 10 acceptors (there were only 11 nominations) for its feature three-year-old event, which initially was run at the Gold Cup carnival in September.
El Pablo and Hawkesbury trainer Jack Pilkington’s Am I Dreaming (Jason Collett) are the two provincial representatives.
Like El Pablo, Am I Dreaming also was a debut winner at his home track in March in a 1300m Provincial Maiden, when ridden by Collett.
Brisbane trainer Desleigh Forster’s talented three-year-old Kickup Rocky (Daniel Moor) is well placed at the set weights conditions of the Spring Stakes, and is the current $2.50 favorite with TAB.com.au.
He has won both starts at home this preparation, carrying 60kg to victory over 1300m at Eagle Farm on October 10, and then 60.5kg over 1350m at Doomben three weeks later.
Topweight Pericles has been withdrawn from the Listed $1m The Hunter (1300m), and instead will head south for the Group 1 wfa Orr Stakes (1400m) at Sandown.
Trainer Bjorn Baker didn’t take long to make the decision after the last start $3m Group 2 Russell Balding (1300m) winner at Rosehill Gardens on October 31 drew the outside (21) at Newcastle in a capacity field of 16 plus five emergencies.
Pericles’ withdrawal gives another last start winner, Ciaron Maher’s She’s An Artist, a berth in the line-up.
In what is sure to be a great betting contest, Sweynesday(Alysha Collett) headed Hunter markets at $6.50, ahead of She’s An Artist ($8) and leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees’ Infancy ($8.50).
STORY JOHN CURTIS, NOVEMBER 11, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS
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