Feature racing begins early this week, and we’re off to Newcastle on Friday for 2022 Newcastle Newmarket Day!
The rail will be set out two metres around the entire course, the track is rated in the Soft (6) range and you can find my complete 2022 Newcastle Newmarket Day Tips below.
Preview brought to you by Neds. Learn more about Neds HERE.
Sharp Office Class 1 & Maiden Plate (2300m) – 1:25pm AEDT
Tip: No. 2 Sound Of Cannons
Sound Of Cannons will enjoy plenty of improvement from a fair first-up effort, and this looks a very winnable race for him.
The Nathaniel gelding raced well around some handy gallopers last time in, and ran on well to finish sixth behind Main Stage when fresh.
Under Hugh Bowman and out to 2300m, this looks ideal.
Bella Group Services Beaumont Handicap (1400m) – 2:00pm AEDT
Tip: No. 1 Nobel
Nobel returned a nice trial in the lead-up to his return at Newcastle this week, and I think that this looks an ideal launchpad for him.
The Exceed And Excel colt stamped himself as one to watch when racing home well for third in the Inglis Banner on debut, and he went to the paddock after finishing seventh in the Golden Gift.
This is the easiest task that he has been set so far, and he can break his maiden.
Kam-Cool Refrigeration 3YO & Up Maiden Handicap (1400m) – 2:35pm AEDT
Tip: No. 2 Naval Seal
I don’t usually go in for a debutant, but the breeding on Naval Seal is too good to ignore, as was his recent trial at Rosehill.
By Snitzel and out of First Seal, Naval Seal looks to have a bright future, and we can have something small on this week.
Novocastrian Electrical Maiden Plate (1200m) – 3:10pm AEDT
Tip: No. 12 Headliner
Headliner hasn’t been seen at the races since November, but she looks ideally placed to break her maiden at Newcastle on Friday.
The Waller camp clearly have an opinion of her, and Headliner did contest some good races in spring despite having not recorded an elusive win; performing well around some talented gallopers.
She’s had the benefit of a couple of recent trials and looks ready to strike fresh.
Kloster Motor Group Posthaste BM78 Handicap (900m) – 3:50pm AEDT
Tip: No. 5 Athelric
Fleet Air Arm puts an unbeaten record on the line, but I am a big fan of Athelric, and I think that he can win Race 5 at Newcastle on Friday.
Athelric has been a consistent performer for Godolphin throughout his career, and he raced home well to fill the minors in the Listed McKenzie Stakes last time in.
Given that he has typically been kept for black type races and this is a reasonably softer option, I’m keen to be with him, and we can have an each-way play at around the $8 mark.
New Zealand Bloodstock Maiden Plate (1600m) – 4:30pm AEDT
Tip: No. 13 Taizai
I was pretty keen on Taizai in a race at Canterbury on Wednesday, but with that program abandoned, I now think that she can win at Newcastle.
Taizai has had three starts back this time, placing on every occasion, including an eye-catching effort at Randwick-Kensington last time out.
Her maiden win isn’t very far away at all, and I think that this race sets up perfectly for her.
Group 3 Newcastle Newmarket Handicap (1400m) – 5:10pm AEDT
Tip: No. 3 Riodini
This is a decent edition of the Newcastle Newmarket and there is a case to be made for several gallopers, including Riodini.
Riodini didn’t show much in his first start back in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes, but he was nothing short of outstanding throughout his 2021 campaign, and he was unlucky not to win in Group 1 company.
His second-up record is excellent, he typically finds his best on a soft track and he can make every post a winner.
Charlestown Square F&M BM64 Handicap (1200m) – 5:50pm AEDT
Tip: No. 1 Hellenism
The final race on Newcastle Newmarket Day is wide-open and in my opinion, a horse like Hellenism is enormous overs at her current quote ($23 at publish).
She has been the stable star for Coffs Harbour-based horseman Aiden St Vincent since debuting, and she has recorded a couple of nice wins in town most notably.
She clearly needed her first-up run when seventh in the Grafton Country Championships Qualifier first-up last month, but I am confident that she’ll enjoy big improvement for that effort.