We get a nice Provincial meeting at Newcastle on Saturday. The meeting will feature some serious types such as Military Expert, Alegron and Testimonial who will be looking to move into spring campaigns from here. The weather is gonna be sunny in the arvo with a slight South-Westerly breeze resulting in a slight headwind on the straight. This may make it difficult to make up ground in the straight.
Newcastle Race 1 – True Marvel
Nice on-pace type. Placed last start at Randwick Carrying 55.5 over the 2400 on a good 4. He ran 7 lengths quicker than benchmark average. Prior to that his only other runs on Dry were at the beginning of this prep where he lacked fitness.
He is racing here at peak fitness here and gets a couple favours with the soft draw, top jockey, and preferred footing. Maps to get a good run without a lot of speed drawn on paper. A repeat of last start with the 2.5 length weight deduction should see him in the finish.
Tip: 2 Units Win True Marvel @$3.2 With TopSport
Newcastle R4 – Retiro
Second up. Progressive type with good tactical speed. First up ran 5th on the Kenso over the 1100m with blinkers first time. Struck interference at the start and lacked fitness late running 1L slower than BM in the last 200m. Debut and only start last prep ran 6th in the G3 breeders plate over 1000m.
Draws a wide alley hear out of the chute but only has a roomy 90 degree turn to deal with. Has put up the figures in the past to win here and expecting added fitness second up. Value play.
Tip: 1 Unit EW Retiro @$8.5/2.5 With TopSport
Newcastle R6 – Tanzimat
Fourth up. Third up went back from a wide gate and ran on well finishing 5th at Gosford over the 1200 on heavy. Second up similar story, began awkwardly at Warwick Farm on Heavy. Ran on well to finish 4th. First up ran 8th on soft at the Kenso.
Has done nothing from 4 starts. However, has drawn a wide alley on 3 occasions forcing her to go back from the jump. She has put in excellent late figures on all those occasions, enough to be in the finish here. She gets a top jockey and barrier 1 here.
