Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees is banking on a home town victory in the 2019 Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup over 2300m at Newcastle on Friday. Lees will saddle up six of the sixteen final acceptors in the main field and he also has the first of the two emergencies in Attention Run.

Four of the Lees trained stayers will be first up with the two times Melbourne Cup runner Red Cardinal to carry the top weight and lead the capacity field out onto the track while Saunter Boy and Mongolian Wolf give the stable two good light weight chances.  

Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller will saddle up three runners, Exoteric, Mawaany Machine and Vaucluse Bay while Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have Azuro facing the starter for the first time since winning the 3200m Queensland Cup  during the 2019 Brisbane Winter Carnival.

We have analysed all eighteen horses and our complete 2019 Newcastle Gold Cup tips can be found below.

Red Cardinal

Red Cardinal showed during the 2019 Sydney Autumn Carnival that he still has plenty to offer with two wins at Randwick, including a first up win over 1900m in the Listed Parramatta Cup followed by a win in the Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m). Comes under consideration with Nash Rawiller to ride.

Our Century

Our Century was well beaten first up when fourteenth in the Listed Wyong Cup (2100m) and while he will strip fitter, has a lot of improvement to make up.

Big Duke

Big Duke hasn’t found the winner’s stall for almost two years but was placed twice at Eagle Farm during the 2019 Brisbane Winter Carnival with a third in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) followed by a second in the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup (2300m). Has won first up in the past and was second in a recent 1200m Gosford barrier trial.

Sweet Thomas

German import Sweet Thomas has had one run on Australian soil for a sixth in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (1900m) at Rosehill on August 31 but will find this no easier.

Destiny’s Kiss

Destiny’s Kiss does tend to mix his form but it is hard to recommend the eleven year old on his latest thirteenth in the Listed Wyong Cup (2100m).

Sir Charles Road

Sir Charles Road will find this easier than his latest last of fourteen in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick a fortnight ago but still hard to consider him as a top chance in the Newcastle Gold Cup.

Azuro

Azuro found winning form over 3200m on two occasions during the Winter with a win in the Stayers Cup at Rosehill followed by a win in the Queensland Cup at Eagle Farm. Has failed to win first up in the past and might find the 2300m a bit short of his liking.

Hush Writer

French import Hush Writer is fitter for two runs back from a spell and has strong claims if he can repeat his last start second in the Listed Wyong Cup (2100m) on September 6. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Hush Writer is certain to go forward from a middle of the road barrier and will give his followers a great sight for a long way. One of the main chances.

Exoteric

Exoteric was always well back in the pack last start when eighth in the Listed Wyong Cup (2100m) and will find this no easier. The Chris Waller trained seven year old was third at his previous start in a 2200m Doomben Handicap.

Master Of Arts

Master Of Arts was always near the tail of the field when ninth first up in the Listed Wyong Cup (2100m) on September 6 and no easier in the Newcastle Gold Cup . Only has one placing from six second up runs.

Mawaany Machine

Mawaany Machine failed to beat a runner home when 10th in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (1900m) on August 31 and this assignment is no easier.

Saunter Boy

European import Saunter Boy is yet to taste success on Australian Soil from four race starts during the Winter months but the Kris Lees trained stayer could be a light weight chance in the Newcastle Gold Cup. Saunter Boy is on the 54kg minimum and is going to get a sweet run from gate four in the capacity sixteen horse field. Race day betting will be the best guide.

Vaucluse Bay

The Chris Waller trained Vaucluse Bay could be the one to put a dampener on a home town victory in the Newcastle Gold Cup. Vaucluse Bay has been placed three times from his last four starts, including a last start third to his stablemate Wu Gok in the Listed 2100m Wyong Cup on September 6. One of the main chances.

Mongolian Wolf

Mongolian Wolf hasn’t been far off the mark at his two most recent runs with a second in the 2000m Taree Cup followed by a fourth in the Listed 2100m Wyong Cup. Has each way claims.    

Doukhan

Doukhan’s best form has been over the longer journeys and Kris Lees trained eleven year old might find the 2300m of the Newcastle Gold Cup a little bit short for his liking.

Our Candidate

Our Candidate has been working his way up through the grades with wins at his last two starts in a 2400m BenchMark 78 Handicap at Rosehill followed by a win in the same class and distance at Randwick. The Kris Lees trained English import will appreciate the significant drop in weight as he steps up to open company for the first time. Winning form is good form and Our Candidate will strip as one of the main chances in the Newcastle Gold Cup.

Attention Run

First emergency Attention Run is another lightly weighted Kris Lees trained imported stayer who is stepping up to open class following a third to stablemate Our Candidate in a BenchMark 78 Handicap at Randwick. Has the blinkers on for the first time and the race day betting will be the best guide if he finds a way into the field.

The Good Fight

Kiwi stayer The Good Fight heads to the Newcastle Gold Cup following a second at his only Australian start in a 2000m BenchMark 78 Handicap at Rosehill. The second emergency has a nice drop in the weights and worth keeping an eye on the betting if he gains a start in the final field.