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.