It's Kris Lees and Australian Bloodstock again as Gem Song Wins the Newcastle Newmarket

Mark Smith - Friday March 5

The rejuvenated Your Song gelding Gem Song made it three consecutive wins for trainer Kris Lees and owners Australian Bloodstock with a heart-stopping win in Friday’s $160,000 Group III Newcastle Newmarket.

Narrow win for Gem Song in Newcastle Newmarket (image Steve Hart)

Ridden by Nash Rawiller, Gem Song found the best going out wide in the straight to nail the game favourite Bottega (Snitzel) on the line.

Cascadian (GB) (New Approach) was a length back in third after being forced to make his run down the inside of the track.

Advertisement

Winner of the Group III ATC Eskimo Prince Stakes and Group III BRC Gunsynd Classic in 2019, Gem Song was off the scene for sixty-seven weeks when making a brilliant return to the track when fourth to Masked Crusader in the Group III Southern Cross Stakes at Randwick on February 13.

With his third stakes win, the 5yo son of Your Song advances his record to six wins, two seconds and three thirds from 17 starts with earnings of $634,395.

“It is a good result. He has been off the scene a long time,” Lees said.

“Some good people have a share in the horse, so it’s very rewarding.

Gem Song Nash Rawiller (mage Steve Hart)

“I think he is back to his best. He stepped slow, so he had a bit of work to do.

“I thought he got beat on the line, so I was relieved when the number went up in the frame.

“He (Nash Rawiller) is pretty handy in those last 50 metres.”

Bred and initially raced by Gooree Stud, Gem Song is a half-brother to stakes-winner The Omega Man (Northern Meteor) out of the crack racemare Beautiful Gem.

A daughter of Peintre Celebre (USA), Beautiful Gem won nine races highlighted by the Group II Sunline Stakes at Moonee Valley.

Beautiful Gem is a daughter of the Group III Black Opal Stakes winner and Group 1 Golden Slipper runner-up Just Blooming.

Sold at the 2016 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale with Bowness Stud signing the ticket for $30,000, Beautiful has a troubled last few years at stud and was pensioned in January.

Advertisment

Race Result - Suez Newcastle Newmarket Hcp Gr3 1400m

Newcastle Track: Good(4) Time: 1:23.73
1
Gem Song
- 5g Your Song (AUS) x Beautiful Gem (AUS) (Peintre Celebre (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: N Rawiller 58.5
2
0.1
Bottega
- 4h Snitzel (AUS) x Bennetta (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54
Inglis November (Early) Online Sale $80,000
Seller: Go Bloodstock (as agent)
Buyer: Monarch Racing Syndications
Inglis May (Late) Online Sale $50,000
Seller: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing
Buyer: Glenn Haven Racing
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $850,000
Seller: Corumbene Stud, Dunedoo
Buyer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / Kestrel Thoroughbreds / Go Bloodstock
3
1.1
Cascadian
- 6g New Approach (IRE) x Falls Of Lora (IRE) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J B Mc Donald 59
4
1.9
Maui Girl
- 5m Lope De Vega (IRE) x Run For Naara (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: J C Coyle Rdr: Ms L Day 54
5
2.3
Purple Sector
- 5g Pins (AUS) x Eden Valley (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: J Bowman 57
6
2.9
Texas Storm
- 6g All American (AUS) x Stormy Empress (AUS) (King's Best (USA))
Tnr: R R Milligan Rdr: Ms K O'Hara 54
7
3.1
Asiago
- 4m Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Disputes (AUS) (Manton (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Rachel King 54
8
6.2
Trophies Galore
- 5m Reward For Effort (AUS) x Paradise Mill (USA) (Horse Chestnut (SAF))
Tnr: Andrew Robinson Rdr: J Ford 54
9
7.4
Outrageous
- 5g All Too Hard (AUS) x Fit And Ready (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Tommy Berry 55
More Reading...
Rising Stars - Metro 2YO Double for Wootton Bassett
Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) unleashed not one but two exciting juveniles at Warwick Farm on Wednesday with the opening race going to the colt Regulated Affair and shortly after it was the turn of the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained filly Agarwood.
Japanese Bred Filly Wins At Eagle Farm
Could trainer Kris Lees have the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) on his mind after his three-year-old, northern hemisphere bred filly Eclair Encore (Jpn) recorded a strong victory over 1800m at Eagle Farm.
Queensland Calling for Exciting Wootton Bassett Colt
Champion trainer Chris Waller is renowned for producing talented back season juveniles that blossom into stakes performers and we saw one at Warwick Farm on Wednesday when heavily backed Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Regulated Affair opened his account.
First Win for Sword of State Half-Sister
Well-related filly Paravane broke through for her maiden win in pleasing fashion at Ellerslie on Wednesday when taking out the Join TAB Racing Club 1200 in the hands of senior hoop Vinnie Colgan.
Million Dollar Goal for I Am Invincible Filly
Tony and Calvin McEvoy landed a lucrative victory in the $1million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic in May last year with Arabian Summer and are hopeful they have another filly that can do the job this year in Sisstainable.
Gem Song Makes the Best of His Second Chance in Star Kingdom
Scratched from the race on Saturday, Gem Song was reinstated for the Group III Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) when the meeting was switched to Newcastle and didn’t the son of Your Song appreciate his home track.
Castelvecchio Filly Records Promising Victory
Having placed in her first two starts, the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman trained Street Lark (Castelvecchio) appeared to appreciate the step up to the 1500m of Wednesday’s Sportsbet Get On Extra Plate at Caulfield to break her maiden with a promising performance..
Records Tumble at Huge Australian Weanling Sale
The most successful Inglis Australian Weanling Sale in history concluded at Riverside today with a record individual top price of $775,000 paid for a colt by Too Darn Hot (GB), a record gross and record average.
So You Think Filly Shows Oaks Potential
The Bjorn Baker stable has been on fire this year and it’s full steam ahead to Queensland for talented So You Think filly Dame Commander, who beat older rivals at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
French Derby Contender for Godolphin
The Godolphin winning run continued in France overnight with a French Derby contender emerging in the shape of progressive Lope de Vega colt Cualificar, who is out of Fastnet Rock’s Group I Epsom Oaks winner Qualify.