Ones to Watch – Newcastle

Tara Madgwick - Sunday May 15

A strong provincial meeting at Newcastle on Saturday produced a couple of debut winners that caught the eye for varying reasons one being the 2YO half-brother to triple Group I winner and $4million earner Le Romain and the other a blue-blooded 3YO import by champion sire Pivotal, both will be going in my Breednet Black Book!

Michael Freedman puts the polish on Astern colt Backrower, who has shown good potential in two recent trials and found the line with enthusiasm to win the 1200m maiden by half a length running away.

A $200,000 Inglis Easter purchase for his trainer from the Edinglassie Stud draft, Backrower was the highest priced colt by Astern sold in 2021.

Backrower was an impressive looking yearling.

He is the fourth winner from Mignard, a winning Strategic mare whose yearling filly by Justify (USA) was offered at Inglis Easter this year by Longwood Thoroughbred Farm and sold for $300,000 to Bahen Bloodstock / Lees Racing.

Astute trainer Matthew Smith looks to have a very interesting horse on his hands in Miracle Spin (GB), a 3YO gelding by Pivotal that was bought from the 2020 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book Two for 100,000 guineas by Kern/Lillingston Association / John Foote Bloodstock.
 

A barrier trial winner last month at Warwick Farm, he was backed from $12 to $8 in the 1400m maiden and vindicated the faith shown by that support in producing an eye catching win.

Allowed to settle back from a wide draw, he powered to the line to win by nearly three lengths.

Miracle Spin is a full brother to Irish Group III winner and Group I Irish Derby fourth place-getter Earlswood, who is now in Australia and won the Group III MRC Carlyon Cup at his only run her last spring for Maddie Raymond.

He is the fourth winner from Group II placed Galileo mare Field of Miracles, a sibling to Group II winner Solid Stone and stakes-winner Cameron Highland.



Pivotal and Galileo have  quite an affinity with each other and combine in the pedigrees of 39 stakes-winners, 12 of them Group I winners including champions St Mark’s Basilica, Sottsass, Magical, Love, Cracksman and Aussie dual Group I winner Hungry Heart.




 

Advertisment

Race Result - Newcastle Skin Check Mdn Hcp 1200m

Newcastle Track: Heavy(8) Time: 1:14.14
1
Backrower
- 2c Astern (AUS) x Mignard (AUS) (Strategic (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: R Hutchings 57
2
0.5
Huon
- 3g Kermadec (NZ) x Cataclysm (AUS) (Marauding (NZ))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J Innes Jnr 59.5
3
1.8
Dirty Merchant
- 2c Merchant Navy (AUS) x Onemorezeta (AUS) (Onemorenomore (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: S Guymer 56.5
4
3.2
Metallicity
- 2c Zoustar (AUS) x Captivating Claire (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Mitchell Bell 59.5
5
3.9
Dishin 'n' Dancin
- 3g Spill The Beans (AUS) x Ballet Shoes (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: J M Austin Rdr: Ms J Taylor 59
6
5.1
Feirme Prince
- 3g Shalaa (IRE) x Street Queen (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: M J Dunn Rdr: Jean Van Overmeire 59
7
5.4
Airraid
- 3g Manhattan Rain (AUS) x Skyrockets (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: A Adkins 60
8
16.7
Sulmaher
- 3g Al Maher (AUS) x Casula Gal (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: L Magorrian 59
9
17.3
Al Ash Lad
- 3g Al Maher (AUS) x Ashamika (FR) (Linamix (FR))
Tnr: M J Dunn Rdr: Ms W Costin 59
More Reading...
Tarzino Mare Chasing G1
Tomodachi’s connections are banking on a target closer to home to bring out the best in the gifted mare on Saturday.
Inglis Millennium - Bubbles Go Up and Bubbles Come Down
Following two year old racing is a bit like watching little kids blowing bubbles at a birthday party!  A perfectly formed sphere appears, and oooh look! it's going higher than the others (squeals of excitement) and then oh -  it hit the clothesline.
St Mark’s Basilica Colt Wins MM Tasmania 2YO Classic by Eight!
Tasmanian 2YO sensation Aristopolos ran as a short priced favourite in the $85,000 Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) in Hobart on Friday and the son of 2021 European Horse of the Year St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) kept his unbeaten record intact with scintillating victory.
Nigella Lane Wins Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders
Cambridge mare Nigella Lane was runner-up in last year’s Listed Clubs NZ Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) and she was able to go one better in this year’s edition at Tauherenikau on Waitangi Day.
Juvenile Trial Watch - Canterbury
Four heats at Canterbury on Friday were won by juveniles and three were unraced youngsters including a $1million Snitzel colt, while G3 Gimcrack Stakes winner Shiki was also sent around following her midfield finish in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic last month.
Almanzor Sprinter on Track for More Riches
Local trainer David Greene can’t wait to head to Te Rapa on Saturday where he will be chasing $1.125 million in prizemoney with a trio of runners.
Sires With Winners - Friday February 6
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
People at Classic - Feeling The Vibe
Given the numbers of people and the numbers of inspections it’s fair to say there’s a very good vibe about the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and Maree McEwan was out and about talking to more of the players on Friday.
Big Sky Three-Quarter Sister Highlights MM Online Sale
A three-quarter sister to the unbeaten juvenile Big Sky, one of the serious players for this month's $2 million Group One Blue Diamond Stakes, headlines the Magic Millions Digital Sale (6-11 February), which is now open for bidding.
Breeding to Win - 2026 Inglis Millennium
The $2million Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Randwick this Saturday is for 2YO's that have come via the Inglis Sales and naturally the big stables have deployed some of their best juvenile firepower in pursuit of this big pot of cash.