Cross Talk All the Way in Newcastle Stakes

Mark Smith - Friday March 3

Short-priced favourite Cross Talk led at a solid clip in Friday’s $200,000 Group III Horsepower Newcastle Stakes (1400m) at Broadmeadow Racecourse and was not for catching.

Ridden by Tim Clark for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Cross Talk put a four lengths gap on the chasing pack rounding the home turn.

Advertisement

The 5yo son of Keano was on tired legs in the closing stages but had enough in reserve to defeat local hero Gem Song (Your Song) by a half-length, with Cuban Royale (Casino Prince) a short-neck back in third.

The Listed Winter Challenge Stakes winner at Rosehill last July, Cross Talk was spelled after finishing unplaced in the Group 1 Epsom Hcp at Randwick in October. He prepped for the Newcastle Stakes with a first-up second over 1400m at Rosehill on February 23.

Cross Talk (image Steve Hart)

With his second stakes success, Cross Talk advances his record to six wins, two seconds, and three thirds from 12 starts with earnings of $420,420.

Stable representative Neil Payne hopes that Cross Talk can make the field for the Doncaster Mile.

“He’s a fit horse, and Tim knows how to ride him,” Payne said.

“He let him stride, and he was just too fit for them.

“I think that’s Gai’s fifth win in the race.

“Gai and Adrian have the Donacster in mind for him. He will get in that with no weight. You never know in Sydney at Easter with the rain. He likes a bit of give in the track, so let's hope he gets there and will be hard to beat.

Cross Talk was bred by New Zealander Kerry Caldwell, who originally shared ownership when the gelding began his racing career for Debbie Harris.

Following a four-length romp at Taranaki at his career debut, Cross Talk was privately purchased in a deal brokered by Phill Cataldo.   

The only stakes-winner for the stakes-winning Pins stallion Keano, Cross Talk is the best of two winners from three to race for the unraced Cape Cross (IRE) mare Mrs Cross.

Mrs Cross died last year, and Cross Talk is her final foal.

Advertisment

Race Result - Horsepower Newcastle Stakes Gr3 1400m

Newcastle Track: Good(4) Time: 1:22.72
1
Cross Talk
- 5g Keano (NZ) x Mrs Cross (NZ) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 54.5
2
0.5
Gem Song
- 7g Your Song (AUS) x Beautiful Gem (AUS) (Peintre Celebre (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 59
3
0.7
Cuban Royale
- 8g Casino Prince (AUS) x Cuban Girl (AUS) (Hemingway (IRE))
Tnr: R & L Price Rdr: Brock Ryan 54
Casino Prince
4
1.7
Pandano
- 6g Dundeel (NZ) x Milanesa (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: P M Perry Rdr: Reece Jones 54
5
2.4
Character
- 4g Teofilo (IRE) x Monogram (AUS) (Medaglia D'Oro (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Rachel King 54
6
3.7
Pizarro
- 4g All Too Hard (AUS) x Orvieto (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: C Schofield 54
7
5.1
Kiss Sum
- 4g Shamus Award (AUS) x Stolen Kisses (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: T J Bartley Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54
8
6.3
Lackeen
- 6g Shamardal (USA) x Panegyric (GB) (Monsun (GER))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Zac Lloyd 54
9
7.1
Bellatrix Black
- 4m Redwood (GB) x Dark Arts (NZ) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: B Avdulla 54.5
10
7.2
Superium
- 6g Verrazano (USA) x Rosie's Halo (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Tyler Schiller 54
11
7.4
Aramayo
- 7g Poet's Voice (GB) x Peruvian (GB) (Diktat (GB))
Tnr: Sam Kavanagh Rdr: Ashley Morgan 55.5
12
9.2
Looks Like Elvis
- 8g All American (AUS) x Savalook (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: J M Austin Rdr: J Penza 54.5
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 1
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First Win for Storm Boy Half-Brother by Pierro
Progressive Pierro colt Shangri La Boy is a very different horse to his older half-brother Storm Boy and while that Group winning colt is covering his first book of mares at Coolmore this spring, this fellow is on his way with an impressive maiden win at Rosehill on Wednesday.
King’s Legacy Filly Salutes for Yulong
The first stakes-winner for her sire King’s Legacy when winning the Group III SAJC David Coles AM Stakes (1200m) last season, Steel Trap was subsequently purchased by Yulong privately and she posted her first win in their colours at Sandown on Wednesday.
Godolphin’s Lonhro Filly Proficient On Debut
From the penultimate crop of Darley’s Champion Sire Lonhro, the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained 3yo filly Proficient started the race favourite, winning the Sportsbet Race Previews Plate (1000m) at Sandown Hillside in a fighting finish. 
Kiwi horse the talk of the town
A Kiwi horse with humble breeding is starting to make waves in Australia.
Hellbent Winner Impresses at Sha Tin
Astute trainer Mark Newnham paid $425,000 at the 2023 NZB Ready to Run Sale to secure a promising two year-old by Hellbent and Invincible Ibis delivered on that promise when scoring a last to first win at Sha Tin on Wednesday.
420k NZ Ready to Run Purchase Looks the Goods
Progressive three-year-old Sulek notched his first victory when landing the MRC Foundation Pin & Win Plate (1400m) at Sandown on Wednesday for trainer Dominic Sutton.
Kiwi Up and Comer Rises to Winter Challenge
A seven-day delay to the Listed ATC Foundation Winter Challenge (1500m) paved the way for talented New Zealand-bred Cross Talk to make a highly impressive black-type debut at Rosehill on Saturday.
Talented So You Think Mare Goes Two for Two
So You Think is setting the pace for winners this season as we head into October and one of those promising winners is talented four year-old mare Enamorada, who made it two wins in as many starts when saluting at Sandown on Wednesday as favourite.
New SW Wrote - Fast Network Wins G3 National Day Cup
Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network, a New Zealand bred son of Wrote, blitzed a strong field under Alexis Badel.