A Hometown Victory in the Newcastle Newmarket

Mark Smith - Friday March 6

For the second year in succession trainer Kris Lees, jockey Brenton Avdulla and Australian Bloodstock have combined to win the Group III Suez Newcastle Newmarket Hcp (1400m) at Newcastle.

Twelve months ago it was the Canford Cliffs mare Princess Posh who took the feature on her home track before placing in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic and Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup.

This year it was the turn of a relatively new recruit in the stunning near black gelding Special Reward who took the shortest route home to defeat his stablemate Delectation Girl (GB) (Delegator) by one and a half lengths with Condor (Fastnet Rock) three-quarter of a length back in third.Special Reward - image Steve Hart

The 4yo son of the Lonhro stallion Demerit was coming off his first stakes win in the Group III Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, which was his third starts for Kris Lees who took over his training from Simon Miller after Australian Bloodstock purchased a significant share off Peter and Kerry Caporn who still share in the ownership.

Lees said the Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick would remain under consideration.

"It was a good win, I think he is a pretty smart horse. They (Australian Bloodstock) paid good money for him and as they do most times they get it pretty right," Lees said.

Brenton Avdulla said he was confident when turning for home.

“He over-travelled a bit, but he felt the winner a long way out,” Avdulla said.

“He took over at the top of the straight and I could not hold him any slower.

“He was a 100 percent fitter than the other day.

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“He’s a very astute buy by the Australia Bloodstock boys and the 1400 metres was no worry for him.”

In earning his second stakes win, Special Reward advances his record to 8 wins and 2 seconds from 14 starts with earnings of $675,555.

He is the third winner from four to race out of the Special Bond mare Special Kiseki and all three are stakes-winners.

Special Reward follows the Group III WATC Sires' Produce Stakes winner Showy Chloe (Alfred Nobel) and Listed winner El Rijes (Eternity Range).

Special Kiseki has a yearling filly by King's Troop and was covered by Sessions last spring.

Purchased by John Chalmers Bloodstock for $145,000 out of the Taunton Vale draft at the 2017 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, Special Reward is the most expensive yearling sold by his sire Demerit.

A Group III winning son of Lonhro, Demerit was euthanised last year after breaking a tibia in a paddock accident.

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Race Result - Suez Newcastle Newmarket Hcp Gr3 1400m

Newcastle Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:23.06
1
Special Reward
- 4g Demerit (AUS) x Special Kiseki (AUS) (Special Bond (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: B Avdulla 57
2
1.5
Delectation Girl
- 6m Delegator (GB) x Chushka (GB) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: C Reith 54.5
3
2.3
Condor
- 5g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Ronan's Bay (USA) (Johannesburg (USA))
Tnr: P M Perry Rdr: R Dolan 54
Fastnet Rock
4
3.9
Dealmaker
- 4g Dundeel (NZ) x Sport Chic (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54
5
4.1
Gaulois
- 5g Street Cry (IRE) x Celts (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J Bowman 59
6
5.3
Royal Tudor
- 7g Snippetson (AUS) x Cute And Cuddly (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: R E Ollerton Rdr: J Penza 54
7
5.4
Desert Lord
- 5g High Chaparral (IRE) x Nova Star (AUS) (Iglesia (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Tommy Berry 54
8
6.6
Our Abbadean
- 7m Lookin At Lucky (USA) x Highland Lights (AUS) (Fantastic Light (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: N Rawiller 57.5
9
7.9
Wolfe
- 5g Novellist (IRE) x Peace Of World (JPN) (Sunday Silence (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Rachel King 57
10
9.5
Purple Sector
- 4h Pins (AUS) x Eden Valley (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: Tim Clark 54
11
11.7
Hand It In
- 6g Tickets (AUS) x Cute And Cuddly (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: R E Ollerton Rdr: Tom Sherry 54
12
12.0
Insensata
- 6m Beneteau (AUS) x Nonsensical (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: J C Coyle Rdr: J Ford 54
13
16.0
Oakfield Twilight
- 5g Zoffany (IRE) x Bally Aura (AUS) (Bellotto (USA))
Tnr: D Lane Rdr: Jean Van Overmeire 54
14
27.7
Seaway
- 5g Ocean Park (NZ) x Miss Purrfection (NZ) (One Cool Cat (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: G Schofield 56.5
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