It's Saturday class racing on Friday at Newcastle on a day when four Group III's will be decided with the Kris Lees stable prominent in each of them.
Lees has trained 14 Group I winners in his career but the Newcastle Cup has eluded him to this point but that could change with a three-pronged attack in the feature race on Friday.
XXXX GOLD NEWCASTLE GOLD CUP (2300M)
With 33 per cent of the runners in the Cup, the Lees stable has weight of numbers on their side but a victory is by no means assured.
The Speed
Broadside is almost certain to take up the running with Sayed and Pacodali getting the gun runs behind the speed and those near the speed are likely to be advantaged.
The Betting
The imported Pacodali from the Darren Weir yard has won four of his six Australian starts and is the early favourite ahead of the consistent Sayed from the Chris Waller stable. Destiny's Kiss is on the third line of betting and is right in play.
The Bets
Destiny's Kiss won the Wyong Cup carrying 59kg and at $8 in early betting available with the same weight is clearly the value in the race.
The Exotics
Quinellas are my preferred mode of exotics betting and this is where most of my punting action will be on Friday.
Happy to have (1) Destiny's Kiss as the banker in the quinellas adding (2) Pacodali, (3) Sayed with the Kris Lees pair (7) Admiral Jello and (8) Wahng Wah the best roughies.
NBN NEWS NJC 3YO SPRING STAKES (1600M)
The Spring Stakes for the three-years-old can unearth a future star with the likes of Derby Winners Universal Prince and Clangalang on the honour roll and Champions such as Mahogony finishing in the placings before going on to bigger and better things.
The Speed
Expecting a genuine tempo with Runaway taking up the running ahead of Hypnotist and the pace should be good enough to give every runner their chance.
The Betting
The promising Merovee from the Chris Waller stable is a deserved favourite after a closing second behind Super Ex at Randwick last start but looks under the odds at $2.25 going to 1600m for the first time, $3.50 would be a backable quote for mine.
The Bets
Happy to have something on a $14 chance in the Kris Lees-trained Whispered Secret who won the Fernhill Handicap over the mile in the Autumn and finished third in the Champagne Stakes – expecting a sharp improvement second-up stepping up in distance.
The Exotics
Certainly including (8) Whispered Secret and (4) Merovee along with (1) Astoria and (6) Primitivo.
AUSTRALIAN BLOODSTOCK CAMERON HANDICAP (1500M)
Plenty of interest here with Special Missile on a winning roll.
The Speed
Special Missile and Kingsguard settle one two in the run and the on pacers look advantaged.
The Betting
Special Missile chasing six straight wins is the top pick at $3.60 ahead of Spectroscope $3.90 and Sound Proposition from the Kris Lees stable next at $4.80.
The Bets
$3.60 is a backable price for the John P Thompson-trained Special Missile who went spend a penny in the run launching from the inside gate but at $8 will definitely be having a saver on the Hawkes-trained Kingsguard – the other on pacer in the race.
The Exotics
Not much value here and happy to concentrate on the win betting.
YARRAMIN PARK TIBBIE STAKES (1400M)
A wide-open race after the scratching of early favourite Invincible Gem.
The Speed
Anticipating a quicker than average tempo with the likes of Girl Sunday, Lubiton and Sort After aggressive early with a high probability of one of the favoured runners, Imposing Lass forced to race wide without cover.
The Betting
Lubiton and Imposing Lass the top two in betting.
The Bets
Lubiton looks under the odds in a high-pressure race and where Imposing Lass finds herself in the run a genuine query so happy to bet around the favourites.
Plenty of value in the likes of Zanbagh ($23) whose ratings third-up have a distinct upward spike, Sort After ($12) who generally improves second-up and her return in the Mona Lisa at Wyong resuming was solid enough finishing on the placegetters heels, Zestful ($21) who had a chequered path in the straight resuming at Rosehill and has trialled in the interim and stablemate Skylight Glow whose close sectionals were some of the best resuming at Rosehill despite finishing a long way from the winner.
The Exotics
Will be concentrating on the win bets but happy to box up the four value bets in quinellas adding the favourite Lubiton.
