Australian Racing: Haiku Star to shine at Newcastle

There are just two meetings scheduled to take place on Monday, with Newcastle and Coffs Harbour the venues for racing action.

Race 4 Newcastle

Haiku Star @ 8.00

Race 4 Coffs Harbour

Enterprise Private @ 4.60

Race 7 Coffs Harbour

King Larry @ 2.60

Haiku Star to be poetry in motion

The fourth race at Newcastle is an 1150m Benchmark 66 handicap expected to take place on a good 4 track.

Insightful Award broke through for her first win this prep when racing at Scone earlier this month and she is expected to jump as favourite here.

The five-year-old came home six lengths clear of her eight rivals when contesting an 1100m Benchmark 58 handicap that day and she steps up in grade for this event.

While that success came on a soft 5 surface, Scott singleton’s mare is equally at home on good going, having won on a good 4 at Armidale in October 2023.

Fellow last time out winner HAIKU STAR is the pick here, though, having delivered a second up victory for trainer Melissa Dennett at Tamworth just over two weeks ago.

The son of Stratum Star won by just under half-a-length when contesting a 1000m Benchmark 58 handicap held on a good 3 surface on that occasion.

While the 8.00 gelding could finish only sixth in a seven-runner event at Mudgee when resuming prior to that, he was beaten just over one-and-a-half-lengths in a Benchmark 66 handicap that day.

Aaron Bullock’s mount looks ready for a return to this level and, with the extra distance no issue, he is taken to complete a double on his first start at this venue.

Enterprise to be shown at Coffs Harbour

A soft 6 track is expected at Coffs Harbour with the fourth race on the card a 2005m Class 1 set weights event.

Smokin’ De Quo is expected to feature prominently in the betting for trainer Stephen Lee.

The mare steps up in distance here, having been freshened prior to finishing just four lengths back in fifth when contesting a 1700m Class 1 set weights event at Grafton eight days ago.

While the five-year-old disappointed over 1900m at Ballina in January she has performed with credit over 1800m in the past including when second at Gold Coast in October.

Jett Newman takes three kilograms off her back here, however, ENTERPRISE PRIVATE is preferred in this race.

Trained by Kris Lees, the gelding impressed when breaking his maiden by over four lengths in a 2200m event at Gold Coast in early October.

The 4.60 pick raced on a soft 5 track that day and was spelled following a fifth of seven in a 2110m Class 1 event at Lismore later that month.

The son of The Mission failed to make much impact in two barrier trials ahead of his return to action when jumping at $20 for an 1812m Port Macquarie Benchmark 58 handicap earlier this month.

The four-year-old is expected to have improved for that effort and returning to soft going and stepping up in distance he looks up to doubling his career tally.

King Larry to rule in Coffs Harbour finale

Wayne Wilkes saddles KING LARRY in the finale at Coffs Harbour, with the gelding looking capable of recording a win in the 1205m Class 3 handicap.

The four-year-old has finished in the top four in all three starts this prep, including when a good third over 1000m on a soft 5 surface at Walcha on his penultimate start.

The 2.60 pick finished one place better when narrowly beaten in a Taree Benchmark 66 handicap held over 1000m on a good 4 track last month.

The son of Sebring Sun has won on a wet track in the past, including when breaking his maiden on a heavy 9 surface at Taree in June last year and he boasts a good barrier here.

Andrew Gibbons’ mount remains open to improvement with the gelding looking capable of recording his first win of the season.