Australian Racing: Redstone looks Well for Gold Cup bid

There are five meetings set to take place on Friday, with the showpiece the card at Newcastle, where three Group 3 contests are scheduled.

They also race at Ballarat, Canberra, Eagle Farm and Ewan.

Race 5 Newcastle

Overriding @ 6.50

Race 6 Newcastle

Redstone Well @ 4.00

Race 7 Newcastle

Here To Shock @ 5.00

Overriding well placed for Tibbie glory

The first of the previously mentioned Group 3 races is the 1400m Tibbie Stakes for fillies & mares.

A good 4 track is expected with Terra Master expected to jump as favourite for the Jarrod Austin stable.

The five-year-old won in Class 5 company when contesting a set weights event over this track and trip in April.

The mare was spelled following a down the field effort in the Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championships Final over this distance at Randwick ten days later.

The daughter of Wandjina resumed with a half-length second when contesting a Benchmark 88 handicap held on a soft 5 track at Rosehill just over a month ago.

The step up to Listed company proved no issue, with the mare justifying odds-on favouritism in saluting by a narrow margin in the Mona Lisa Stakes at Wyong at the start of this month.

While Nash Rawiller’s mount rates highly here, OVERRIDING is preferred on this occasion.

The mare demonstrated a liking for this venue when racing close to the speed prior to saluting by over two lengths in the Muswellbrook Gold Cup here in April.

While unable to win on two subsequent starts that prep, the selection did deliver a good fourth when racing from off the pace over this distance in the Group 3 Jewel Classic at Scone.

The 6.50 pick was spelled following that effort and prepped for her return to action with a barrier trial triumph at the same venue last month.

Nathan Doyle’s mare caught the eye when breaking poorly and racing from off the pace prior to being beaten just over one-and-a-half-lengths at Rosehill when racing first up.

The selection raced over 1200m in a Benchmark 88 handicap that day and stepping up in distance and, with an inside alley, she looks capable of returning to winning ways.

Redstone Well to claim Newcastle Gold Cup

The second of the Newcastle Group 3 races is the 2300m Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup.

Peter Snowden’s representative delivered a victory in a 2000m Benchmark 78 handicap held on a soft 5 track at Mornington.

The gelding has performed well in stronger events since finishing runner-up in three consecutive starts, including twice in Listed company.

The six-year-old arrives here on the back of a runner-up finish in the Premier’s Cup over 2000m at Randwick last month.

Regan Bayliss, on board for each of his last three starts, is again set to ride, however, he meets impressive Randwick scorer REDSTONE WELL, who is the pick here.

Trained by Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald, the gelding came home four lengths clear of his rivals when contesting the Listed Sydney City Lexus CTC Cup over 2400m earlier this month.

Connections reverted to front-running tactics that day, with three of his rivals here Think ‘n’ Fly, Strathtay, Sir Lucan and Canberra Legend all behind him.

The 4.00 selection had raced over shorter distances in two of his three previous starts this prep, including when third over 1800m at Randwick last month.

Tom Sherry retains the ride and, jumping from barrier seven, his mount is taken to register his first Group race success.

Cameron contender is Here To Shock

The concluding Group 3 contest is the Australian Bloodstock Cameron Handicap over 1500m.

HERE TO SHOCK is set to carry top weight here and is the selection in this contest.

Both of his previous victories this year have come at this Group 3 level, including by a narrow margin in the 1350m BRC Sprint at Doomben in May.

The seven-year-old raced wide and from the front prior to fading when finishing last in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap over this distance at Eagle Farm subsequently.

The 5.00 pick was freshened following that effort and he again raced wide prior to going down by a narrow margin when second in a 1400m Benchmark 100 contest at Caulfield last month.

Trained by Ben, JD & Will Hayes, the selection is a versatile type with regards to going and with in-form hoop Nash Rawiller on board he looks capable of scoring here.