Three-year-olds were on full display at Newcastle on Wednesday afternoon.
First up was a milestone for Wyong trainer Damien Lane who presented his first city class runner and came away from the Tooheys Handicap (900m) with his first city class winner after Jewels Of Ava saluted.
The short course sprinters set off led by Trial Ground followed by Audible and Oh So Beautiful while apprentice Serg Lisnyy, indentured to Kim Waugh at Wyong, patiently settled Jewels Of Ava at the rear half of the field.
Jewels Of Ava cornered well, but wide on the track, but Lisnyy took his time to balance the filly and then set off down the middle of the track after the leaders.
Trial Ground gave a good sight leading through to the final 100m but then Knockabout challenged. However, it was the patient Lisnyy and Jewels Of Ava with her light weight who arrived in the final stride to take the win.
Knockabout was second with Trade Fair third.
This was the fourth race start for Jewels Of Ava, by Beautiful Crown out of the Honour And Glory mare Tarnyia.
Second up brought a great result for the charity Four Tracks For Kids which is supported by the industry, notably with a walk by industry personalities and supporters from Warwick Farm to Rosehill, Canterbury and finally Randwick to raise funds.
The Grimish family, prominent owners and breeders, have their Dane Shadow filly Fourtracks Forkids with Randwick trainer Craig Carmody and they donate any stakes from the filly to the charity.
Fourtracks Forkids under Nathan Berry won the Yellowglen Handicap (1200m) for no metro winning fillies after a solid run down the middle of the track. The result meant that not only would For Tracks For Kids receive funds from the first stake money of $19,880, but Berry also tipped in his winning percentage of the stake.
Berry settled Fourtracks Forkids at the rear of the field before going wide and making a good run the length of the straight with clear running room the entire distance.
Dream Empress led into the main straight followed by Al Nova. Dream Empress gave a stern challenge to the rest and it was only Fourtracks For Kids and brother Nathan who were able to overcome them.
The race might well provide good future form with Canasta Queen under Hugh Bowman encountering traffic problems as well as the good runs of the placegetters.
“There was nice speed in the race and we had a plan to just let her find her feet, relax and have once crack at them and it all worked out well,” said Carmody.
“She has been a work in progress for a while. She has had her temperament issues early and it has taken a lot of tender loving care and strapper Rachel Hunt has been tremendous in her patience with the horse. It has been really good."
Fourtracks Forkids is out of the Second Empire mare Empire Dancer and this was her maiden win from three starts.
Thirdly, Nathan Berry was unable to pull off another win in the Chevals Restaurant Maiden Plate (1600m) after a fast finishing third on War Horse, but this race like the previous, might well prove to produce future form to follow.
The race was won by the Grahame Begg trained Wine ‘N’ Dine under Hugh Bowman who came with an inside run to overtake Ellas.
All three placegetters looked the part and Bowman confirmed his opinion of Wine ‘N’ Dine.
“He was strong through the line and you will hear more of him,” he said.
“This is a horse with a stout pedigree and it has taken time for him to find his feet,” said Begg.
“I think this horse can go on from here,” he added.
Bowman rode a double at the meeting after taking Senta D’Amor to a solid win in the Merran Wiggins Travelmanagers Benchmark 70 Handicap (1400m).
