Rockhampton Newmarket Day offers a strong card at Callaghan Park, with competitive fields and plenty of betting angles across the program. The feature sprint should generate plenty of interest, while the support races also look to offer value for punters. We’ve assessed the form, speed maps and likely race setups to find our Rockhampton Newmarket Day Best Bets, focusing on runners who look well placed to peak on the day.
Sunshine Coast trainer Garnett Taylor has long had an amazing winning record when bringing horses to Rockhampton and this past season was no different with 10 wins from 23 runners at 43%.
JUNGLE WONDER (2) will represent the stable on Newmarket Day and the Jungle Cat gelding looks well placed to debut with a victory.
He’s finished runner-up in three trials across two preparations with his most recent piece of work seeing him lead over 1200m before until late in the trial.
Leah Martyn, who claims 2kg, can give him a give a great run on speed.
| 2. Jungle Wonder (4) J: Leah Martyn 59.5kg T: Garnett Taylor | |||
| Three-year-old gelding having first start by first season sire Jungle Cat out of Dam Wonderful. Half-brother to two-start maiden He’s A Fighter. Dam was a winner of six races. Was second in a 1200m trial on June 23 at Sunshine Coast. Capable of a solid debut performance. | |||
EVAREADYMISS (8) returns to the races following a 27-week spell looking to keep her unbeaten record intact.
The Alisha Taylor-trained filly showed plenty of fight on debut where she led all the way over 1050m here to win by a neck.
It was a similar scenario at Townsville in her second start when challenged all the way but was able to pull out the big guns to win by a head.
With the benefit of a good break, she’ll be more furnished and although she hasn’t been seen publicly at the trials, she’ll be ready to fire fresh.
| 8. Evareadymiss (7) J: Tahlia Fenlon 54kg 11xT: Alisha Taylor | |||
| Unbeaten two for two. Resuming after a six-and-a-half month break. Not seen since winning by a head Townsville 3yo Hcp December 28 over 1000m slow track defeating Old Gold carrying 54kg at $2.35. On debut favourite; won by neck this track 3yo Mdn December 9 over 1050m slow track defeating Lady Willpower with 58kg at $5.50. Big chance again. | |||
BLACK EYED BLONDE (7) has been racing in consistent form this preparation in South-East Queensland and looks well placed here.
The Kristy Clark-Peoples-trained mare showed plenty of fight first-up to win narrowly at Toowoomba before finding the line well for a 1.58 length third at the Sunshine Coast.
She led last start over a mile at Doomben and gave a good sight, only tiring in the final furlong to finish 1.26 lengths second.
The drop back to 1400m suits with senior rider Ash Butler going on.
| 7. Black Eyed Blonde (5) J: Ashley Butler 56.5kg 1×132T: Kristie Clark-Peoples | |||
| At the latest run rolled along in front before being edged out 2nd of 9 at Doomben Bm65 on June 24 over 1660m, on a slow track; 1.3 len behind Golden Eyes with 54.5kg at $5.50. Before that 3rd of 14 at Sunshine Coast Bm65 on June 7 over 1400m, slow going 1.5 len behind Out Of Turn carrying 56.5kg at $11. Top chance in this line up. | |||
DEMON AWARD (3) returns to the races for the first time since winning The Fitzroy over this course and distance.
The Les Gordy-trained gelding looked to be held up behind the leader that day but once clear he let down powerfully to salute.
He races well fresh having only been out of the top three once in seven first-up races and looks in good fettle to continue that record following two excellent pieces of work at the trials.
Brandon Lerena should settle in a prominent position.
| 3. Demon Award (5) J: Brandon Lerena 56kg x211xT: Leslie Gordy | |||
| Resuming. Finished off last campaign by nose this track Fitzroy Qlty May 5 over 1300m defeating Letmeletgo carrying 55.5kg at $12. When resuming last campaign second of 9 at Townsville Hcp March 15 over 1000m, on rain affected going; 0.5 len behind Roweiner’s Dance carrying 59kg at $11. Can run a race while fresh. | |||