Next NSW Race

Latest News

Mayfield-Smith Finally Cracks It At Nowra

Noel Mayfield-Smith wasn’t being greedy.

Considering he went to Sunday’s meeting at Nowra still looking for an overdue breakthrough this season, the multiple Group 1-winning trainer wasn’t complaining that he narrowly missed out on a double dose of success.

Mayfield-Smith won the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1400m) with Polhampton ($9) after stablemate Hamish The Swift ($8.50) was just edged out by Revellers ($10) in the previous race, the Class 1/Maiden Plate (1600m).

“It’s been a pretty ordinary season until today,” Mayfield-Smith, always realistic, said as he and his wife Emma drove home.

Polhampton (Jay Ford) following a Hawkesbury win. Image by Bradley Photographers

“A double would have been nice for sure, but I’m happy to take the one win. I was beginning to wonder if I would win a race at all this season.

“I’ve got 11 horses in work, and the ones that are racing are nice horses and try hard. But there’s no stars.”

Emma Mayfield-Smith added: “Normally, I would be screaming out when we win a race.

“But it’s been such a quiet time that I just sat there when Polhampton won. It was such a relief.”

Mayfield-Smith’s previous winner was On Angels Wings on his home track on June 25 last year on the occasion of his 62nd birthday.

Ten of the trainer’s last 11 runners have not finished further back than sixth, so consistency, if not winning, hasn’t been a problem.

Mayfield-Smith put blinkers on Polhampton (apprentice Brock Ryan)  and she finished gamely to defeat Miss Twilight ($3.70) and well-backed $3.60 favourite Quick Finance.

The Equiano four-year-old, who was bred by her owners, was also feeling the “heat” like her trainer. “It was very humid at Nowra, and it affected Polhampton,” Mayfield-Smith explained.

“She took a while to recover after the race, and picked up once we got her into the air-conditioned swabbing box.”

It was Polhampton’s second victory at her 18th start, and she has also been placed on four occasions.

While the days of winning Group 1 races with the likes of Angst, Landsighting, Famous Seamus and In Top Swing, are but a memory, Mayfield-Smith is looking to two young horses to shed light at the end of the tunnel.

“I’ve got a couple of youngsters by Epaulette and Pride Of Dubai that might be alright,” he said. “You can’t lose hope in this game.”

Mayfield-Smith’s victory with Polhampton following Brad Widdup’s Wyong success with Night Flyer on Saturday has given Hawkesbury trainers 17 winners so far this season; the best monthly achievement in the current season.

The Latest Racing News

Neil Evans' Tips For Dubbo (Monday)

By Neil Evans Track Good 4 and rail true: Race 1 - 1:40PM 2DU & ZOOFM MAIDEN PLATE (1000 METRES) ...
Read More

Kempsey Races (Monday) - Transferred To Tuncurry

Due to the condition of the track, the Kempsey race meeting scheduled for Monday, 7 April 2025 has been transferred to TUNCURRY ...
Read More

Dubbo Trainer's Dreaming Of Dancing At Randwick

By Mark Brassel Dubbo trainer Michael Mulholland would love nothing better than to be represented by his first runner in ...
Read More

John Schell's Tips For Gundagai Cup Day (Sunday)

By John Schell Selections based on a good track Race 1 - 12:05PM HAHN 3.5 MAIDEN PLATE (1400 METRES) 12 ...
Read More

Jockey Quotes - Australian Derby

Find out what the jockeys made of their mounts after the Group 1 $2,000,000 ATC Australian Derby (2400m) at Royal ...
Read More
Loading...
Racing NSW Apps
View
Mobile Version
Contact
Forms
Information
Industry Links