Latest News

Hawkesbury trainer Mitch Newman is in no hurry with his “dainty filly” Supreme Escape, who notched another win at Orange yesterday. Having only her third start, the Dreamscape three-year-old beat older horses in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m) to clinch the second victory of her three-start career. But that may be it for the time being.

“Supreme Escape is a dainty filly and a dainty eater,” Newman said afterwards. “I’ll probably put her out in the paddock for 6-8 weeks and let her enjoy the summer sunshine. Hopefully, she will come on a bit more during the break.”

Supreme Escape did not race as a two-year-old and made her debut when third to Pleasantries in an 1100m Maiden on her home track on September 21. She lightened off after that run, and Newman gave the filly a short break before starting her again in a Canberra Maiden Plate (1000m) on November 19. He put blinkers on her for that race – and she duly scored.

Although facing only three rivals at Orange – all much older horses – she went to the post a dominant $1.60 favourite, with Hawkesbury apprentice Claire Nutman aboard. Though her margin over runner-up, seven-year-old mare Tinmine ($4.60) at the finish was narrow, her trainer was satisfied with her performance.

“She never looked comfortable at all on the soft track, and dipped badly on the corner,” Newman said. “But she toughed it out well.”

Supreme Escape was Newman’s fifth winner for the season. He claimed his first training double at Muswellbrook (with Miss Casier and Sulien) on October 24 before scoring with Final Impulse at Hawkesbury on November 9 and Supreme Escape at Canberra 10 days later. Newman also took Sulien to Orange yesterday, but the gelding could finish only fifth to Hawkesbury mare Madam Juror in the Class 1/Maiden Plate (2100m).

The Scott Singleton-trained Madam Juror ($3), given a perfect ride by Shaun Guymer, again showed her liking for rain-affected ground by outstaying her rivals. She beat $2.60 favorite Cheung Fu and $101 outsider Nemo Dat after Guymer gave her plenty of time to settle, then made his move near the 600m and quickly joined the two leaders on the home turn.

A five-year-old mare by Tickets, Madam Juror’s earlier success was also on a soft track in a 2350m Maiden Plate at Newcastle on October 21. Singleton put blinkers on the mare before she ran third in a Benchmark 65 Handicap over the same distance at the same track on November 24.

View replays of every race on Tuesday's Orange program here.