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By Gary Harley

The opening event at Saturday's Newcastle Jockey Club race meeting, the 900m Girls Day Out-Women In Sport Maiden Plate, is a cracker with speed galore.

The Warwick Farm-trained colt Barracuda ($3 on TAB), Blanc De Noir ($2.50 favourite), Ocean Joy ($4.60) and Flying Argyle ($4.40) all possess genuine speed and all four have drawn positivity.

Barracuda, formerly in the Waterhouse-Bott stable, is having his first start for trainer Jarrod Austin and his recent trials have been outstanding.

Blanc De Noir (Jason Collett) parades at Hawkesbury. Image by Bradley Photographers

The son of Trapeze Artist has only started once when in the Waterhouse-Bott stable and he was a close fifth in the $500K ‘debut’ at the 2024 Magic Millions Carnival.

He subsequently bled in trackwork and was listed for sale online.

“One of my owners bought Barracuda online and he is spot on for his first start for me on Saturday," Austin said.

He is a lovely horse, and his trials have been very impressive."

Barracuda has speed to burn and he led throughout to win a Warwick Farm trial by close on four lengths on January 20. He was never off the bit when second in his first trial for me on January 3.

"The track condition - wet or dry - is no issue and he is as good as I can have him,” said Austin.

Blanc De Noir and Flying Argyle have good Newcastle form.

John O’Shea & Tom Charlton will send their promising 3yo Hell To Pay ($2.25 fav) to Newcastle to contest the 1300m RA Super Class 1 Handicap and the son of Hellbent has bright prospects.

The gelding drops sharply after finishing less than four lengths from the winner in the $3m Magic Millions 3YO Guineas on January 17.

Two starts back Hell To Pay won the $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden on the Sunshine Coast. In his only Newcastle start in July the horse was placed behind the smart Codetta. Braith Nock has the mount, and he claims 2kg.

Miss Jones ($2.80 fav) is knocking on the door after runner-up performances at Canterbury and Kembla recently and she has a perfect barrier in the 1300m Ryan Assell Investments Solutions Maiden Handicap.

The filly, trained by Richard & Will Freedman, was a heavily backed odds-on favourite when unplaced on debut at Newcastle on December 14.

She was an on-speed runner and second-up was beaten 1.3 lengths at Kembla and third-up the 3yo led when beaten 1.88 lengths at Canterbury on January 17. This is a nice race for the filly with Andrew Adkins in the saddle.

Locally-trained gallopers dominate the 900m Matthew Chisholm’s Birthday Benchmark 64 Handicap.

Paul Perry’s Curl Curl ($3.50) has a good record over the short course at Newcastle and he races well second-up. The 4yo has had six starts over this trip on this track for two wins and three placings.

He hit the line late first-up here on January 10 and he will be fitter, and Mollie Fitzgerald’s 3kg allowance is gold.

Mark Minervini’s Shall Be ($2.70 fav), an easy winner on this track first-up on January 10, is a big threat with two wins and a second from three starts on this track.

Rapidash ($3.20 fav) has accepted in the final event the 1600m Supporther Co Benchmark 64 Handicap but is a dual acceptor and is also in at Rosehill.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Newcastle here