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By Gary Harley

The Cessnock Cup is in its fifth year on the Newcastle track and is the highlight of a strong eight race program on Sunday.

The Cup was held at Cessnock from 1978 until the closure of the Wine Country track in 2019. The Newcastle Jockey Club then decided to stage Cessnock two feature races, The Jungle Juice Cup and the Cessnock Cup on the Newcastle Racecourse each year.

The 2024 Pro-Torque Cessnock Cup (1850m) is set up nicely for Kris Lees to train the winner for the second time.

In 2009 Lees trained Carnegie Prince was successful and on Sunday he will saddle up top weight Bestower which is well placed after two eye catching performances recently.

Trainer Kris Lees (pic: Steve Hart).

Regular rider Darryl McLellan has the mount and last start in a Benchmark 72 over 1800 metres at Rosehill he eased Bestower back to last in the field of seven. The Kiwi bred mare raced at the rear until approaching the home turn where McLellan started to ride her along. She stormed home to finish second, 1.66 lengths from the winner.

Two starts back in a 1500 metre event at Newcastle the mare again came form well back 12 lengths off the lead to finish second.

Bestower races well on wet or dry and has drawn to have a comfortable run back along the rail.

There are a number of in-form runners in the Cup. Lees' late father Max won three Cessnock Cups and Australian and Newcastle- Hunter Hall Of Famer Robert Thompson rode six Cessnock Cup winners.

Champion trainer Ciaron Maher fresh from winning the Group 3 Spring Stakes with Snitzanova on The Hunter Day will send Kotaishi up from his Moss Vale stable to contest the Jim O’Neill’s Tyres Memorial Maiden (1500m).

The four-year-old has been placed twice at Canterbury and his last start which was on that track was nailed on the line.

The Snitzel gelding had no pace in the lead with a challenger on his outside, but he kicked clear on the turn. Irish jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle who rode Snitzanova to win the Spring Stales rides Kotaishi from an inside barrier.

The O’Shea-Charlton three-year-old colt Metaphorically has the speed to overcome a wide barrier in the 1300 metre Ultra Tune Jesmond Super Maiden Plate.

The son of Written Tycoon was placed on debut in a strong Warwick Farm 2-year-old on a heavy track in June and he had his second race start at Canterbury on November 15.

He enjoyed a nice trial third on the fence before joining the leader on the home turn and he had his head in front 50 metres out. The colt tried late to go down by 1.64 lengths, but he will be fitter for the first up run.

David Atkins' mare Lounerse should run well in the 1200 metre Benchmark 64 Handicap. She has won three from seven and is a winner on her home track at Newcastle.

An impressive winner first up at Port Macquarie on October 27, Lounerse found the 1100 metres too short last start at Scone on November 11.

She drew a wide barrier and was allowed to drift back worse than midfield before the home turn. After being held up in the straight she hit the line hard when clear to be beaten 2.5 lengths.

In form apprentice Ben Osmond has ridden Lounerse on her past three start and he has the mount on Sunday.

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Newcastle meeting