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By Gary Harley

Kris Lees's unbeaten filly Never Talk resumes after a four-month spell in the Benchmark 64 Yarraman Park Handicap (900m) at Newcastle Racecourse on Saturday.

Ironically, Never Talk was bred on the famous Yarraman Park Stud at Scone by Arthur Mitchell who subsequently leased the filly to two Newcastle Racecourse syndicates and Kris Lees.

Never Talk (Jeff Penza) races away at Muswellbrook. Image by Bradley Photographers

Four of the Newcastle Jockey Club's administration staff Matt Benson, Michael Buckley, Jason Dunlop and Glynn Haslam are members of the Newcastle Racecourse syndicates.

A daughter of Coolmore sire No Nay Never, Never Talk made her debut in a Two-Year-Old Showcase Handicap at Tamworth on May 31.

Unwanted by punters, the filly was a $17 chance and after racing midfield she produced a barnstorming finish to win running away by half a length.

There were no double-figure odds next start when Never talk contended the Red Crown at Muswellbrook and bolted in by 4½ lengths when the $2.20 favourite.

Lees turned Never Talk out for a spell after the Muswellbrook win and she has had two quiet trials on the Beaumont Track recently.

The master trainer said on Thursday that “Never Talk is fit enough, if good enough."

"This is a nice, well-bred filly with a bright future. Never Talk is only a small filly but she was pretty good in her first preparation. I had three or four in the race she won at Tamworth, however, her trial and work indicated she had a good chance.

"Never talk outclassed them in the Red Crown at Muswellbrook. We haven’t knocked her about in recent trials, but it is only 900 metres on Saturday and she is ready.

"I also have Triple Ace and Star Raider running on Saturday. Triple Ace is trialling well and has a chance while Star Raider opposes Never Talk and has a horror draw,” Lees said.

Former jockey Peter Robl, enjoying a successful run, heads to Newcastle with the in-form three-year-old General Dubai which steps out in the 1250m Joanne McLean Memorial Class 1 Handicap.

The gelding led all the way to win a 1400m maiden on this track on October 3. Keagan Latham, who has ridden 15 winners on provincial tracks already this season, has the mount.

Newcastle jockey Aaron Bullock, who has enjoyed a good start to the season with 19 winners, has five mounts on Saturday. And all five will be well fancied.

The ‘Singleton’ boy rides Shaddy (Race 1), Significance (Race 3), Dundee(Race 5), Star Raider (Race 7) and Catapult (Race 8). Shaddy won a recent trial by three lengths and his last run at Canberra on May 22 was an eye-catcher when beaten half a length.

Significance went much better last run at Goulburn and his only win was over 1600m. Dundee put the writing on the wall when a close second at Wyong last start and he is Bullock’s best ride.

Star Raider can win but needs plenty of luck from the adverse barrier. Catapult, a former Godolphin five-year-old now trained by Richard Litt, has a good chance after a strong finishing third at Warwick Farm last start.

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