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By Gary Harley

Leading trainer Gerald Ryan is hoping for a Good 4 rated track at Newcastle on Saturday when his lightly raced 4yo Adulting has her third race start in the Prosperity Advisers Group Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m).

Ryan and Sterling Alexiou prepare the mare who races in the Australian Bloodstock colours. Adulting is a New Zealand-bred mare who debuted on a heavy Warwick Farm track in January 2021.

She was well in the market but was uncomfortable on the wet track and she was unplaced, pulling up lame.

She suffered a bad injury and the mare did not race for more than 12 months. On January 19 Adulting resumed as a $1.70 favourite at Newcastle on a Soft 7 and after settling midfield she was too classy, racing away to win by two lengths.

Ryan was on course and along with jockey Josh Parr said the mare was never comfortable on the wet track yet won easily. The in-form Brodie Loy has the mount on Saturday, and she has a soft barrier. Providing the track is not wet racegoers should see the best of Adulting.

Ryan and Alexiou, great supporters of the Newcastle course proper will send three other gallopers to the race meeting. Eurydice, Entomologist, and Another Alibi will accompany Adulting on the trip up the M1.

Newcastle regulars Richard and Michael Freedman will be well represented on Saturday. The stable will saddle up Amathuba, the probable favourite in the opening event the EngageVR Maiden Handicap (1200m). The filly has been placed in all four starts and at Newcastle she has been placed in all appearances.

Amathuba resumed from a spell on this track on January 29 and she found the 900m trip too short with the filly finishing a solid second, 1½ lengths from the winner. Stablemate Eye Pea Oh will oppose Amathuba and she could fill a place. The brothers also have Ponca and Allusionist engaged and both should run well.

Veteran Randwick trainer Les Bridge has bright prospects of landing a double at the Newcastle meeting. The Bridge-trained pair Legend Rules and Stormy Legend are both raced by Hong Kong businessman Bon Ho of Classique Legend fame.

Legend Rules is backing up from an all the way Gosford win on February 3 and will contest the Webber Architects Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m).

Stormy Legend is yet to win in three starts however, he turned in an eye-catcher at Warwick Farm on Australia Day. He came from second last at the top of the straight to finish second, beaten only a neck.

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