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By John Schell

Jockey Rory Hutchings and trainer Joseph Pride will combine with a number of chances at Newcastle on Thursday headed by last start winner Heaven Bound ($4.80 on TAB) in the Tabcorp Benchmark 64 Handicap (1890m).

Heaven Bound (Rory Hutchings) lands the prize at Newcastle. Image by Bradley Photographers

A three-year-old filly, Heaven Bound holds a nomination for the Group 1-Queensland Oaks, and according to Pride, the last start maiden winner is set to go on with the job at Newcastle.

“She’s a promising filly that is hitting form at the right time,” Pride said of Heaven Bound.

“She ran well in a couple of runs at Newcastle and Hawkesbury when finishing second at her first two runs back from a spell, and then I stepped her up in grade to the Adrian Knox Stakes on a wet track at Randwick, and she ran well enough in that when she ran 10th.

“She relished the drop in grade to score a good win against maiden grade at Newcastle last time out when Rory rode her, and she only needs to run up to that to be very hard to beat again on Thursday.”

Hutchings will also ride first stater Fox City ($6.50) for Pride in the Wyong Roos Foundation C,G&E Maiden Handicap (1350m), while he will be aboard the imported Happy Saturday ($14) for the trainer in the Carlton & United Breweries C,G&E Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350m).

“Fox City has had three trials heading into his first start and it looks a nice race for him to be starting out in,” said Pride.

“Happy Saturday is a winner in France and he had a couple of runs late last year for us and he went well fresh-up at Kembla Grange in October.

“He’s had two trials and Rory rode him in the most recent in which he ran well. I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes.”

Pride will have two other runners at Newcaste with Makai ($21) contesting the PBL Law Group F&M Maiden Handicap (1350m) with Jay Ford in the saddle, while the jockey will also partner the speedy Duke Of Bronte ($1.85 favourite), which has finished second in his latest two starts, in the Sky Racing Super Maiden Plate (1200m).

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