Latest News

By Gary Harley

South Sydney Rabbitohs ‘tragic’ Joe Pride is confident that his five-year-old Torinda can kick off a successful weekend when he contests the Strathayr Maiden Handicap 1400m at Newcastle Racecourse on Saturday.

Pride who is in lockdown at Warwick Farm, believes the son of Toronado will benefit from blinkers which he wears for the first time on Saturday.

I am of the opinion that Torinda will win the Newcastle race. His form is very good and the blinkers will turn him on.

In his last run at Kembla on September 16 he came from well back to finish second, beaten 1½-lengths by Head Legislator who won a mid-week Metropolitan race on Wednesday.

Two starts back his run was huge at Wyong when he came from near last in a short course race to finish third. With the blinkers on Torinda should settle better then midfield and he will unwind down the long straight.

“I have Private Eye in the Epsom at Randwick and he has been set for the race, he will be hard to beat. I also have Taksu at Randwick and if he gets a soft or a heavy track he will run a big race.

"I love the rugby league and I went to school in Penrith but I am a mad Rabbitohs fan and I will be cheering for them in the Grand Final” Pride said on Thursday night.

Newcastle-trained mare Dreaming Of Gold resumes from a spell in the final event at Newcastle the Vale Alan Scorse Benchmark 64 Handicap 1200m. Two of her three wins have been at Newcastle and she comes off a nice barrier trial win at Scone recently. The mares trainer Nathan Doyle is enjoying a run of success.

Randwick trained colt ‘Money From The Sky’ can bounce back from a disappointing performance on the Kensington track last start when he steps out in the opening event the PFD Foods Class 1 Handicap over 1600m.

Money From The Sky, a son of the great Frankel debuted with an eye catching run from last to finish a close second on the Kensington track on August 18. Two weeks later the colt was a $2.10 favourite on the Kensington track where he finished second. Money from the sky has trialled well since and Christian Reith has the mount.

Former West Australian apprentice Maddi Derrick on loan to Kris Lees has bright prospects of steering home her second New South Wales winner on Saturday. On September 18 she was aboard the Ross Stitt trained Fair Dinkum when he stormed home from the tail of the field to win a 900m benchmark 64 Handicap.

On Saturday Derrick again rides the Taree sprinter in the Coastline Pools Benchmark 64 Handicap 900m. This horse has drawn well and is a strong finisher.