By Neil Evans
It’s more than fitting that an old Cessnock warrior carries the hopes of the little gateway to the Hunter town in the final race at the Wine Country Club’s Monday meeting on the Newcastle Beaumont track.
Age certainly hasn’t worn out nine-year-old Drachenfels, although form students need to go back to the Guya Cup at Armidale nearly two years ago when he last won.
Racing returns to Newcastle on Monday.Credit:Getty
But ahead of his 84th start in a wide open Benchmark 58 Hcp over 1150m to close the meeting, the signs are good for Cessnock trainer Jeremy Sylvester.
Likely to go around at double-figure odds in a big field, Drachenfels has charged home from a mile off the speed in his last couple at Gilgandra and Muswellbrook.
And with rain forecast throughout the day, this old son of Street Cry won’t get a better chance to break the drought in what should be ideal conditions.
Meanwhile, a local debutant will try to stave off the latest raid from a group of three-year-old Sydney trial winners in a competitive Maiden Plate over 1150m for the boys.
King’s Duty, a son of renowned soft track sire Exosphere and trained on the track by Mark Minervini, has not been beaten in three trials runs, the latest two just 20 days apart.
And he was one of the more impressive winners five days ago at Wyong rolling through Soft 6 going to easily win an 845m trial with something in hand.
But what a fascinating test the metropolitan visitors will provide, headed by Russian Revolution three-year-old Troika who returns for only his third start and also behind an impressive Randwick trial win.
Joining the battle is another city debutant and dominant trial winner Rivoli Star by Starcraft; while All Too Hard-sired Lord Finland resumes off two trials.
Throw in another Warwick Farm-based three-year-old in Charlie Foxtrot, by Written Tycoon and with the benefit of two good closing runs this prep, and it’s a race that promises to be a very handy formline down the track.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
