Ryan Warwick earned the crown as the king of Gloucester Park on Friday night when the lightly-raced Newsy burst into serious WA Oaks contention with an easy victory in the 2130m Tokyo on Seven Pace.
Her win completed a fabulous night for the 42-year-old Warwick, giving him four wins from four consecutive drives, following successes with Wainui Creek, Mighty Conqueror and Lawrence with all four winners being prepared by champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond.
Warwick and the Bond stable continued in fine form at Bunbury’s Donaldson Park on Saturday night, winning with Ifeel Sikdarl ($7), Be Rock Hard ($1.18) and The Darling ($1.45).
Newsy, having her third start as a three-year-old and only her seventh career start, overcame difficulties to record a smart victory by just under two lengths from Always An Angel, rating 1.56.4.
A solidly-supported $3.30 second favourite, Newsy missed the start by more than a length and settled down in sixth position, with $23 chance Yellowroseoftexas setting the pace.
Warwick then stole a march on his rivals when he sent Newsy forward with a fast three-wide burst to take the lead after 900m. Black Jack Baby, the $2.05 favourite from the outside barrier (No. 9), raced at the rear before Chris Voak followed a fast three-wide burst from Always An Angel approaching the bell.
Always An Angel, driven by Gary Hall Jnr, got to the breeze with just under a lap to travel, leaving Black Jack Baby trapped out three wide. Black Jack Baby fought on doggedly to finish a well-beaten fourth, just behind the third placegetter Royal Essence.
Warwick explained Newsy’s early troubles, saying: “The new mobile took off pretty quick, and if Newsy doesn’t get her head on it early she can do that (lose ground at the start). The No. 5 horse Royal Essence was playing around a bit and didn’t give me the ability to get straight on to the arm.
“I thought that the leader (Yellowroseoftexas) wasn’t the right leader, and even though the speed wasn’t slow, it was an opportunity to go when I did. It was an opportunistic move, and Newsy should be cherry ripe for the Oaks.”
The $150,000 WA Oaks will be run next Friday week, with the New Zealand-bred Newsy, who has had seven starts (all in WA) for five wins and a second placing, emerging as a major threat to the brilliant Black Jack Baby.
Newsy, by Bettors Delight, is the third foal out of the unraced mare Ultimate Art, whose dam Princess Paua produced the evergreen Durango Kid, who won 24 races in Australia and 18 in America.
By Ken Casellas