Scone preview: Two promising fillies lead local trainer Rod Northam's charge towards career milestones

News.com.au

6 hours ago

Scone trainer Rodney Northam can edge himself closer to two professional milestones with a potential swag of winners at his home town card.
Northam 's career tally of wins currently stands at 690; of which 193 have come at Scone.
Northam is represented by seven runners on the program including in the opener where he restarts the respective second campaigns of the stylish and promising three-year-old fillies, Nova Centauri and Smart Buy.
'There are two nice fillies,' Northam said. 'I quite like them.
'Smart Buy was very green and very immature at her first preparation but she's had a good spell and she has come back bigger and stronger.
'She ran second in a couple of those $50,000 races. I was very pleased with her.'
Mount Bona strides away for a convincing win! ðŸ'°
The @Paulmessara and @LGavranich stable score a double! ✌� pic.twitter.com/JvuPtBI85n
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 21, 2025
The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!
Rubick filly Nova Centauri was duly spelled after her impressive debut at Mudgee in February when coming from last on the turn to clock in second in the 1000m maiden.
'The home track will suit her a lot better,' Northam said.
'She's got a nice bit of ability as well so there is really not a lot between them.
'I wanted to split them up. I had Nova Centauri in the 1100m but they scrapped the race.'
Northam's $37,500 Inglis Classic purchase Move She Can can take her earnings beyond $60,000 should she take out another race at her preferred track.
'Her run was pretty good last time and I expect her race well but it looks a strong race though,' said Northam.
Ballinderry Sal, Northam's April 19 TAB Highway winner, will resume in the Scone RSL Benchmark 66 Handicap (1400m).
And while her current personal best was lodged at Royal Randwick, her three other wins are all at Scone.
'I had her nominated in Newcastle, Sydney and here and I just thought when she drew well here, it would be the best option to run her at home,' Northam explained.
'She's got a got a good record at Scone so it looks quite a nice race for her to kick off in.
'Obviously she has got a bit of weight but Leeshelle (Small) will help with that.
Ballinderry Sal makes it two wins in a row in the TAB Highway for @rodnortham and @djgibbons22! 🙌 @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/71M9df9cPV
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 19, 2025
'I expect her to race well. She's a nice little freshen-up but I am confident she is fit enough for the 1400m.'
Northam can lay claim to presenting one of the most fascinating horses racing at the track via the strikingly handsome Sipping Shamus.
The unraced three-year-old is a near replica of his Cox Plate winning father Shamus Award.
Better still, he boasts a 'champions pedigree' with the great Horlicks as his third dam.
'He's a good looking horse,' Northam said.
'I sort of thought he would be more a miler but he showed a good bit of speed in his trial so 1200m should be okay for him first up.'
There aren't too many equines at Northam headquarters in better form than Grandini who charges in on a hat-trick when she lines-up in The Gables Benchmark 58 Handicap (1700m).
'She had been quite luckless in previous preps but she's struck a bit of luck this time in,' said Northam.
'Hopefully she has taken confidence from the wins and 1700m looks the right trip for her.'
Northam's day ends with Casino Stage seemingly bound for the last crack in the last race.
'Being fresh, 1300m is probably the right distance for him.
'The track will suit. He'll just get off the speed and launch late,' said Northam.
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Local trainer Michael Gatty is well placed to lead in a treble at Moruya with a trio of horses that have a combined value of almost $1 million.
Thankfully, Gatty was able to get them while they were essentially 'on-sale' and has turned each and all of them into much beloved money-spinners.
'They' being Gorush Lightning, bought by Gai Waterhouse for $540,000, as well as the Gerry Harvey-bred pair Selhurst Park (a $325,000 yearling) and the $80,000 baby, Peruno.
All three acquisitions are now well and truly Moruya locals, track specialists even, with 11 home course wins between them, more than half of them belong to Gatty's cherished Gorush Lightning.
'He's our old warhorse,' Gatty said.
'I've had him since he was a late two-year-old before he had a race so we've had him on the family for a long time.
Gorush Lightning just loves Moruya!
Olivia Chambers with a great ride for Michael Gatty. pic.twitter.com/Tu9TZ4jnA8
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 5, 2023
'He is older now but I can't see why he won't put in a lovely big run.'
An interesting fact to excite the breeding buffs.
Gorush Lightning's fourth dam is a daughter of Bernborough who stood at stud in the USA after being sold to movie producer Louis B. Mayer.
A resident stallion at Three Chimneys in Kentucky, Bernborough stood alongside another famous Australian expat champion, Shannon.
Gatty, meanwhile, could not have found a better race for Selhurst Park when he makes his 20th Moruya appearance.
As it stands, he has finished on the podium nine times in those 19 runs including a now typical barnstorming win there as recently as June 27.
'We haven't done much with him since the other day,' Gatty explained.
'He's been over to the beach for a walk and then out the back in the bush for a bit of a stroll around and over some cavalletti's (on Thursday morning).
'That's him done and ready to go.'
One Tree Inn Handicap (1650m).
'I really like the horse, I always have,' said Gatty.