BRISBANE-based jockey Chris Munce may get the chance to complete the grand slam of Broadmeadow racing by winning the Newcastle Newmarket (1400 metres) on March 17.
Trainer Kris Lees is hoping Munce will maintain his union with Motspur in the $140,000 group 3 Newmarket at Broadmeadow.
Munce was on board Motspur when the talented Newcastle galloper surged on the inside of Nuclear Medicine in the straight to score a decisive win in the $100,000 Falvelon Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
If Munce does combine with Motspur for a home-town victory, it will complete the big four of Newcastle racing for the big-time rider.
Munce has already won a Newcastle Cup when successful on Oompala in 1994, the Cameron Handicap on Mulan Princess in 2000 and on Magic Albert in the 2001 Spring Stakes.
All three are group 3 events and, along with the Newmarket, make up the best races that Newcastle has to offer.
Lees said he believed Motspur deserved his chance in the Newmarket.
A win by Motpsur would complete the big sprinting double in Newcastle for Lees after he won last year's spring classic, the Cameron Handicap, with Absolutelyfabulous.
Kris Lees is yet to win a Newmarket but his dad, the late and great Max Lees, took out the race on three occasions, with Vain Fury, Lucky Rass and Techniques.
Lees said Motspur had done well since returning from Brisbane and the Newmarket looked an "ideal" race for the galloper.
"Motspur did a great job to win at Eagle Farm and a Newmarket is certainly not beyond him," the trainer said.
"Chris Munce did a great job on the horse in Brisbane and I have asked him if he is interested in coming down to ride our horse."
¦ Brilliant West Australian sprinter Hay List arrived yesterday on the Central Coast, where he will be trained by Gosford mentor John McNair.
Hay List is a winner of seven of eight starts in the west.
McNair is already aiming his new stable star at the Star Kingdom Stakes over 1100m at Rosehill on Golden Slipper Day, April 3, and if he goes well there will then run in the group 1 Galaxy at Randwick over the AJC autumn carnival.
"The owners wanted to give him a chance interstate before he was totally weighted out of racing in the west," McNair said yesterday.
"He is a very smart sprinter and Hay List will get his chance to measure up against our better sprinters.
"He is in Melbourne and will land at my Somersby stables on Thursday.
"The Star Kingdom Stakes looks a good race to kick him off in and his main goal will be the Galaxy."
¦ Promising Newcastle galloper Luscillas Choice seems to love a trial as much as TV's Judge Judy.
Luscillas Choice has already had three trials for two dynamic wins, and trainer Darren Smith says there is more to come.
The three-year-old filly was the star of the Newcastle barrier trials on Tuesday morning, running a smashing 47.56 seconds for the 800m hit-out on the number two grass when ridden by star Newcastle apprentice Blake Spriggs.
The Redoute's Choice filly won by more than six lengths and easily recorded the best time for all the heats conducted.
Luscillas Choice was offered at the Magic Millions premier yearling sales but was passed in at $400,000.
"She has just needed a bit of time, but Luscillas Choice is showing she has plenty of potential," Smith said.
"I think she still needs a bit more time and will have another barrier trial before I sit down and map out a program for her.
"I think the wait will be worthwhile as she does seem to have what is needed to succeed in racing."
¦ Wyong galloper Walking Or Dancing will continue his surge towards the Newcastle Newmarket with an important exhibition gallop at tomorrow's Broadmeadow meeting.
Walking Or Dancing has not raced since winning on Magic Millions Day at the Gold Coast in early January.
The Brett Partelle-trained galloper won a barrier trial at Gosford a week ago when given a good test in the straight to come from behind and win the hit-out.
Partelle is looking at races like the George Ryder Stakes at group 1 level at Rosehill in the autumn and group 1 Brisbane feature sprints the Doomben 10,000 and the Stradbroke Handicap during the winter in Queensland.
¦ Master Newcastle trainer Paul Perry won three of the four heats for two-year-olds at Broadmeadow on Tuesday.
The interesting point to come out of the trial wins was that two of the Perry youngsters that scored are by the trainer's former Golden Slipper winner Stratum.
Empress Milly bolted in, winning by 8½ lengths and running 48.06, and Characterise ran 49.77 for the 900m trip.
Perry's other winner was Vistasol, which is by champion galloper Lonhro.
"I've got some nice youngsters coming along," Perry said.
"But unfortunately it will all come too soon for them for big races like the Golden Slipper."
¦ Leading Sydney bookmaker Con Kafataris has been confirmed as a starter at Newcastle on Newmarket day.
Michael Eskander was expected to field but has had to give the big local meeting a miss.
And in other local bookmaker news, a rails satchel swinger looks set to have an agency right in the heart of the sponsors territory at Broadmeadow.
¦ Dean Pettit, who calls the barrier trials at Newcastle, will broadcast his first TAB race at Newcastle on Newmarket day.
He is part of the team of invited racecallers to take part in the feature day.
Adam Ozlanski, who calls for TVN in Melbourne, will make his Broadmeadow debut at the meeting.
As reported last week, Rockhampton-based Tony McMahon, who was a steward in Newcastle in the 1970s, will also call a race.
Matthew Hill, Josh Fleming and Mitchell Manners, who all call for radio and pay TV in Sydney, will also be involved.
¦ Racetrack rumours abound but this one, which is purely from the "they said" file, is ablaze.
The story goes that a steward has been asked to front racing authorities to answer questions about his performance.
The matter was apparently scheduled to be heard yesterday but was deferred.
This one is being played so close to the chest that it could be just rumour because anyone within earshot is using the old Sergeant Schultz defence of "I know nothing".
¦ Gai Waterhouse could produce a derby aspirant from left field after the Wyong meeting on Wednesday.
Stable foreman Scott Henley said that Atelier, which won a 1600m maiden, might go down the derby path.
"He will go for a midweek race now and see if he might continue to measure up as a possible derby runner," the foreman said.
"He works as good as any of the stable stars, but he has taken some time to show that type of form in a race."
¦ Gosford's Grant Allard is quickly making a name for himself in the training ranks.
The man who was the strapper of the great Lonhro is now showing beyond doubt he is a trainer with the ability to get any horse to give of its best - and at the right time.
At Wyong on Wednesday supporters of the Allard training establishment had smiles the size of split watermelons when River Press saluted.
It seems many threw in for a good win and River Press saluted at a very attractive $40.
Good luck to them.
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