RNSW_Oct 21_Col_W

www.racingnsw.com.au F irst it was Godolphin’s Savitiano (James McDonald) before Nash Rawiller guided Sweet Deal to success in Newcastle’s $1m TAB Hunter (1300m) last year. Rawiller played the ‘stalker’ and the champion jockey couldn’t hide his admiration for her having chased down a gallant Special Reward. “She has been in great form, just hasn’t had a lot of luck, full credit to the owners, they were adamant to ride her with a sit today,” said Rawiller. “To be honest, it’s probably one of the first times we’ve found a race where we have been able to ride her like that, let her stalk and we know how brilliant she is when she can do that.” Meanwhile, NJC’s 2020/21 Horse of the Year is Australian Bloodstock-owned and Kris Lees- trained Mugatoo. During last racing season, seven- year-old Mugatoo had nine starts in which he won $3.03 million in prizemoney. Apprentice jockey Dylan Gibbons is NJC’s Rising Star Award winner for the 2020/21 season. The 19yo in his first full season steered home 86 winners, second only to Aaron Bullock (106) of the Newcastle- based jockeys. The NJC Premierships held on Newcastle tracks were won by Kris Lees (Trainer) Christian Reith (Jockey) and Reece Jones (Apprentice). The strike rates award was won by Kim Waugh (Max Lees Medal) and Brenton Avdulla (Bill Wade Medal). NEW TRACK MANAGER NJC’s new racecourse manager, Chris Nation started work with the club in early September. The 33yo accepted an offer to join the NJC after 4½ years as track manager of Ascot and Belmont Park in Western Australia. Nation, born in NSW, has had vast experience in track management working at Nowra for three years and Toowoomba for four years. The all-weather Toowoomba track has a similar structure to the Newcastle track. NJC Chief Executive, Matt Benson said NJC was keen to secure the services of its new track manager. “We are looking forward to having Chris onboard at the NJC. He comes 24 MARES HAVE CAPTURED THE MAJOR PRIZE IN BOTH RUNNINGS OF THE $1M THE HUNTER (1300M), WITH THIS YEAR’S TO BE STAGED AT NEWCASTLE ON SATURDAY 13TH NOVEMBER WORDS: GARY HARLEY PICTURES: BRADLEY PHOTOGRAPHERS Could it be a mares Hunter hat-trick? Sweet Deal (Nash Rawiller) takes out last year’s The Hunter from Special Reward (Aaron Bullock)