A Gosford maiden on August 17 holds the key to our best bets at the Beaumont Newcastle circuit on Saturday with the second and third horses holding the interest.
The race was won by the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Longreach who headed to Gosford in search of a confidence boosting win after four metropolitan runs including a runner-up finish at Warwick Farm on December 28.
The race certainly looks stronger than the average provincial maiden which augers well for the prospects of the second and third horses Our Royal Egyptian and Storm Force at Beaumont on Saturday.
The Bjorn Baker-trained Our Royal Egyptian will be having his seventh career start in the Minco Tech Australia Maiden Plate (1150m) after finishing in the placings on four occasions including runner-up finishes at Gosford at both runs this time in.
Our Royal Egyptian had no luck at Gosford resuming as a $1.80 favourite on July 29 racing wide without cover on speed finding the front at the 200m mark however he was vulnerable after working in the run with Boston Light wearing him down late.
Our Royal Egyptian led at Gosford last start but was run down late with Longreach prevailing and once again there was a significant margin to the third horse.
It's just a case of connections finding the right race for Our Royal Egyptian and I'm confident they have found it on Saturday.
It's a similar story for the Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes-trained Storm Force who lines up in the Hunter Coatings Maiden Handicap (1350m) after finishing in the placings in his five career starts to date including a Canterbury third in his first preparation and placings at Beaumont and Gosford in his two starts this campaign.
Storm Force finished third to Osborne Bulls at Beaumont when resuming on July 27 and the winner has since won again to add merit to the form.
Storm Force raced like he was looking for a step up in distance when third to Longreach and Our Royal Egyptian last start. and he gets his chance to record a maiden win stepping up in distance third-up on Saturday.
