Newcastle's Premier Race Day: A Guide to the Key Contenders
Horse racing enthusiasts are set for a thrilling day at Newcastle this Saturday, November 13, 2025, with a packed card featuring promising two-year-olds on debut and seasoned stayers battling for major trophies. The action kicks off at 12:35 PM with the Minco Tech Max Lees Classic, setting the stage for a day of high-stakes competition.
Early Races: Debutants and Midway Battles
In the opening race, all eyes will be on the two-year-olds making their first appearances. Mystical, who was deliberately saved from the Golden Gift last week, has drawn a favourable gate. Her impressive performance in a recent public trial and the stable's formidable record with young horses make her a commanding favourite. Seeiaye, with the inside gate advantage, and the polished Elio from the Waterhouse/Bott stable, are also expected to put up a strong fight. The market will be a key indicator for this race full of inexperienced runners.
Race 2 shifts focus to the Novocastrian Electrical Midway Handicap over 1600 metres. Here, Strawberry Impact stands out. With a record of one win and six second-place finishes from ten starts, he is desperately seeking another victory. After a solid run in tough conditions at Randwick a fortnight ago, a return to Midway company and a drier track should suit him perfectly.
Feature Races and Hunter Showdown
The feature event, The Newcastle Herald Hunter over 1300 metres, promises to be a highlight. The most promising horse in this field is Yorkshire, who returns first-up after a dominant mile win at Randwick in February. Boasting six wins from eight starts and a stylish recent trial victory, he carries a light weight and is perfectly suited by a strongly run race. His main challenge is expected from Clear Thinking, a winner of five from seven races who remains unbeaten against country opposition. Her powerful Kosciuszko win suggests the extra 100 metres will be no issue.
Another key contest is Race 5, the Lees Racing 'Legend' Mile, where Meridiana is tipped to atone for a narrow defeat in the Four Pillars. She produced an enormous effort after giving away significant ground and is expected to adopt a more prominent position this time. The step up to the mile suits, making her the one to beat.
Late Card Value and Betting Insights
As the day concludes, the final race, the Hall & Wilcox Benchmark 94 Handicap, offers excellent each-way value. Bojangles is the horse to watch after an excellent performance chasing home Midnight Dynamite at Randwick. He is sharply down in weight to 52.5kg and has drawn a perfect gate, setting him up for a big run.
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