| What | Newcastle Races |
| Where | Newcastle Racecourse – 100 Darling St, Broadmeadow NSW 2292 |
| When | Thursday, March 9, 2023 |
| First Race | 1:15pm AEDT |
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Visit Ladbrokes |
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Racing heads to the Hunter this Thursday with a very competitive eight-race program out of Newcastle Racecourse, headlined by another leg of the Provincial-Midway Qualifiers over the 1400m in the penultimate race. We should have Good 4 conditions for race-day with minimal rain forecast in the lead-up. The rail is out +3m the entire circuit and the Newcastle track tends to play relatively fair when in that position. The first race is set to get underway at 1:15pm AEDT.
Provincial-Midway Qualifier: Acquitted
We’ve gone the way of the Kris Lees-trained Acquitted in the feature event. He’s first-up after a 102-day spell and has form-lines that read particularly well for this grade. He’s had five starts for the Lees camp since arriving in Australia, and although he only has the one win, it was a dominant display in a BM85 at Eagle Farm in May last year. Since then he ran into Coal Crusher at BM88 level back in November, then finished his latest campaign at Kembla Grange behind Burning Need on November 26 when beaten as a short-priced favourite. He’s had two decent jump-outs heading into this assignment and gets in nicely with 56kg, considering he’s the highest-rated horse in the race. You’re getting a fair price with online bookmakers, and with a nice barrier for Brenton Avdulla to navigate, Acquitted should be well in this race – despite some key rivals having a fitness edge.
Provincial-Midway Qualifier
Race 7 – 
#2 Acquitted (9)
6yo Gelding | T: Kris Lees | J: Brenton Avdulla (56kg)
$4.60 with Bet365
Best Bet at Newcastle: Ambassadors
Initially with the Peter & Paul Snowden camp, Ambassadors is having his third run for Nathan Doyle and looks ready to break his maiden status. His two runs for the new campaign have had plenty of merit, and now he strips fitter for a tough second-up run at Wyong on February 21 where he sat outside the leader the entire trip and was brave to the line after doing some work getting across. That also didn’t seem to suit the running style of this son of Zoustar. In the past he has looked much better ridden for cover, and on Thursday afternoon Kerrin McEvoy will look to do exactly that from barrier four. He should be finding somewhere close to the one-one position throughout the 1300m trip, and if he can, Ambassadors will be going very close to breaking his maiden.
Best Bet
Race 2 – 
#2 Ambassadors (4)
3yo Gelding | T: Nathan Doyle | J: Kerrin McEvoy (58kg)
$3.40 with Palmerbet
Best Value at Newcastle: The Great Houdini
The Great Houdini has found some stiff competition since resuming on January 7, and now the Hawkes team has found much more manageable task for this son of Written Tycoon. Two starts back he was well beaten in BM64 grade behind stakes-level galloper Recommendation on February 1 and was by no means disgraced. He subsequently jumped up into BM72 level behind Invincible Vision at Warwick Farm and found nothing but trouble when turning for home. He’s been luckless so far this preparation, but now back into a suitable grade, The Great Houdini should be finding his second career win. He’s drawn gate one and should get a lovely run in behind a genuine tempo before getting off the leaders’ backs to score at a great price.
Best Value
Race 4 – 
#6 The Great Houdini (1)
4yo Gelding | T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | J: Koby Jennings (59.5kg)
$7.50 with Bet365
Thursday quaddie tips for Newcastle races
Newcastle quadrella selections
Thursday, March 9, 2023
- 3-4-8-10-11-13
- 2-3-4
- 1-2-3-4
- 1-2-6
Investment: $216 for 100%
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