Newcastle apprentice Louise Day scored a double and Kris Lees-trained Dundee Lee produced the easiest win of the day at Broadmeadow on Thursday.
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Day took Hello Sunshine ($3.50) to a seven-length victory for Cessnock trainer John Bannister in the 1200-metre maiden for four-year-olds and up before a tougher ride on Media Starguest for Ron Quinton.
Hello Sunshine, a four-year-old mare having just her fifth start, led then sprinted clear at the top of the straight to comfortably put her rivals away on debut for Bannister after coming from the Michael Moroney stable.
Media Starguest, a $2.15 favourite in the 1400m benchmark 64 handicap, overcame a three-wide run without cover to hit the lead early in the straight then prove too tough late to hold out the Cameron Crockett-trained Pure Fuego by half a length. It was a second win in seven starts for the three-year-old gelding.
The gritty victory in the last came after Dundee Lee cantered in for Day's boss Lees in the benchmark 64 handicap (1400m) edition for the fillies and mares.
Brenton Avdulla gave Dundee Lee, a $7 chance, a midfield sit before coming with a rails run on the corner.
The five-year-old, which had not won since May 2019 at Port Macquarie, quickly took over in front and raced clear before Avdulla eased her to the line over the final 100m in the almost seven-length demolition.
"I was surprised with the ease with which she won," Lees told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
"I think she's been going probably better than what her form reads. She's just been getting a little further out of her ground than what we would have liked.
"Brenton utilised a good draw and it was a Brenton Avdulla special. A great ride and she put them away quite well.
"She's quite capable on her day. She's a mare who can mix her form but when she's on, she can produce a really good finish like she did today."
The course proper, which has lost races at two recent meetings because of wet weather, held up well after early rain and finished as a Soft 7. Racing returns to the track on Saturday.