In only her second ride on the Newcastle track, Derrick and Fair Dunkum were in second last place on the home turn in the Avid PM Benchmark 64 Handicap (900 metres).

Derrick eased the winner away from the rail and into the clear space at the top of the straight before unwinding down the outside of the field.

Fair Dinkum nailed the locally-trained Omar right on the winning post, getting home by a nose.

The 23-year-old from the west was over the moon.

"Really excited. It's a big thrill for me as I only joined the Kris Lees stable two weeks ago," Derrick said.

"I wasn't confident during the race as he had no speed and I thought we were giving away too big a start on the turn, however, once in the clear Fair Dinkum hit top gear and really let down.

"My family was watching and cheering in Western Australia.

"I'm so fortunate Mr Lees has taken me on for three months on loan. The people at the stable are great, so friendly and helpful.

"It's so good to have Sam Clenton there for advice and she is such a terrific rider."

Derrick's partner Chris Nation is the Newcastle Jockey Club's new course manager and the pair arrived in the region two weeks back.

She first raced in WA on Australia Day last year and has now recorded 98 career winners.

Kris Lees bookended the Newcastle meeting courtesy of a promising stayer and a rejuvenated blueblood.

Newcastle's leading trainer was at his home track to saddle up the American-bred Daysan in the Red Funnel Benchmark 64 Handicap (2300m) and Sammy in the Racal Burgers Benchmark 64 Handicap (1250m).

Daysan, a five-year-old gelding, was purchased from Europe by Lees' major client Australian Bloodstock and Saturday was his third start for the stable.

A stout stayer, he finished fourth in his first start in 10 months, a class 1 handicap (1700m) at Scone on August 12.

Stepping up to 2000m at Hawkesbury on August 31, the import came from near last to win impressively.

On Saturday, Daysan drifted from $3.60 to $6 in the betting market.

Lees' apprentice Dylan Gibbons allowed him to settle midfield, steered him into the clear halfway down the straight and raced away to win by .12 lengths.

Sammy, the son of Lees' three-time group 1 winner Samantha Miss, has found a new lease of life since being gelded recently.

A$1.55 favourite with Gibbons in the saddle, Sammy confirmed his eight-length victory at the previous Newcastle meeting was no fluke.

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