Perry Uses Cameron As Gauge For Glory

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday September 17, 2008

By GEOFF WILSON

FROM the Cameron to the Cup.

That is the glorious road that star Newcastle galloper Newport starts down today.

Newport is the horse with the ability and attitude to become a local hero by winning today's group 3 Cameron Handicap at Broadmeadow over 1400 metres.

But for master Newcastle trainer Paul Perry, a sweet home victory today could be just the entree for something so much bigger for Newport.

In fact, the biggest there is in racing.

Perry has kept Newport in the Melbourne Cup and has not ruled out his Brisbane Cup winner making it to our greatest race on the first Tuesday in November.

"Newport is still in the cups and we will just see how things progress after the Cameron," Perry said.

Newport has not run since making a stunning comeback to racing when he burned home from near last to win a 1400m welter on his home track on August 26.

"That run took a bit out of him, and so I freshened him and decided to give him a go in the Cameron," Perry said.

"The horse is looking great again and he has the ability needed to win a feature race at home."

A Newport win will really ensure it is home-town victory of the greatest level as the bold-striding grey will be ridden by champion Newcastle rider Allan Robinson.

"Paul said the the grey horse is going well, so that gives me confidence," Robinson said.

"I have won a Newcastle Cup and that was a magnificent thrill to come back to the winner's circle on my home track.

"I have no doubt it will be as big a thrill to win a Cameron on this bloke."

Perry has never swayed from his opinion that Newport would make it to the top of racing.

Under his astute care Newport, when ridden by Robinson, came with a rails-hugging ride to win a Brisbane Cup over 2400m two years ago.

Meanwhile, bookmakers are fearing a "strip-out" if the Gai Waterhouse-trained Ashikaga maintains his unbeaten run in the Cameron.

Ashikaga is striving to make it five wins from as many career outings when he runs today.

"This has the hallmarks of big trouble for bookies it could be an old-fashioned strip-out if Ashikaga wins the Cameron," TAB Fixed Odds spokesman Glenn Munsie said.

"Already the horse is by far the best backed with us.

"He opened at $2.80 and is in to $2.50.

"He has become a very popular horse in a short space of time."

Munsie said the "picket fence" next to the horse's name in the form guide was a magnet for punters.

"They just rally to winners," he said.

"There has been money for horses like Raheeb, God's Hand and Bobadah but nothing to the extent that Gai's horse has been labelled.

"He also has that going for him. Gai Waterhouse has a big stable of solid supporters, and they back anything she puts down.

"And of course she has such a great big-race record at Newcastle.

"She seems to win at least one feature up there each year."

Munsie said that statistics also point to Ashikaga.

"Have a look back through the Cameron records and you will see it littered with winners down in the weights," Munsie said.

"This horse has just a tick over the minimum, which puts him right in the scheme of things from the record books.

"Throw in for just a bit of good measure that the horse has drawn perfectly in gate four and has Blake Shinn in the saddle. Everywhere you look it just points to this one being backed off the map."

OUR EXPERTS' TIPS FOR

TODAY'S FEATURE RACES

SPRING STAKES

Geoff Wilson

Rhyno Chaser,

Tearsncheers, El Cairo

Gary Harley

Baci Amore, Rhyno

Chaser, Tearsncheers

John Gilmour

Baci Amore,

Tearsncheers, Rhyno

Chaser

CAMERON HANDICAP

Geoff Wilson

Raheeb, Ashikaga,

Newport

Gary Harley

Ashikaga, Reigning To

Win, Raheeb

John Gilmour

Reigning To Win,

Raheeb, Ashikaga

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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