Newcastle trainer Paul Perry caused a boilover at Rosehill on Saturday when The Getaway ($41) took out the $100,000 benchmark 85 Edward Deas Thomson Hall of Fame Handicap (2000m). 
After settling four back on the fence under apprentice jean Van Overmeire, the four-year-old came with a strong finish down the centre of the track to defeat Naval Warrior, who’d attempted to lead all the way, in a photo finish. 
“We felt the horse was racing in good form and this looked a nice race for him,” said stable spokesman Nathan Perry. “The tempo suited him. We’d anticipated it would be run at a solid pace. 
“This horse does need to get to the outside to show his best. I told Jean to try to be in front of a few in the run as he can get a long way back. He rode the horse very well.” 
The Getaway may back up in the listed $150,000 W.J. McKell Cup (2400 metres) this Saturday. 
“There is no reason why he wouldn’t run in the McKell Cup. He’s a horse in good form. He’s very fit and this is the time of year to try a horse like him in a stakes race,” said Perry.
Dunn again
Murwillumbah trainer Matthew Dunn stretched his winning record in TAB Highway races to 15 when the resuming Dia de Reyes ($9) won last Saturday’s Class 2 edition of the series. 
The four-year-old, who has a reputation for being tardy at the start, jumped on even terms with comeback jockey James McDonald in the saddle. 
The gelding then settled back in the field on the rails. 
With McDonald electing to stay on the fence, Dia de Reyes drove through on the inside of the favourite, Coup de Main, to win by a half-length, with Bocelli third. 
“This race (1200m) was short of his best but he was turned out in great order. He didn’t jump the best but he mustered speed quite well and put himself in the race,” McDonald said. 
Brabinger one to follow
Local trainer Kris Lees dominated the Newcastle meeting last Saturday, claiming four races on the eight-race program. 
Jockey, Aaron Bullock rode three of those winners to take the riding honours. 
Of Lees’s four winners, Brabinger and Banner Season were the most impressive. 
Brabinger brought up his second win from as many starts in taking out the 1200-metre, Class 2 by 2¼ lengths. 
Later, in the 1850-metre benchmark 69, Banner Season demolished his rivals, careering away to a 5¾-length win. 
On the same program, the Richard Freedman-trained Verlan, ridden by Shaun Guymer, was dominant in taking out the 1400-metre maiden by 4¼lengths.
Cup added to Penske file
The powerhouse stable of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott is usually hard to beat in a country feature, and so it proved in last Saturday’s $40,000 Gooree Cup (1600m), the main race at Mudgee. 
The Waterhouse/Bott-trained $2.70 favourite, Penske, ridden by apprentice Quayde Krogh, was a half-length too good for Hirokin, with Bezel third. 
The one to follow from Mudgee could be an earlier winner, the Gayna Williams-trained Miss Hugo a Gogo.
With apprentice Mikayla Weir in the saddle, the Canford Cliffs mare gave nothing else a chance in scoring a 5½-length win in the 1100-metre maiden as $1.55 favourite. 
The trainer and jockey later combined to win the 1600-metre Class 1 with another odds-on favourite in Foxdown. 
Weir shared riding honours for the day with fellow apprentice Qin Yong, who won the 1400-metre Class 3 aboard the Terry Croft-trained No Escape before claiming the 2000-metre benchmark 55 on the three-year-old Underground for trainer Brad Widdup. 
Queen reigns
In addition to the horses mentioned above, another galloper it could pay punters to follow, is Queen of Kingston. 
This four-year-old mare, trained by Daniel Bowen and ridden last Saturday by Stephen Traecey, put seven lengths on her nearest rival in winning the 1516-metre Class 2 at Lismore to bring up her second win from seven starts. 
Brett, Billy hard to beat
Out west at Brewarrina last Saturday, Scone-based trainer Brett Cavanough combined with jockey Billy Cray to win four of the six races including the feature  Brewarrina Cup (1200m) with odds-on favourite Still Undaunted. 
On the same day, the Young Turf Club staged its annual cup meeting. 
Queanbeyan trainer Joe Cleary won the main race, the 1600-metre Young Cup, with Moss Girl, ridden by Jason Devrimol. 
The pair combined to bring up a double, with Emissions taking out the 1200-metre benchmark 50. 
The Canberra trainer/jockey combination of Matthew Dale and Kayla Nisbett also produced a winning double on the day to share the honours.
Curata’s cup
Last Sunday, the Showcase action was at Nowra for the Shoalhaven Turf Club meeting featuring the $45,000 Nowra Cup (1600m). 
This year’s race was won by the Robert and Luke Price-trained mare Curata Princess ($13), ridden by Jeff Penza. 
The four-year-old finished powerfully down the extreme outside to snatch victory in the last stride from Weekend Affair, with favourite Nicochet, third. 
Wagga on a winner
This Saturday sees the Murrumbidgee Turf Club stage its annual Waratah Cup meeting at Wagga Wagga, with a large crowd expected to attend what should be a wonderful day of racing. 
“This is the 30th anniversary for this charity raceday, which raises funds for an organisation that assists those with disabilities,” club CEO Scott Sanbrook said. “Continued strong sponsorship support will ensure this milestone event will be a record. We’re expecting a profit upwards of $160,000. 
“The crowd is expected to mirror last year’s attendance, when more than 5000 people turned out.”