Six months after plundering the Newcastle Cup with Hush Writer, Tulloch Lodge has another Japanese-bred horse gearing up for a feature race assault at the track.
Wolfe will take on 15 rivals in Friday’s Group Three Newcastle Newmarket (1400m) in what co-trainer Adrian Bott says will be a crucial test of his Doncaster Mile credentials.
“Friday’s run will tell us a lot about that and whether he should be aimed towards a Doncaster or something over a bit further,” Bott said.
The winner of the Coongy Handicap (2000m) during the Melbourne spring, Wolfe resumed with a sound third to Master Of Wine over the Newmarket distance last month.
He did not enjoy the rain-affected surface at Randwick and Bott is hoping for firmer ground at Newcastle, a track renowned for its ability to cope with wet weather since a course proper renovation three years ago.
“He wasn’t suited by the track conditions (first-up). He’s not really effective in that soft to heavy going,” Bott said.
“He travelled well but he just couldn’t quite let down.
“The 1400 metres is probably short of his best distance but we’re hoping to see some good improvement from his first up run.”
Rachel King takes the ride on Wolfe and has also enjoyed feature race success at the track, winning last year’s Spring Stakes aboard Godolphin filly Asiago.
Wolfe was a $13 chance on Thursday with betting headed by Special Missile who will bid to deliver local trainer Kris Lees back-to-back wins after Princess Posh 12 months ago.
The former Perth sprinter is coming off a strong Group Three win last start and was placed at his only other attempt at the distance.
Special Missile will be one of three local runners along with stablemate Delectation Girl and Condor for Paul Perry.
Chris Waller will start three runners, Group One-placed former New Zealander Our Abbadean, Seaway and Dealmaker as he looks to win the Newcastle Newmarket for the first time.
