Usually more at home on a wetter track, the firmer going at Newcastle proved to be no obstacle to Cross Talk winning the Group 3 Newcastle Stakes (1400m) on Friday.
Formerly run as the Newcastle Newmarket, the five-year-old led all the way to register a fifth win in the race for co-trainer Gai Waterhouse.
With his record now at six wins and five placings in 12 career outings, Cross Talk will aim to become the third horse to complete the Newcastle Stakes/Doncaster Mile double at Randwick on April 1.
Ridden by Tim Clark, Cross Talk ($2 favourite) scored by a half-length margin over Gem Song ($19) and the fast finishing eye-catcher Cuban Royale ($10) a short-neck away in third.
“Tim knows how to ride him,” stable representative Neil Payne said post-race.
“He let him stride and he was too fit, too good and trained by Gai and Adrian (Bott).”
This win was the gelding’s first since the Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) on July 30 on a surface rated Soft 7.
“He is a horse that can trick you as to how fast you’re going but I did want to make it a bit of a test,” Tim Clark said.
“I thought if I went too slow they’d outsprint me on top of the ground so if I dragged the sprint out of them, that would be the key to winning the race.
“If he happens to get into a race over the (Sydney) carnival and there’s a bit a rain about, as it can so often happen, it’ll enhance his chances to no end.”
Cross Talk is rated a $26 chance for the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) with Aft Cabin and Fangirl the equal Neds favourites at $8.
Aft Cabin runs at Randwick on Saturday as the $2.60 Unibet.com.au favourite in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m).