Soul Of Spain strikes in the 2025 Newcastle Cup
Soul Of Spain strengthened his growing reputation with a determined victory in the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2350m) on Friday, booking his spot among the favourites for upcoming Group 1 features.
Chris Waller’s stayer, backed into $2.45 favouritism, camped just off the speed before Zac Lloyd urged him through along the rails to edge out Royal Supremacy ($3.90) by half a length. Travolta ($3.40) ensured a Waller quinella by running on strongly for third. The win handed Waller his seventh Newcastle Cup in 11 years, keeping him within striking distance of Gai Waterhouse’s record of eight.
Stable representative Zane Jones hailed the gelding’s steady progression. “Every time Chris raises the bar, he just seems to jump through it,” Jones said. “He’s got plenty of upside, he’s lightly raced, he’s continuing to build a good record. It was a run full of merit the other day, and we were under no illusions that it was a harder assignment today, but he’s passed with flying colours.”
Now equal favourite at $6 for the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m), Soul Of Spain impressed Lloyd with his ability to adapt under different conditions. “He’s a pleasure to ride,” Lloyd said. “With such a slow tempo, I thought it could favour the other runners in the race but he quickened very well and never felt like getting beat.”
Elsewhere on the program, the Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) was taken out by Joseph Pride’s Headley Grange ($6), who secured a ballot exemption into the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m). Ridden by Adam Hyeronimus, the gelding set a new track record of 1:28.32, continuing his formidable record with the jockey of five wins from six rides. Pride said: “I thought if he had a weakness it was going to be firm tracks but he’s put that to bed. He’s got a nomination for the Epsom so we might go to the Big Dance via the Epsom.”
Bettors can follow both Soul Of Spain and Headley Grange through Australia’s leading betting sites, with markets already open for The Metropolitan and Epsom Handicap.
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