One Syndications Rockhampton Newmarket Day Preview: Thursday 9th July 2026

Sha Of Gomer chases back-to-back Newmarket victories

It’s been 12 years since a sprinter has won back-to-back One Syndications Rockhampton Newmarket (Race 7), with the John O’Sing-trained Our Boy Malachi recording the feat in 2013 and 2014, before going on to Group and Listed success in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

While the bird may have flown in terms of future stardom for last year’s Newmarket winner Sha Of Gomer, the Jeff Dunn-trained 6YO will be out to repeat the dose from 2025.

Following an early career under the care of master trainer Chris Waller, Sha Of Gomer joined the Dunn stable last April and repaid connections almost immediately, winning three of his first six starts for the stable, including a 1.5L romp in the $100,000 Rockhampton Newmarket and a convincing display in the Listed Ramornie Handicap at Grafton 12 days later.

Dunn has followed a similar blueprint with his $520,000 earner this year, as he once again used Ipswich’s Eye Liner Stakes as a stepping stone to the Callaghan Park feature as he looks to be the first horse since Our Boy Malachi to win back-to-back Rocky Newmarkets.

It’ll be a two-pronged attack for Dunn, with 5YO mare Glass Of Rose also set to run in the Thursday feature.

The talented mare has won three of her past eight starts, all at Benchmark 70 level at Doomben and Eagle Farm, while last start she ran a solid sixth in the Listed Wayne Wilson (1600m) behind Bjorn Baker-trained War Eternal.

Rockhampton-born jockey Tahlia Fenlon will take the reins on Glass Of Rose, with Ash Butler set to partner top-weight Sha Of Gomer.

Hansen aims for sixth success in Rocky’s feature sprint

Darryl Hansen knows a thing or two about winning a Rockhampton Newmarket, as he looks to add a sixth success in the 1300m sprint to his trophy cabinet.

Hansen first claimed the Newmarket in 2008 with Onalar, before Perugin Thought gave him a second in 2011 and Le Cap a third in 2015. Stable warhorse Doctor Zous then gave Hansen his fourth and fifth wins in the race in 2020 and 2022, while he’ll be hoping that Joy A Plenty can deliver him a sixth.

The ever-consistent 4YO mare has raced at Callaghan Park twice in her 23-start career, finishing third on both occasions, with Hansen hoping she can go a couple better on Thursday from the inside barrier.

At this meeting last year, she raced in the 3YO Handicap, before lining up in the Tattersall’s Sprint last start when a length off Bold Comic and Pocket Full in the 1200m contest.

James Healy seeks more feature race success

Caloundra-based trainer James Healy notched up his biggest career victory last weekend when his 4YO mare Arabian Rose saluted in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap on the Sunshine Coast.

Healy will be hoping the feature race success can continue this weekend, as he prepares Master Montaro for the Rockhampton Newmarket and Jam Packed for the $50,000 TAB Belle Of Capricornia (1400m).

Master Montaro, now a 9YO gelding, won his first two starts in Victoria, before winning three races in Hong Kong from 2020 to 2023. Since returning to Australia in late 2023, the son of Toronado has won a further five races; two for Lindsay Park across Victoria and South Australia, and three at Mackay for Rockhampton trainer Ricky Vale. He was recently transferred to Healy and has had one start at Ipswich in what was his final tune-up for Thursday’s $100,000 feature sprint.

Healy’s other runner on Thursday will be 5YO mare Jam Packed. The lightly-raced galloper won her maiden first-up this preparation over 1400m at the Sunshine Coast, before claiming her second career win two starts later over 1600m at her home track again.

While she failed at her most recent start on a Heavy 10, the mare by Saxon Warrior is sure to appreciate a drier surface on Thursday in the Fillies and Mares Benchmark 70 (Race 6).

Rocky sprint double for Bold Comic?

Garnett Taylor’s Bold Comic proved too strong for his rivals last time out in the Tattersall’s Sprint over 1200m at Callaghan Park, putting his hand up as a key contender in this year’s Newmarket.

The 5YO son of Whittington has a strong affinity with the Rockhampton track, winning two of his first three starts here as a 2YO, before claiming the Tatts Sprint a fortnight ago to make it three wins from five starts at the track.

Bold Comic enjoyed an economical run in transit in the Tatts Sprint last month, camping behind the speed, before 2023 Newmarket-winning jockey Georgina Cartwright steered him into clear air at the 400m marker and raced away with the prize, scoring by half a length.

Cartwright will retain the ride on Thursday, as she looks to win her second Rocky Newmarket, three years after her first when scoring aboard the Brian Wakefield-trained Roman Aureus in 2023.

Taylor will also saddle up talented 3YO Neverenoughlego in the Rockhampton Mini Loads Ken Russell Memorial QTIS 3YO Handicap (1200m).

After six minor placings from his first 11 starts in Victoria, the Ole Kirk gelding hasn’t put a hoof wrong in Queensland, winning all three of his starts for Garnett Taylor and his new connections.

Alisha Taylor to fly local flag

Callaghan Park-based trainer Alisha Taylor, daughter of Garnett Taylor, has set a small-but-select team for Thursday’s Newmarket meeting.

Taylor has enjoyed plenty of recent success, with five winners from her past 11 runners, including back-to-back wins in the space of seven days for One Syndications-owned Sailor’s Rum, as well as a feature win in the Tattersall’s Cup with Rockhampton Cup-bound Pepperdine.

11-time winner Letmeletgo will take his place in the $100,000 Rockhampton Newmarket (1300m) in what will be his second appearance in the feature.

The stable will have three other runners across the card, Cryptology and Bateman’s Bay in the Garrards Horse and Hound Ratings Band 0-58 Handicap (1600m) and unbeaten filly Evareadymiss in the Ken Russell Memorial.

The Better Than Ready filly made it a winning debut over 1050m at Callaghan Park in December, before taking her winning record to two from two, 19 days later in a 3YO Handicap over 1000m at Townsville.

She’ll don the silver One Syndications colours on One Syndications Rockhampton Newmarket Day.

Group 1 winner to tackle Newmarket

Group 1-winning trainer Matt Hoysted will bring a trio of runners to Callaghan Park for Thursday’s meeting, headlined by the favourite in the Newmarket, Ouroboros.

The Eagle Farm-based trainer enjoyed Group 1 success in 2023 with talented sprinter Uncommon James in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m), while that horse delivered him a recent stakes success over the Brisbane Winter Carnival in Group 2 Moreton Cup (1200m).

Hoysted’s Ouroboros finished in the quinella in his first six starts for the stable from March 1, 2025 to October 11, 2025, and has been knocking on the door in South-East Queensland at his past two starts, running third in a Doomben Class 4 two starts ago, and a close second to Rockhampton Cup-bound Quothquan in a Class 6 on Ipswich Cup Day.

The 5YO will be partnered by regular rider Boris Thornton and will carry 56.5kg.

Hoysted also prepares 3YO gelding Pontevico in the Ken Russell Memorial (1200m) and maiden filly Icymiss in the Great Northern Maiden Handicap (1050m).

The first of eight races is set to jump at 12:27pm, while the Rockhampton Newmarket (Race 7) field will face the starter at 4:04pm.

• Nicholas Lloyd – Racing Liaison Officer (RJC)