Newcastle preview: Los Padres eyeing off back-to-back wins
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Luck wasn't on the side of Los Padres during the spring but he hit back this campaign with a tough first-up win and looks well placed to go back-to-back when he heads to the Hunter Valley.
The Mitchell Beer-trained gelding was still caught wide with cover before closing strongly down the centre of the track and dug deep to score in a tight finish from Divine Vicky and Headstock at Kembla two weeks ago.
Los Padres was ridden by Beer's new stable apprentice, Holly Durnan, who sticks with the gelding in the Benchmark 68 Handicap (1250m).
'He didn't have the best run that day. He was caught deep and was a bit keen in the middle stages but he was quite tough late,' said George Carpenter, assistant trainer to Beer.
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'He is a lovely horse who had a lot of bad luck last preparation so it was good to get the win first-up with him. It was a good confidence booster for him'
The four-year-old son of Zoustar has drawn ideally in barrier 4 to allow him to settle closer and a wet track is right up his alley.
Los Padres has had two starts on heavy tracks for a third to Navy Blood at Newcastle last May and he resumed last campaign with a third to Let's Go Again and Mogul Monarch under 61kg at Kembla.
'He has drawn a perfect gate in barrier 4 and doesn't have to settle as far back. He should just get a really nice run in transit,' he said.
'I think he's a really good chance again.'
New stablemate Shehasattitude also lines up in the race.
She beat just one home behind Candlewick at her stable debut at Warwick Farm just over two weeks ago but a drop in grade and a wet track can see her bounce back.
'She was first-up off a long break and has taken a lot of benefit from the run,' Carpenter said.
The four-year-old won three of her first six starts including a win from Know Thyself last May.
'She has plenty of ability and has a great attitude in her work at home,' he said.
'Whether she runs here or wait for Warwick Farm next week, that decision is yet to be made but she will be competitive wherever she goes.'
November Falls was game in defeat on a heavy track at Newcastle last week but a better draw can see her go one better in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1890m) where she has drawn barrier 1.
After settling midfield, she made a move from the 600m to go out after the free-rolling leader and was very wide on the bend before Magicon by a length.
'It was a nice run last start. She gave everything she had and was only run down by a horse who had a nice run behind her and peeled off her back,' said Carpenter.
'She gets everything she needs this weekend to go one better.
'She has drawn a nice gate, a wet track and the distance suits. I'm sure she will be right there in the finish.
'She is pretty adaptable. She could either lead or take a sit just behind the leader.
'With the rail out nine metres, you would think it will benefit those horses up on the speed.'
Beer also saddles up stable favourite Mnementh in the Listed Hawkesbury XXXX Gold Rush (1100m).
'He's like a fine wine. He keeps getting better with age,' he said.
'He gets a wet track which is ideal and he has drawn quite well.'
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