3 minute read

Emerging three-year-old Mindspace could have a busier schedule than most this week.

The well-related Mindspace has been accepted for two meetings in three days and trainer Mark Newnham hasn't ruled out running the horse at both. 

In an increasingly rare scenario, Mindspace, a brother to Group 1 winner Nakeeta Jane, is likely to take his place in a 2000m Class One and Maiden at Hawkesbury on Thursday and all being well, could then head to Randwick on Saturday to do it all again in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m). 

"I'm leaning to tomorrow, the market generally tells you where you should run," Newnham said. 

"But there is plenty of rain about, he does handle wet ground and I'm not saying he couldn't run in both." 

Only six horses were paid up for the Frank Packer Plate when fields were declared on Wednesday, but it is top-heavy with quality. 

Osipenko is coming off a sixth in the Doncaster Mile, while Rosehill Guineas runner-up Pericles and dual stakes winner Williamsburg are looking to rebound from unplaced efforts in the Australian Derby. 

"I was hoping there would be a little less class. The top three, they're coming out of Group One races," Newnham said. 

"Sometimes this race doesn't measure up to anywhere near that." 

Newnham has had a long association with Mindspace's family having trained 2019 Surround Stakes winner Nakeeta Jane and several of their half-siblings. 

While Mindspace has a long way to go to emulate his big sister, Newnham believes he will develop into a handy horse in his own right. 

"I thought he was the best type the mare has thrown and I've trained a few of them," he said. 

"But he's more a staying type whereas she (Nakeeta Jane) was quite brilliant. 

"He showed good talent early, lost his way a bit as a colt but now he's starting to come into his own a bit that he's getting to a distance that suits him. 

"He certainly appreciated getting up in trip the other day." 

Tom Sherry has been booked to partner the last-start Newcastle winner in both assignments this week and Mindspace is a $3.70 chance at Hawkesbury and a $71 outsider if he backs-up on Saturday.