Newcastle preview: Trainer Jason Coyle eyes fairytale farewell win for his veteran gelding Chateaux Park

Now a nine-year-old, Chateaux Park’s last win was in August 2023 at Warwick Farm but has performed well finishing in the top five in 17 of his 34 starts since.

This time in, the son of Ocean Park was a handy third behind Affermato at Hawkesbury last month and wasn’t disgraced when fifth to Oceanfront in a Benchmark 72 at Newcastle two weeks ago.

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“He’s always a chance. It doesn’t matter where he runs - going around a $51 or $4.60 - if he brings his best, he’s always a hope,” said Coyle.

“He’s got a racing pattern which probably brings him undone a little bit but when it all falls into place for him, he can put himself thereabouts whatever price he is at.

“His runs this preparation on top of the ground are building towards what I hope is one of his last wins before he is retired.

“We will just take it one run at a time but I dare say this is his probably his last preparation before he starts to get worked into another discipline.”

Coyle has found a suitable race for Chateaux Park in the ACG Benchmark 64 Handicap (1900m) to get that victory.

“If there is a little bit of juice in the track and he can get the right run in transit, this race looks a nice set up for him,” he said.

“From barrier five, he hopefully he can settle in front of a few others and the small field means he won’t be giving away ten or twelve lengths, he should only be giving them five or six lengths.

“He will be closing off well and I think he can find himself somewhere in the finish.”

At the opposite end of the race career spectrum is Terra Lumina who makes his debut in the Newcastle Car And Truck Super Maiden Plate (900m) where he has drawn barrier 4.

The first season son of dual Group 1 sprint winner Earthlight trialled nicely when second behind Six Kings in his Warwick Farm heat on October 3 but showed he still has a bit to learn when sixth behind Gatwick on his second heat two weeks later.

“His trials have been good and he has shown nice ability at home.

“He’s a lovely athletic type of horse who just has to learn his trade now.

“At home, he has always done everything fairly easily. His first trial indicated that then his second trial showed he’s still got a bit to learn mentally rather than taking ability to the track to win a maiden.

“It’s now time to go to the races and take that next step in the process to learn about being a racehorse.”

Coyle also saddles up President at Randwick in the TAB Handicap (1300m).

Purchased from Inglis Digital in April for $17,000, the son of I Am Invincible has improved with each run for his new stable leading to a nice win at Hawkesbury last start.

“I’m still learning about the horse. He had a wind operation before we bought him but for the price we paid, I think he was worth the risk,” Coyle said.

“His first run for me was a was a total right off on the bog track at Warwick Farm.

“Since then, the Canterbury and Rosehill runs brought him on fitness wise and set him up for that win at Hawkesbury.

“From the draw and with a drop in weight, I think he can run a nice race.”

Originally published as Newcastle preview: Trainer Jason Coyle eyes fairytale farewell win for his veteran gelding Chateaux Park