Trainer Nacim Dilmi is heading to Newcastle with a strong sense of optimism, believing conditions are ideal for a winning double with his charges How Much Better and Federal Reserve on Friday's card.
Perfect Setup for How Much Better
The Domeland Racing head trainer admits he nearly scratched How Much Better from his last start at Gosford due to concerns over a rain-affected track. Dilmi, who was at Kembla Grange that day, sought advice from on-course stewards about the surface rating before deciding to run.
That decision proved wise. The gelding produced a career-best performance, storming home from last to be beaten only a nose in a tight three-way photo finish over 1200m. "He's the type of horse that if it's a Good 4, he will try a hundred per cent but if it's a Soft 5, he doesn't want to have a bar of it," Dilmi explained.
For Friday's Benchmark 68 Handicap (1350m) at Newcastle's Beaumont track, everything has fallen into place. How Much Better has drawn the perfect barrier in gate two, will race on a firm surface he loves, and steps up to a distance he has previously won over.
"I think the bigger track, an ideal barrier and the fact he is a winner over the distance suits him better," said Dilmi. "The firm track is perfect and he will go very close to winning." The trainer had also considered a Kensington race but opted for Newcastle to avoid a clash with stablemate Piperita.
Federal Reserve Primed for Maiden Breakthrough
Dilmi's second runner on the day is the improving Federal Reserve, who contests the Provincial Maiden Plate (1350m). The gelding has shown promising form this preparation, running third first-up over 1150m before a narrow second-place finish over 1400m at Newcastle on November 20.
Dilmi believes that last-start effort was full of merit. "Unfortunately he had to do a little bit of extra work to get up outside the leader," he analysed. "He never gave up and the winner did have the gun run behind him, but I just felt doing that extra work is what cost him in the end."
In a key gear change, blinkers have been applied to Federal Reserve for this assignment. "I have put the blinkers on him this time just to sharpen him up a little bit," Dilmi said. "On his work and on his two runs this preparation, he will be right there and I think he will be very hard to beat."
Bluebird Bay Scratched for Freshen-Up
The stable will have only two runners after the decision to scratch Bluebird Bay from his scheduled engagement. The horse ran third at Newcastle just last Sunday, and while he pulled up well, Dilmi felt the six-day back-up was too sharp.
"I am gutted about it because he is a $1.95 favourite but the horse comes first," the trainer stated, confirming the gelding would be saved for a Class 1 and Maiden event next week instead.
With ideal conditions and well-placed runners, Nacim Dilmi and the Domeland Racing team are poised for a successful day at the Newcastle races this Friday, December 5, 2025.
