Gem Song Back to Best in G3 Newcastle Newmarket

Rejuvenated Your Song gelding Gem Song scored a heart-stopping win in Friday’s $160,000 Group III Newcastle Newmarket for Kis Lees and the Australian Bloodstock team.

Ridden by Nash Rawiller, Gem Song found the best going out wide in the straight to nail the game favourite Bottega on the line.

Winner of the Group III ATC Eskimo Prince Stakes and Group III BRC Gunsynd Classic in 2019, Gem Song was off the scene for sixty-seven weeks when making a brilliant return to the track when fourth to Masked Crusader in the Group III Southern Cross Stakes at Randwick on February 13.

With his third stakes win, the 5yo son of Your Song advances his record to six wins, two seconds and three thirds from 17 starts with earnings of $634,395.

“It is a good result. He has been off the scene a long time,” Lees said.

“Some good people have a share in the horse, so it’s very rewarding.

“I think he is back to his best. He stepped slow, so he had a bit of work to do.

“I thought he got beat on the line, so I was relieved when the number went up in the frame.

“He (Nash Rawiller) is pretty handy in those last 50 metres.”

Bred and initially raced by Gooree Stud, Gem Song is a half-brother to stakes-winner The Omega Man out of the crack racemare Beautiful Gem.

A daughter of Peintre Celebre (USA), Beautiful Gem won nine races highlighted by the Group II Sunline Stakes at Moonee Valley.

Now retired, Beautiful Gem is a daughter of the Group III Black Opal Stakes winner and Group 1 Golden Slipper runner-up Just Blooming.