Scone trainer Rod Northam couldn’t have wished for a better start to the 2025/26 season.
Sitting second, trailing only Chris Waller, on the NSW-wide trainer’s premiership, and comfortably leading the NSW country trainer’s premiership, Northam has trained 16 winners at an astonishing 37.2 winning strike rate.
Capping off a sensational start to the season, the Scone stable landed a quartet of winners at Tamworth on Monday.
Making the feat all the more astonishing was the fact that Northam only sent four runners around.
“I’ve trained four at Scone a couple of times but not four from four, so it’s huge; I’m rapt,” Northam said.
On a good day at Tamworth, Sebilla ($4.20) kicked things off with a decisive win in the 2100m Benchmark 66 Handicap.
Ridden by Anna Roper, the 5YO Divine Prophet mare led early before racing midfield in the small group of five runners.
Roper then elected for the inside run, and Sebilla pulled away for a 0.8-length win.
Later on the program, a well-timed ride by Leeshelle Small allowed Great Point ($3.80) to flash home strongly to win the 1400m Benchmark 66 Handicap.
A four-time winner, the 4YO Bull Point mare appears to have a lot of upside going forward.
The stable’s third win on the Tamworth program arrived in the 1200m Benchmark 58 Handicap, and it was another innovative ride, with Anna Roper saving ground on Fan Harder ($2.90) as the pair held on for a thrilling victory.
The 4YO Calyx gelding is now unbeaten at two starts and is a likely Highway Handicap candidate in the coming weeks.
Talented five-furlong specialist Speck ($3.40) rounded out Northam’s red-letter day, with the 5YO Bon Hoffa mare winning her fifth career race in the 1000m Benchmark 82 Handicap.
A Highway Handicap winner at Royal Randwick back in March, Speck was a class above her rivals in the final event at Tamworth, finishing strongly for Grant Buckley.
“I was pretty happy when she was where she was and travelling well,” Northam said.
“She has got that little sharp turn of foot, then holds it, and when she was travelling that good turning for home and straightening up, it was super.”
The Scone stable has enjoyed a sensational run, with their 16 winners this season coming from just 43 starters.
Northam ended last season with a Highway Handicap win, as Shropshire Lad (Ben Osmond, $8.50) prevailed in the 1100m Class Two at Rosehill Gardens.
Since then, the stable has landed a winning double at Tamworth on August 7, a treble at Scone on August 19, and two more doubles at Scone on August 25 and September 2.
On Sunday, Casino Stage (Leeshelle Small, $2.10) was a comfortable two-length winner in the 2000m Benchmark 58 Handicap.
