The Newcastle Jockey Club hosts a cracking Qualifier of the 1400 metre Polytrack Provincial Midway Championship on Saturday which is also the Settlers Arms Dungog Cup Race Day. 2024 Group 3 Cameron Handicap runner up Matcha Latte resumes from a spell and takes on another first upper Northern Eyes which won four on the trot before a spell and local hope Lord Off Biscay winner of the Ballina Cup in January and successful in four of ten starts. The very promising South Coast mare Welcometobardados, winner of four from eight and a brilliant first up winner at Newcastle recently and Overriding in his best form makes up a talented five vying for the two spots on offer in the $1 Million Final at Randwick on April 12. Matcha Latte was formerly trained by Mark Newnham, and he was beaten a neck by Osipenko in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes two years ago.
Bred by Domeland the son of Maurice was transferred to current trainer Sara Ryan and was beaten a head in the Group 3 Carbine at Randwick in April 2023. His only start last year was in the Cameron Handicap at Newcastle in September when he fought out a great battle with Victorian Here To Shock going down by half a length.
Here To Shock has since won the $1.5 Million Alan Brown at Rosehill, a $1 Million race in Victora and a Group 1 in New Zealand. Matcha Latte contested two barrier trials at Rosehill in February and he was never off the bit when narrowly beaten on February 18. Andrew Adkins has the mount.
Kim Waugh’s Northern Eyes built up an imposing picket fence during August and September with successive wins at Hawkesbury, a Benchmark 68 win at Newcastle and a Randwick Midway victory. The 4-year-old has had two trials spaced close to two months apart but indicated he is ready in a recent Hawkesbury trial.
Kris Lees’ Lord Of Biscay has not drawn well however the Irish import has struck form with impressive wins in his past two starts in the Ballina Cup and on the Gold Coast. He can go forward if desired and Lees has an imposing record in this series having won five of the ten finals to date.
Welcometobardados is a 4-year-old mare working her way through the grades with four wins from eight starts and was very impressive first up on this track on February 15.
Leading Victorian trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman will have their second starter at Newcastle since setting up a stable in Sydney, when their speedy colt Mednyi contests the opening event the Lovelys Grocers IGA Super Maiden Plate (900m). The son of Capitalist debuted at Caulfield in the 1000 metre Debutante Stakes, a Listed race in October and after leading in the straight was beaten 3.8 lengths. The Freedman’s gave him a break and sent him to Newcastle for a 900 metre 2YO event on February 15. Mednyi began brilliantly and shared the lead before he kicked at the top of the straight only to be run down late. The colt will be fitter after the first up run and top apprentice Braith Nock will claim 2 kilograms.
Think We’re There at his best on the Newcastle track can notch up his second win in the 1850 metres Urban Angus Midway Class 1 & Maiden Plate. He has had two starts on his home track for a win and a second and two starts back here on January 25 he easily won a 1880 metre Super Maiden. Keagan Latham rode Jason Deamer’s gelding in his only win and he has the mount. Deamer has another good chance at the meeting with Altercation in a very open 900 metre Dillon & Sons Real Estate Dungog Dash Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap. Her last three starts have been on Metropolitan tracks and include a close second at Randwick on Boxing Day. She races well fresh and has not raced for a month.
James Cummings’ mare Rip Off a winner on the track in September over this trip will be hard to beat in the 1300 metre Cangon Stud Farm Benchmark 64 Handicap. She has raced well in all three starts at Newcastle and first up at Wyong she ran on well to finish second to the smart Mogul Monarch which led all the way.