ATTARD EYEING ANOTHER PMC REPRESENTATIVE

JASON Attard already has one of the leading fancies for the forthcoming Provincial-Midway Championships in talented mare Oui Oui Oui.

And the Hawkesbury trainer hopes first-up Kembla Grange winner Cryptonic can add a “second string” to his bow by again racing well at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Dylan Gibbons takes over on hat-trick seeker Cryptonic in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m).

Five-year-old Cryptonic won a Midway Benchmark 68 Handicap (1400m) at his home track in early September, then resumed to take a Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200m) at Kembla Grange on January 3.

He carried 60.5kg, and has 1kg less for only his second metropolitan appearance.

Attard says he has kept Cryptonic on the fresh side since his Kembla Grange victory, and considers he is worthy of a crack at the PMC series.

A good problem will confront him if the lightly-raced son of Encryption (13 starts to date) wins again at the weekend.

“That would be his fifth career win, and obviously he can’t win another race after that to remain eligible for the series,” Attard said.

“I can always trial him going into a heat of the series.

“Because he is staying at the 1200m on Saturday, I haven’t done a lot with him since the Kembla Grange race, but I’m really happy with him.”

Cryptonic’s Hawkesbury victory last September was the only time Attard has tested him at 1400m – and he came through with flying colours.

Meanwhile, Attard’s main PMC seed Oui Oui Oui, unbeaten in three starts (the last two in town) during her current campaign, is back in work after a short break.

“She stayed at the farm and had a week in the pool to maintain her fitness,” Attard said.

“Oui Oui Oui will do some pacework on Saturday morning, and at this stage I’m looking to run her in the opening heat of the series at home over 1400m on February 19.

“If she doesn’t finish in the first two and qualify for the Final ($1m at Royal Randwick on April 11), I still have time to go to another heat.”

Oui Oui Oui is likely to trial at Warwick Farm on February 6 leading into her return race.

Provincial trainers figure strongly in Saturday’s Midway Benchmark 72; three of them having dual representation.

Fellow Hawkesbury trainers Brad Widdup (Tequila Bay), Terry Croft (Zoutastic) and Jack Pilkington (Pretty Tavi) join Attard, along with Kembla Grange’s Kerry Parker (Iconic Treasure and Let’s Go Again) and Anthony Mountney (King Charles and Vis I Do).

Wyong’s Kristen Buchanan has Broadway Bouncer and Annie’s Rose, and Wayne Seelin has Apache Breeze.

Blinkers come off Iconic Treasure, whilst they also are removed from Annie’s Rose’s gear, and visors are substituted.

In a typically wide Midway market, leading Hawkesbury trainer Widdup’s last start Warwick Farm winner Tequila Baby (apprentice Braith Nock) was the $4.20 favorite with TAB.com.au this morning.

Widdup withdrew the mare from an engagement at last Saturday’s metropolitan meeting at Wyong because of the blazing hot conditions to keep her for Rosehill.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JANUARY 15, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS