ATTARD’S HORSES “IN THE PINK” AT PRESENT

JASON Attard’s horses have been “in the pink” in recent months, and he’s hoping that good form continues at his home track tomorrow.

The Hawkesbury trainer, enjoying a great season with 12 winners so far, has four runners and considers the lightly-raced Dwight (Peter Smith Memorial 3YO Maiden Handicap, 1300m) the best of them.

But whilst the Unite and Conquer three-year-old, seemingly named after the late US president Dwight D. Eisenhower, will race in the same hot pink colours of stable stars Oui Oui and Nesrine, they are on “borrowed time”.

“Oui Oui and Nesrine are owned by Kate Nivison’s Etak Thoroughbreds, and Dwight is raced by her mother Jill,” Attard explained this morning.

“I’m waiting for Jill’s colours (identical to those worn by her late husband Simon’s 1984 Golden Slipper winner Inspired, ridden by Darren Beadman) to arrive.

“Dwight has had only two starts, both at the provincials, and there was nice improvement last time when he was narrowly beaten in a Provincial 2 & 3YO Maiden (1200m) at Wyong on February 26.

“I put blinkers on him then, and he will race in them again tomorrow.

“Dwight will have taken further improvement from the Wyong race, but this is an Open Maiden and a hard one at that.

“I’m hoping he can win, but probably a place might be best.

“I’ve also got Irulan (a three-year-old Star Witness filly) in the same race, and she is another one of Kate’s who races in the Etak Thoroughbreds colours.

“She ran fifth on debut at Newcastle on February 14, and is another improver, but again it’s a pretty strong Maiden.”

Attard also takes Cinceritas (HRC Motel Provincial Maiden Handicap, 1100m) and Zig (Pioneer Facilities Maintenance 4YO & Up Maiden Plate, 1500m) to the races.

“Cinceritas is still learning his trade, and Zig is going appreciate getting over longer distances such as 2000m.”

Meanwhile, Attard has ruled out trying to qualify first-up Warwick Farm winner Nesrine for the Provincial-Midway Championships Final, deciding to rely on Oui Oui Oui, who qualified by finishing second to Octa De Lago in the opening heat at Hawkesbury on February 19.

The talented mare will tackle a stakes race for the first time in Saturday’s Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens, with regular rider Tom Sherry aboard.

“Oui Oui Oui needs another race before the April 11 Final, and it’s a good chance to secure some black type against her own sex,” Attard said.

Fellow Hawkesbury trainer Steve O’Halloran’s Mal Coupe narrowly missed extending his winning streak to six when he stepped up to Group 3 company at Rosehill last Saturday, and was gallant in going under narrowly to Flying For Fun in the Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m).

Understandably, O’Halloran was thrilled with his performance.

“Mal Coupe was great,” he said. “He never lets you down, and has pulled up well.

“I put him out in a paddock this morning with last week’s Newcastle winner Benamera, and he was rearing.”

O’Halloran has nominated accomplished wet tracker Mal Coupe for Saturday’s $1m Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill, more so as a precautionary measure with rain forecast for later in the week, but doubts his rating would be sufficient to make the field anyway.

“More than likely we will wait for the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday week,” he said.

O’Halloran’s sole Hawkesbury runner tomorrow Vincentvangee (Happy Birthday Ali Arndt Maiden Plate, 1800m) also carries Mal Coupe’s owners, the Stevenson family’s colours.

The Smart Missile three-year-old has raced three times, the latest when third in a Goulburn Maiden Plate (1500m) on February 27.

“Vincentvangee is a big horse who stands 16 hands, and has definitely needed those three runs, just as he needs the 1800m tomorrow,” O’Halloran said.

“I put blinkers on him for the first time at Goulburn, and he ran a nice race.

“But he is still very inexperienced, and tomorrow’s race is certainly stronger.”

. The rail is 2m out from the 400m to 200m, and in the TRUE position for tomorrow’s seven-race program, which begins at 1.50pm.

Course manager Digby Nuthall at 7.50 am posted a “Good 4” rating. A total of 6mm of irrigation has been put on the track in the past seven days, including 3mm in the previous 24 hours.

No rain has been recorded in the same period, but Hawkesbury has received 12mm in the past seven days.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MARCH 16, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS