DILMI LEANING TOWARD RANDWICK WITH MATCHA LATTE

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MATCHA Latte will be a dual acceptor for Group 3 features at Newcastle on Friday and Royal Randwick on Saturday.

But pending Wednesday morning’s acceptances for both meetings, the gelding’s Wyong trainer Nacim Dilmi is favouring heading south rather than north.

Last year’s Provincial-Midway Championships Final winner and third placegetter this year, Matcha Latte has 56kg in the $250,000 Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Broadmeadow, and 54kg in the $250,000 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) at Randwick.

Ash Morgan will ride the seven-year-old in whichever race he contests.

“They’re both tempting races,” Dilmi said today.

“The Cameron provides the winner with a ticket to the Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick in early November, and also the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) there next month.

“And the Bill Ritchie also gives the winner exemption from the Epsom ballot, and without a penalty.

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“I’ll accept for both races, and then make a decision after seeing the fields and barrier draws.

“However at this stage I am leaning toward the Bill Ritchie.”

Dilmi has been thrilled with Matcha Latte’s progress since his excellent first-up third in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) at Randwick on August 22.

Because of the break between runs, he trialled him at Rosehill Gardens last Tuesday when fourth to Hidden Motive in a 1030m Open heat.

“I didn’t put the blinkers on him in the trial, and he trialled nicely,” Dilmi said.

“He is a laid-back horse, and the blinkers certainly keep him focused in his races.

“They will definitely be on him either Friday or Saturday.

“Given all Matcha Latte’s problems in the past, he is very sound now and as a result I have been able to train him properly.”

Prior to acceptances, Matcha Latte was at $15 with Tab.com.au for the Cameron, and $26 for the Bill Ritchie.

Dilmi has just returned from a trip to Hong Kong to support his former boss James Cummings, who had his first couple of runners at Happy Valley last Wednesday night and Sha Tin last Sunday.

“I had never been to the stables there, and it was a real eye-opener,” he said.

“I caught up with Matcha Latte’s original trainer Mark Newnham (now firmly ensconced in Hong Kong), and he commented how remarkable it was that the gelding was still racing and racing so well in view of the injury problems he had earlier in his career.”

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Sydney Cup winner Changingoftheguard has been given 59.5kg topweight for Friday’s $300,000 Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m).

Promising young Sydney stayer Aethelwulf (54kg) continues to dominate betting at $1.50, ahead of last start City Tatts Club Cup (2400m) winner So You Are (55kg) at $4.

Changingoftheguard’s stablemate Tavi Time, who begins a new campaign for leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees in the Cameron, is topweight with 59kg, just ahead of last start narrow Randwick Group 2 Tramway Handicap (1400m) runner-up Soothsayer (58.5kg).

Last year’s Cameron runner-up Vivy Air and Scone Cup winner Hellsing are next with 58kg.

Tavi Time’s stablemate Infancy (58kg) heads weights for Friday’s $250,000 Group 3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m), with fellow Newcastle mare and Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup winner Churchill’s Choice on 57kg.

The pair share early favoritism at $4.50 for the fillies and mares’ feature.

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