DILMI UNDECIDED ON MATCHA LATTE TARGET

NACIM Dilmi is yet to decide whether Matcha Latte will be given the chance to defend his Provincial-Midway Championships title.

“I’m in two minds which way to go,” the Wyong trainer said today following the gelding’s Melbourne debut at Flemington last Saturday.

A well supported $4.20 second favorite, Matcha Latte ran sixth in a bunched finish, only 1.3 lengths from the winner Café Millennium.

“I wasn’t disappointed with his performance,” Dilmi said.

“He jumped from the outside barrier and had to do plenty of work to get across to sit outside the leader Scheelite.

“Matcha Latte’s rider Damian Lane said he was very tight for room over the closing stages.”

Dilmi said Matcha Latte had arrived back at his Wyong stable this morning.

“He travelled well, and is in good order. I can’t fault him.

“I’ll monitor his progress during the week before making a decision which way to head with him.

“We have a few options all within a few days early next month.”

Those options are all at 1400m; the same distance as the $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final at Royal Randwick on April 11.

They are the $250,000 Group 3 Newcastle Stakes at Broadmeadow on March 6, $150,000 PMC Qualifier at Hawkesbury on March 7, and $165,000 National Sprint at Canberra’s Black Opal Stakes meeting the following day.

The Hawkesbury race is for provincial-trained horses only, and the first two placegetters automatically qualify for the Final.

Ash Morgan partnered Matcha Latte in his defeat of the Kris Lees stablemates Lord Of Biscay and Imposant in last year’s Final, and also was aboard in his first-up third in the Listed Carrington Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on January 24.

In latest betting on the April 11 Final, Hawkesbury mare Oui Oui Oui, who will open her PMC campaign in Thursday’s opening 1400m Qualifier at her home track, retains favoritism at $6, ahead of Matcha Latte ($8).

Lightly-raced I Am Invincible four-year-old Banjora, unbeaten from two starts at Gosford (the first in August last year and more recently a Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m) on February 5), is at $9 and the only other horses under double figures.

Meanwhile, Morgan, who was suspended at Randwick last Saturday after returning to racing with five winners at Taree a day earlier, has been successful in altering the dates of his penalty.

He will now begin his suspension on Wednesday, and will be eligible to resume on March 1.

. The latest PMC Final market is:

6 Oui Oui Oui

8 Matcha Latte

9 Banjora

11 Hyperbolic, Lord Of Biscay, Meridiana

15 Damien, Lady Extreme, Saxobushi

26 Cryptonic, Century Song, Artful Persuasion, Hawker Hall, Just Party, Brightburn, Midnight Opal, Oakfield Jupiter, Oakfield Saturn, Rolling Magic, Rubi’s Serve, Spice Baby, Strawberry Impact, Tasoraay, Wild Thoughts, Woolowin.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, FEBRUARY 17, 2026