EXPRESS MOVE IN PROVINCIAL-MIDWAY FINAL MARKET

BOOKMAKERS have reacted quickly to the Territory Express news.

Following trainer Paul Niceforo’s announcement yesterday on ProvincialRacingNSW that he had returned last year’s Provincial-Midway Championships Final winner to Sydney for Thursday’s fifth Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier (1400m) at Newcastle (provided he works well in the morning), TAB.com.au today installed him as $8 co-favorite.

Niceforo took Territory Express to Melbourne for renowned horseman Julien Welsh to work on his barrier issues, and was delighted with what was achieved.

He had planned to start the gelding in the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1400m) at Flemington last Saturday week, but a stone bruise discovered on race morning led to his withdrawal.

As Territory Express has raced 20 times (the maximum for PMC candidates to contest their first Qualifier), the gelding remains eligible to run at Newcastle on Thursday to try to qualify for the $1m Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 12.

In a reshuffled Final market, Territory Express now shares favoritism for the Final with Lord Of Biscay, Matcha Latte and Well Timed.

Lord Of Biscay and Well Timed have already qualified, whilst Matcha Latte will attempt to do so either at Newcastle on Thursday or Kembla Grange two days later.

The first two placegetters in Thursday’s race will gain spots in the Final, with only Saturday’s Kembla Grange Qualifier (1400m) and the Wild Card (1350m) at Wyong on Saturday week remaining to finalise the 15-strong field.

Because of the closeness of the two Qualifiers this week, trainers are keeping their options open.

Eleven horses have been nominated for both Newcastle (which is for both provincial and Midway horses) and Kembla Grange (provincial only).

Hawkesbury trainer Jack Pilkington has ruled out a PMC campaign for his talented three-year-old Alabama State.

Pilkington is likely to resume Alabama State in Saturday’s Listed Darby Munro Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens, and has booked Kerrin McEvoy to ride the colt.

“It looks like being a big field, but he will run provided he draws well enough,” Pilkington said today.

“Irrespective we are facing a tough task to win the Darby Munro first-up.”

The colt would need to win or run very well for connections to pay a $22,000 late entry fee for him to tackle the $1m Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) at Randwick on the same day as the PMC Final.

Pilkington has his home track’s $250,000 Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) on May 3 in mind for Alabama State.

. The updated PMC Final market is:

8 Territory Express, Lord Of Biscay, Matcha Latte, Well Timed

11 Rapt, Welcometobarbados, Bojangles, French Ruler, Money Team, Wooloowin

15 Alabama State, Broadway Bouncer, Flying Bandit, Harlow Mist, Mahogany Girl, Mogul Monarch, Overriding, Silvanito, Spangler

Story John Curtis, March 17, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos