HANAU BACK IN WINNING FORM BUT MISSES PMC SERIES

WHEN is two weeks too long!

When it’s enough to stop yesterday’s impressive Warwick Farm winner Hanau from attempting to qualify for the $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 11.

Newcastle trainer Mark Minervini paid $100,000 online for the former Godolphin-owned Hanau in July last year, and the gelding ended a frustrating run of wide barriers and unsuitable tracks when he surged home to post his first success for his new stable.

Given a great ride from the inside barrier by Newcastle apprentice Will Stanley, Hanau ($13) got into the clear at the right time and overpowered $2.60 favorite Monte Veebee.

The now five-year-old was at rather surprising odds considering he was coming back to a midweek Benchmark 72 Handicap with a favored draw after finishing an excellent sixth from an outside draw to Mal Coupe in a much stronger Benchmark 88 Handicap (1200m) at Randwick on February 28.

“Hanau wasn’t a cheap buy as a tried horse, and you always hope you can get a good return for the owners,” Minervini said today.

“He has been plagued by poor draws and either good or heavy tracks.

“A soft track seems to be his sweet spot, and he got that yesterday along with the rails barrier.

“Will gave him a beaut ride, and it was terrific to see him win in the manner he did.

“We did speak with RacingNSW a couple of times about Hanau’s eligibility for the Provincial-Midway Championships, but he was two weeks outside the six months’ condition to the opening heat of the series (Hawkesbury on February 19) when we bought him.

“That was his 19^th start yesterday, so he was eligible from that condition being inside the maximum 20 runs.

“It’s unfortunate as I’m sure he would have been very competitive in a 1400m Qualifier, especially on soft ground.

“Anyway we move on and I’m sure yesterday’s win won’t be his last.

“There’s another 1400m race (Benchmark 78 Handicap) back at Warwick Farm on April 1 for Hanau.”

Whilst Hanau’s breakthrough was good news for all his syndicate of owners, Minervini was especially pleased for former long-serving Illawarra Turf Club chairman Barry Vandenbergh and his wife Marie.

“Barry and Marie’s part ownership of Hanau came by chance, and it’s been a big week for the couple,” Minervini said.

“Illawarra Turf Club acknowledged Barry’s lengthy service to the club by naming the Stayers’ Cup after him at tomorrow’s Kembla Grange Classic meeting”.

Whilst Hanau cannot contest the PMC series, Minervini isn’t without a chance to have a Finalist this year.

He will run Rubi’s Serve in either Saturday week’s Qualifier (1400m) at Kembla Grange, or the 1350m Qualifier at Wyong a week later.

Rubi’s Serve was freshened after racing at Randwick in late December, and ran third in a 1000m Open trial at Wyong last Thursday in preparation for her return.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MARCH 12, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS