HOBBY TRAINER’S PMC AIM CLOSER TO REALITY

HAWKESBURY hobby trainer Michael Vella mapped out a plan last winter to have a shot at this year’s Provincial-Midway Championships with Cosmeena.

The plan moved an important step closer to fruition at Wyongyesterday when the mare returned from a lengthy break in winning form.

Ridden by Louis Beuzelin, Cosmeena ($4.40) took the Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) to post her third victory from 12 starts.

Not only did Vella have Cosmeena in tip-top shape for her first start since late July last year, but his success was the 100^thwinner this season for the Hawkesbury training base.

“It was great to see the mare come back and win, but it was a bit messy at the end,” Vella said today.

He was referring to the fact that Cosmeena had to “win” the race again in the stewards’ room after apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald, who rode fourth placegetter Queen Bess ($3.90 favorite), lodged a protest, alleging the winner’s rider had caused interference over the last 100m.

RacingNSW stewards, whilst acknowledging some interference, said they could not be comfortably satisfied that Queen Bess would have finished ahead of the Hawkesbury mare had the interference not occurred.

However, Beuzelin received a careless riding suspension, which took effect immediately, enabling him to resume riding on March 4.

Vella, who races Cosmeena in partnership with his wife Barbara Anne, said an excellent Royal Randwick performance last winter convinced him to aim for this year’s Provincial-Midway series.

“She ran second in a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) against her own sex last July, and we decided to give her a good spell after she ran fifth there in a 3YO Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m) a fortnight later,” he said.

Cosmeena not only was having her first start since July 26, underlining her trainer’s skill, but she was also Vella’s first runner since.

“I gave her a trial at home and a jumpout in preparation for yesterday’s race,” Vella said.

“I’m sure she will take improvement from the run and, all going well, we will go to a PMC Qualifier (1400m) at Hawkesbury on Saturday week.

“That race is for provincial-trained horses only (the first two placegetters qualify for the Final at Randwick on July 11).

“I took blinkers off Cosmeena yesterday, but will probably put them back on for her next run.”

Vella, who has only two horses in work (the other is an unraced Prague two-year-old named Manisha), operates a duck farm with his wife at Londonderry.

But he has not been in the best of health lately, and took time to publicly thank the couple’s grandsons Jacob and Harrison for helping out at the farm.

“The boys have been and continue to be a tremendous help to us, and we are most appreciative,” Vella said.

Whilst Vella was obviously pleased to get Cosmeena back in winning form, he was hoping for a Wyong double yesterday.

During his health issues, he asked fellow Hawkesbury trainer Darryll Kell to take over Belgrano – and that horse finished a gallant second to Chris Waller’s $1.50 hotpot Ivy Legend in the 4YO & Up Maiden Handicap (1625m).

Belgrano has been placed at three of four starts for Kell, meaning he has now notched nine placings from 19 starts, though yet to break through.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, FEBRUARY 22, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS