LORD OF BISCAY READY FOR PMC FINAL REMATCH

JAMES McDonald goes back on Lord Of Biscay as the stage is set for a Provincial-Midway Championships Final rematch with Matcha Latte.

Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees confirmed McDonald’s booking after a clever Dylan Gibbons ride led to Lord Of Biscay ($4.40) securing another Final spot by taking yesterday’s Wild Card (1400m) at Newcastle from stablemate Imposant ($12) and Miss Spacegirl ($21).

Gibbons already had a booking for his opening Hawkesbury Qualifier Octa De Lago in the $1m PMC Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday week.

McDonald rode Lord Of Biscay 12 months ago when a gallant second to Matcha Latte, whom Ash Morgan rode and also has the mount again this year.

“Matcha Latte is the horse to beat again, but Lord Of Biscay is in great order,” Lees said.

“There wasn’t much between them last year, and I don’t think it will be any different this time.”

Lees, with five PMC Finals to his credit, now has three runners in his bid to claim a sixth.

Until yesterday his sole representative was Miss Busslinger, who ran second to Matcha Latte in the third Qualifier (1400m) at Hawkesbury on March 7.

“We’re not out of it yet,” a defiant Lees said after adding Lord Of Biscay and Imposant to his 2026 team.

“The plan today was to put Lord Of Biscay into the race as he is a flowing type of horse.

“Dylan executed it perfectly.”

Whilst McDonald again rides Lord Of Biscay, Lees said Tyler Schiller, who rode Imposant today, will retain the Final mount.

“Imposant ran third in last year’s Final, and has a nice turn of foot,” Lees said.

“She ran well yesterday on a good surface, and any cut out of the ground on Saturday week will boost her chances.”

The PMC Final market with TAB.com.au took another turn when $4 second favorite Banjora, who was threatening Matcha Latte ($3.50) for favoritism, failed to qualify.

As a $1.45 Wild Card hotpot, he was expected to make his way into the Final, but finished fourth.

Banjora’s rider Zac Lloyd told RacingNSW stewards that the gelding, despite becoming slightly unbalanced near the 200m, failed to quicken as expected and raced flat.

He added that in his opinion Banjora may have come to the end of his preparation.

A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities with Banjora.

Lord Of Biscay tightened initially from $15 to $11 for the Final and then came in further to $6 second favoite, whilst Imposant remained at $26.

The latest market is:

2-80 Matcha Latte

6 Lord Of Biscay, Oui Oui Oui

8 Buffalo   

11 Il Passero  

15 Oakfield Jupiter, Octa De Lago

26 Flying Embers, Imposant, Midnight Opal

51 Harry’s Bar, Miss Busslinger, Oakfield Saturn, Miss Spacegirl, Mogul Monarch

Matcha Latte’s Wyong trainer Nacim Dilmi followed Lees’ victory with Lord Of Biscay by winning the closer with Is It Spectacular ($8.50).

But the Dundeel three-year-old’s success in the Class 1 Handicap (1500m) saved him from the unkindest cut of all only temporarily.

“I will perhaps give him one more run as a colt, but the gelding operation isn’t far away,” Dilmi said.

Winning rider Regan Bayliss backed up Dilmi by saying after unsaddling his winning that Is It Spectacular was “very colty”.

Is It Spectacular bounced back from a seventh at $31 in the Canberra Guineas (1400m) on March 7 to post the second win of his seven-start career.

Lees’ fellow Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle, who has Midnight Opal in the Final, was the other provincial winner on the day.

Jockey Nick Heywood made the trip from his Goulburn base to land the Provincial Class 1 Handicap (1250m) on Lightning Glory ($2.60).

Heywood and Doyle became mates when both were attached to Randwick trainer Peter Snowden’s stable; the former whilst an apprentice and the latter before returning to the Hunter to resume his training career.

Heywood made the running on Lightning Glory and just held off Lees’ blueblood filly Erin Jo ($2.20 favorite), who made an excellent return to racing and is obviously looking for further ground.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, APRIL 1, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS