MAL COUPE’S TOUGHEST TEST CHASING FIVE IN A ROW

STEVE O’Halloran is doing his best not to get too far ahead of himself.

Whilst he has entertained thoughts of tackling a black type race during the approaching Sydney autumn carnival with stable flag-bearer Mal Coupe, he wants to see the emerging young sprinter continue his winning ways at Royal Randwick on Saturday as he seeks to extend his picket fence to five.

At the same time he is fully aware the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1200m) is clearly the four-year-old’s toughest test.

The experienced Hawkesbury horseman is delighted James McDonald again will ride Mal Coupe after partnering the gelding to an easy Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1000m) victory on resumption at Randwick a fortnight ago.

But it comes with the news that the champion jockey will likely declare 1kg overweight at 56kg.

“If it had been an early race on Saturday, James probably would have been only 0.5kg over,” O’Halloran said today.

“However it’s the last race and it appears he will be 1kg over.

“Nonetheless, it’s terrific to have him sticking with Mal Coupe.

“He was impressed with him when he rode him for the first time on February 14.”

O’Halloran says Mal Coupe bounced out of that first assignment well, and has done everything right since.

“Saturday is definitely going to be the toughest test of his career so far,” he said.

“He’s going from a Midway Benchmark 72 to a Benchmark 88, and he’s up against some smart and experienced sprinters.

“If he can do it again and make it five in a row, then of course we will have to look at something bigger.

“There is the Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 14, and the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) there a fortnight later.

“But let’s get through Saturday first.”

O’Halloran had a “throw at the stumps” with stablemate Royalify, who was unplaced in his home track’s opening Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier on February 19, but may have another try to qualify Nymphadora for the $1m Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 11.

“Nymphadora will either go to Warwick Farm next Wednesday or another Hawkesbury Qualifier on Saturday week,” he said.

“She ran second at the Canterbury night meeting on February 13, and her only win to date (although placed seven times) was at Hawkesbury.

Wyong trainer Wayne Seelin had three shots without success at qualifying Apache Breeze for last year’s PMC Final.

He can’t do the same this year as the five-year-old has had more than the maximum number of starts (20), but is hoping to get another win with him at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Apprentice Anna Roper takes over on the gelding in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m).

Seelin put blinkers on Apache Breeze for his last run when seventh to Mal Coupe a fortnight ago, and has kept them on.

“If Apache Breeze puts his mind on the job, he can definitely run well on Saturday,” he said.

“He has been placed twice at Randwick, and if the forecast rain arrives, that will be a big help as he handles both soft and heavy ground.”

STORY JOHN CURTIS, FEBRUARY 26, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS