MAL COUPE TAKES ON GROUP 2 COMPANY AT HIS RETURN

STEVE O’Halloran says he has no option but to resume Mal Coupe in Group 2 company for the first time at Royal Randwick tomorrow.

The Hawkesbury trainer has done a terrific job with the now five-year-old, who tackles the $1m Concorde Stakes (1000m) at set weights plus penalties.

Under the conditions he has to carry 56kg, only 2.5kg less than three joint topweights, which include last year’s Golden Slipper Stakes winner Marhoona.

Such was Mal Coupe’s progress in autumn that his benchmark rating shot from 78 to 96.

“Horses who are rated around the 96 to 100 mark aren’t necessarily the easiest to place,” O’Halloran said today.

“You have to take on the Group 2s and 3s, and we have no option but to do that first-up.”

O’Halloran has won six races with the son of Xtravagant, who hasn’t raced since finishing sixth to Mazu in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in April.

He has trialled twice in preparation for his return, and was ridden both times by Kerrin McEvoy, who will be on rival Wanaruah in the Concorde.

“Unfortunately Kerrin had already taken that booking, so Tyler Schiller will ride Mal Coupe for the first time,” O’Halloran said.

“Mal Coupe was a bit soft in his first 900m at Rosehill Gardens on August 7, but was really good a fortnight later when second to Bev’s Nine in another 900m trial there.

“He has made further improvement since, but is still not 100 per cent in the coat.

“Obviously it’s a tough test tomorrow, but he has to kick off somewhere and will definitely take improvement from the race.”

Fellow Hawkesbury trainer Jason Attard is rapt with the manner in which is talented mare Oui Oui Oui is coming up.

The five-year-old daughter of Yes Yes Yes hasn’t raced since finishing seventh in Lord Of Biscay’s $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) at Randwick on April 11, and Attard didn’t expect her to win her first 742m Open trial there on August 28.

However, with regular jockey Tom Sherry aboard, she burst along the inside rail under her own steam to defeat Farnicle and Miss Freelove.

“Oui Oui Oui went great, and will trial again before we take her back to the races,” Attard said today.

Wyong’s Nikki Hodgson and Nacim Dilmi, and Newcastle’s James Harding were the provincial winners at today’s Wyong Cup meeting.

Hodgson clinched her first success of the new season with only her sixth runner when Algorithmic (Andrew Gibbons) took the Midway 4YO & Up Maiden Plate (1350m).

In an all-local result, Algorithmic ($3.20), who cost $760,000 as a Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling in 2024 before being onsold for $60,000 in April, defeated Tracey Bartley’s What A Gent ($6) and Rod Bailey’s Classic Two ($8.50).

Dilmi won the Provincial 5YO & Up Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) with triple acceptor Charleroi (Regan Bayliss).

A $3.60 second favorite, the Dundeel five-year-old swept around the field approaching the home turn and easily defeated fellow Wyong trainer Kim Waugh’s gallant Northern Eyes ($8).

Charleroi also was an acceptor for the 1350m Benchmark 64 Handicap and Big Dance Eligibility Wyong Cup (2100m), and Dilmi clearly found the right race.

Harding is going great guns with former Victorian mare Grinzinger Pod ($4.40), who won her second race from her last three provincial starts.

Ridden by leading Sydney apprentice Siena Grima, Grinzinger Pod held on gamely in the straight to defeat Silencio Porfavor ($3.50) and Nova Centauri ($11) in the Springtime Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200m).

Sydney’s champion trainer Chris Waller won a 10th Wyong Cup when Matusalem ($2.50 favorite) prevailed in a finish where less than a length covered the first five horses across the line.

Matusalem’s rider James McDonald has shared in five of Waller’s Wyong Cup triumphs.

Fellow jockey Zac Lloyd produced a brilliant ride to bring $2.80 favorite Modella from well back to snare the Group 3 Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m).

Newcastle trainer Mark Minervini’s decision to back up last Sunday’s winner Smiling Prophet in stakes company was vindicated when she finished a close fourth at $101. STORY BY JOHN CURTIS, AUGUST 4, 2026. PIC BRADLEY PHOTOS.