MATCHA LATTE BACK WITH EVEN BIGGER TARGET ON RADAR

PROVINCIAL-MIDWAY Championships Final hero Matcha Latte is back with a Group 1 target on the radar if he shapes up well.

Wyong trainer Nacim Dilmi has given the “green light” for the gelding to return for his first start under his banner, in Saturday’s Listed Carrington Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick.

Ash Morgan, who combined with Matcha Latte to land the $1m PMC Final (1400m) there last April, reunites with the six-year-old.

Matcha Latte, whose career has been beset by injury and a bleeding attack, hasn’t raced since finishing eighth from an outside draw in the Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m)  – won by subsequent Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap winner War Machine – at Doomben on May 24.

“This will be Matcha Latte’s first run for me, and he is in great order,” Dilmi said today.

“He had feet problems which led to him being withdrawn from another race at the Brisbane winter carnival after he ran in the BRC Sprint.

“He has done a lot of rehab and is going good.”

Dilmi explained that whilst Matcha Latte races in blinkers, he didn’t use them in his latest trial when runner-up to Cool Waters in a 1000m heat on the Beaumont track on January 8.

“I mentioned to Ash (Morgan) beforehand that I wanted him to have a decent hitout to make sure he coped with everything under pressure – and he did.

“Matcha Latte has been vetted after every gallop at home, and he is sound.

“Obviously I wasn’t close to him (Sara Ryan prepared him to win the PMC Final last year) until taking over this time, but to my eye he’s still a bit big.

“Nonetheless he has raced well fresh in the past, and we all know the ability he’s got.”

Dilmi said Matcha Latte’s form at his first few starts this campaign will determine his autumn target.

“The boss (Domeland) is keen to see him run in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick on April 4.

“If he can win a couple of races, then that will be his target.

“Otherwise we can switch back and have another crack at the Provincial-Midway Championships.”

Matcha Latte suffered a serious tendon injury in the autumn of 2023 and was sidelined for a lengthy period until Ryan painstakingly brought him back and nearly captured the Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle 17 months later.

Disaster struck again when he bled at his next trial at Randwick a few weeks later, and needed more time on the sidelines.

Dilmi is understandably hoping Matcha Latte returns to winning form as he has lost his good stayer Salt Lake City for the remainder of the season.

He got the news whilst attending last week’s Magic Millions yearling sale at the Gold Coast (where Domeland purchased seven youngsters) that the import had sustained an injury after resuming at Wyong’s Saturday metropolitan meeting on January 10.

“Of course it’s disappointing, but we have to move on,” Dilmi said.

“As well as Matcha Latte, I have Humanity running at Canterbury tomorrow night in a 1900m Benchmark 72 Handicap, and Roma Avenue (who was entered for the Carrington) in a Benchmark 88 Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

“Piperita is also a Randwick acceptor in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m), but won’t line up unless the track is a ‘Soft 6’ or worse,” Dilmi said.

“I thought Humanity ran a terrific race when seventh in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m) at Wyong’s Saturday stand-alone meeting on January 10.

“Most were focused on stablemate Charleroi’s third, but Humanity was having his first start since November 2024, and he went great.

“I’m not saying he will win at Canterbury as he starts to get out to suitable distances, but I’m expecting him to run another nice race.

“Roma Avenue is fitter for one run back, and has a good second-up record.”

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