MATCHA LATTE’S MELBOURNE MISSION FOR AUTUMN TARGET TEST

MATCHA Latte has an interstate mission at Flemington on Saturday in a race which will have a major bearing on his autumn target.

Wyong trainer Nacim Dilmi, who prepares last year’s Provincial-Midway Championships Final winner, decided to send the gelding to Melbourne for The Elms – a 1400m Open Handicap.

He is understandably excited as Matcha Latte will be his first runner at his old stamping ground, having looked after Godolphin’s Melbourne operation under head trainer James Cummings before branching out on his own at the start of the season as Domeland’s head trainer.

“Matcha Latte will have a good gallop the Melbourne way of going at Wyong in the morning,” Dilmi said this morning.

“He will be floated to Melbourne on Wednesday evening, and Damian Lane has been booked to ride him on Saturday.

“This race will give us a good indication as to whether to proceed to the Group 1 Doncaster Mile or have a crack at defending his Provincial-Midway Championships title.

“If he blows them away on Saturday, then the Doncaster is a realistic goal.

“If not we can still try to qualify him for the Provincial-Midway Final.”

The $4m Doncaster Mile (1600m) will be run at Royal Randwick on April 4, and $1m PMC Final (1400m) there a week later; both being held on respective days of The Championships.

Dilmi understandably was very pleased with Matcha Latte’s first-up close third to Sandpaper in the Listed Carrington Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on January 24.

“I could not have been any happier with his run, especially considering he was coming back after a long break,” he said.

“He pulled up well and has continued to do well, and is sound.

“I’m looking forward to running him at Flemington on Saturday.”

Matcha Latte had not raced since finishing eighth from a wide barrier to subsequent Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap winner War Machine in the Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben on May 24 last year.

Dilmi will have plenty of options to qualify the six-year-old for the PMC Final should it be decided not to go down a Doncaster Mile path.

Under previous trainer Sara Ryan, Matcha Latte contested two lead-ups at Newcastle last year; just missing out on qualifying when first-up and third to Welcometobarbados and subsequent Final runner-up Lord Of Biscay (the first two made the Final), and then defeating Art Volant and Kind Words in another Qualifier over the same distance 19 days later.

He was also narrowly beaten by Victorian Here To Shock in the Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle in September 2024, having overcome a serious tendon injury and not racing since April the previous year.

Newcastle will host both a 1400m Qualifier (for provincial horses only) on February 28, and Wild Card on April 2, when both provincial and eligible Midway horses can run.

Matcha Latte is currently an $8 second favorite for the PMC Final behind talented Hawkesbury mare Oui Oui Oui, who will contest the opening 1400m Qualifier at her home track on Thursday week.

Last week’s Gosford winner Banjora has firmed to $9 third favorite, and is the only other horse being quoted under double figures.

The Warwick Farm-trained I Am Invincible four-year-old is unbeaten from two starts, both at Gosford. The first was on August 29 last year in an 1100m Maiden Plate.

Zac Lloyd, who won the 2024 PMC Final on Territory Express, has partnered Banjora in his two wins.

Meanwhile, Dilmi has confirmed Charleroi has concluded his current campaign following his unplaced result in a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m) at Randwick last Saturday.

“I intended beforehand spelling him win, lose or draw,” Dilmi said.

“He never got into the race from his wide draw, and we won’t continue with him this preparation.

“Charleroi will have a nice break, and we’ll try again with him next time.”

STORY JOHN CURTIS, FEBRUARY 9, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS