MINERVINI WAITING ON FINAL TRACK RATING FOR WYONG QUALIFIER

MARK Minervini is caught between a rock and a hard place!

The Newcastle trainer dearly would like to attempt to qualify Rubi’s Serve for the $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final, but at the same time doesn’t want to risk ruining her newest campaign on a wet track in tomorrow’s sixth Qualifier (1350m) at Wyong.

“I’m damned if I do, and damned if I don’t,” Minervini said this morning.

“Rubi’s Serve is going well and has a good fresh record (a win and two placings from three first-up starts), but is not comfortable on wet ground.

“Though she has been placed on soft and heavy tracks, her best form is on good tracks as her record shows (all three career wins along with five placings).

“I don’t want to waste a run by starting her first-up on a wet track tomorrow, and risk the remainder of her campaign.

“I’ll wait and see how conditions are (Wyong was rated a ‘Soft 7’ on Friday morning) before the 7.30am deadline tomorrow.”

Minervini had a crack at qualifying Rubi’s Serve last year for the Final – to be run this year at Royal Randwick on April 11 – in two heats at home.

She ran an excellent fourth to Welcometobarbados(subsequent injury cost her a Final start), and the second and third placegetters Lord Of Biscay and Matcha Latte later were the first two placegetters in reverse order in the Final.

Leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup accepted with Audrey’s Lane in the Wyong Qualifier and Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow, and is likely to go to the latter.

“The owners have discussed it and feel we may be better off staying in town,” Widdup said this morning.

Audrey’s Lane had never previously raced at 1200m when she resumed and led throughout in a Midway Benchmark 72 at Rosehill a fortnight ago.

Alysha Collett rode the mare then and stays with her tomorrow (Audrey’s Lane goes from 56kg to 58.5kg).

Mailata has been withdrawn from the Midway to contest the Qualifier at Wyong, with Adam Farragher to ride.

Kembla Grange trainer Diane Poidevin-Laine has opted to bypass Wyong with Audenzia, who instead will attempt to qualify for the Final in Tuesday’s Wild Card (1350m) at Newcastle.

Audenzia is eligible for the Wild Card, having already contested a Qualifier when fourth to Midnight Opal at home last Saturday.

Oakfield Jupiter, one of two Final qualifiers for Wyong trainer Damien Lane, was in great form at this morning’s Randwick trial session.

Ridden by Jason Collett, who has been booked for the Final, Oakfield Jupiter powered home to easily win the opening 1200m heat, boosting her prospects for the April 11 Final.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MARCH 27, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS