MORGAN BACK ON MATCHA LATTE FOR HAWKESBURY QUALIFIER

ASH Morgan will be reunited with Matcha Latte at Hawkesbury on Saturday as the pair try for back to back Provincial-Midway Championships crowns.

Matcha Latte’s Wyong trainer Nacim Dilmi today confirmed Morgan’s booking for the third Qualifier (1400m), which is for eligible provincial-trained horses only.

Morgan partnered the now six-year-old to victory over Newcastle stablemates Lord Of Biscay and Imposant in last year’s $1m Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick when prepared by Sara Ryan.

Morgan also rode Matcha Latte at the gelding’s first start for Domeland’s new trainer Dilmi when a close third to Sandpaper in the Listed Carrington Stakes over the PMC Final course at Randwick on January 24.

Melbourne gun Damian Lane had the mount when Dilmi travelled Matcha Latte south for another 1400m Listed race at Flemington on February 14 when he ran sixth to Café Millennium (beaten little more than a length after jumping from the outside barrier in a field of eight and having to work to get outside the leader Scheelite).

“Ash was keen to stick with Matcha Latte, and I wanted the same jockey who can hopefully qualify him on Saturday and ride him in the Final,” Dilmi said.

“Saturday’s Qualifier will be the last on the program, and Ash has some earlier bookings at Randwick before heading out to Hawkesbury.

“Matcha Latte has done well since returning from Melbourne, and gets his chance to make it to another Provincial-Midway Final.”

Dilmi’s 20^th career victory with lightly-raced Emerald Hills at Newcastle yesterday bore a special note.

Ridden by Christian Reith, Emerald Hills ($4.20) defeated Moordyup ($6) and $1.80 favorite Pour Benn in the Maiden Handicap (1600m).

It was only the four-year-old daughter of Kermadec’s second start for Domeland, who purchased her for $50,000 at the 2023 Inglis Classic yearling sale.

“When I began training at Domeland at the start of the season, the prognosis about Emerald Hills’ racing career wasn’t promising at all,” Dilmi said.

“She has really bad knees, and we have had to be patient and take her along slowly.

“Liberty Smyth (Newcastle apprentice) didn’t panic when the mare wasn’t well away on debut at Taree, and she finished well to take third placing in a 1312m Maiden.

“I was pretty confident about her yesterday stepping up to a more suitable distance, and it was very satisfying to see her get the job done.”’

Trainers David Atkins (Newcastle) and Damien Lane (Wyong) are the latest to have qualified horses for the PMC Final at Randwick on April 11.

The experienced Atkins produced one of his finest training performances to win yesterday’s second Qualifier (1400m) at his home track with Group 1 placegetter Buffalo ($2.90 favorite), who at his first start since last autumn, defeated a gallant Lane’s mare Oakfield Jupiter ($8)and last year’s Final runner-up Lord Of Biscay ($4.40).

Buffalo and Oakfield Jupiter join Hawkesbury Qualifier first and second Octa De Lago and Oui Oui Oui as finalists for the April 11 contest.

Buffalo, for whom a sizeable Hong Kong offer last year never got off the ground, completed a huge day for Atkins and his long-standing client, Newcastle businessman Matt Chidgey.

The pair earlier in the day won the Super 2YO Maiden Plate (900m) with well backed debutante Potomac River (Christian Reith).

Potomac River (by Pride Of Dubai) is a half-sister to Buffalo (Written By); Chidgey breeding both horses from his mare Contributing, who was also trained by Atkins and retired after three starts.

. The latest TAB.com.au market on the PMC Final is:

6 Banjora, Matcha Latte

8 Buffalo (Q), Oui Oui Oui (Q)

11 Hyperbolic, Meridiana, Octa De Lago (Q)

15 Aisle Two, Damien, Imposant, Lady Extreme, Lord Of Biscay, Miss Spacegirl, Oakfield Jupiter

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MARCH 1, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS