NEW outright Provincial-Midway Championships favorite Well Timed will begin his campaign at Hawkesbury on March 8.
But not before he trials at that track on Monday week (February 24).
Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker today outlined the plan for his talented four-year-old to tackle the annual series.
“Well Timed has already trialled twice at home, and I want to give him a third trial to go first-up into the Hawkesbury Qualifier at 1400m,” he said.
“That race is for Provincial-trained horses only.”
Parker is pleased with the progress of Well Timed, who hasn’t raced since being unplaced on the $1m Group 3 Silver Eagle (1300m) at Royal Randwick on October 19.
But he won two of his previous starts at headquarters in a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m) on August 24, and Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) on September 21.
The first two placegetters in the Hawkesbury heat will automatically qualify for the $1m PMC Final (1400m) at Randwick on April 12.
Well Timed had been sharing favoritism with Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle’s Midnight Opal at $11 since TAB.com.au issued the first market on the Final, but is now a clear favorite at $8.
Parker wasn’t altogether surprised to hear his gelding had been promoted to the top of betting.
“He trialled pretty well at Kembla Grange last Monday,” he said.
Well Timed ran fourth to yesterday’s impressive Newcastle winner Welcometobarbados in an 800m trial on January 30, then was narrowly beaten by Invade and Conquer over the same distance last week.
Lee Magorrian partnered Well Timed in both his recent trials.
Parker also has a “second string: to his PMC bow in another talented four-year-old, Flying Bandit, currently rated a $15 chance.
The Trapeze Artist gelding has won four of his eight starts, and hasn’t raced since scoring over 1800m at Randwick on November 5 in a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1800m).
He also trialled at Kembla Grange over 800m at home last Monday, and will go to Hawkesbury with Well Timed for his second trial next Monday.
“At this stage, I’m planning to go to another Qualifier for Provincial-trained horses over 1400m at home on March 22,” Parker said.
Parker was pleased to get a break through with Pierata filly La Bella Bondi ($7.50) – the first leg of jockey Grant Buckley’s comeback treble – in the Midway Maiden Handicap (1200m) at Newcastle yesterday, but doubts he will push on much further with her this campaign.
“She has been racing well and deserved to get her first win on the board, and Grant gave her a great ride,” he said.
“That was her ninth start, and I’m thinking we will pull up stumps for now.
“I think she will be even better as a four-year-old.”
Meanwhile, fellow Kembla Grange trainers Rob and Luke Price will have a runner in the opening PMC Qualifier (1400m), for both Provincial-trained and eligible Midway horses, at Hawkesbury on Thursday.
Four-year-old mare Fugitiva, who won three of her seven starts last preparation, will be Team Price’s representative, and Keagan Latham has been booked.
RacingNSW extended until 11am Monday entries for the opening Hawkesbury Qualifier after 13 horses were initially nominated.
The father and son team scored first-up with promising three-year-old filly Island Dec (Regan Bayliss) in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1250m) at Canterbury last Friday night.
That was the daughter of Kermadec’s fifth start, and she has already won three of them, prompting her trainers to understandably aim for a higher goal at home.
“The $250,000 Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) for three-year-old fillies on March 14 is our aim,” Luke Price said today.
Island Dec’s stablemate Our Gold Hope at $26 was an excellent second to Queen Of Dragons in last year’s Classic.
Story John Curtis, February 16, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos
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