PMC HOPEFUL TO TRIAL THIS WEEK AHEAD OF RETURN

TALENTED Wyong mare Oakfield Jupiter’s Provincial-Midway Championships mission takes an important step at Royal Randwick on Thursday.

Trainer Damien Lane plans to trial Oakfield Jupiter, and it will be her only trial before she has a lead-up race into a Qualifying heat of the series at Newcastle on February 28.

Oakfield Jupiter, a four-year-old daughter of Toronado, has won four of her five starts and was unbeaten in two Midway Benchmark 72 Handicaps; 1200m at Randwick on October 25 and 1300m at Rosehill Gardens on November 8.

She had a short break at owner Bruce Mackenzie’s property at Salt Ash (near Newcastle), and is pleasing her trainer as he readies her for a tilt at the PMC series.

“I’m looking to trial Oakfield Jupiter on Thursday, and then run her in a 1200m Benchmark 78 Handicap at Randwick on February 7,” Lane said today.

“That will be her lead-up to the Newcastle Qualifier three weeks later.”

The Newcastle heat is for eligible provincial-trained horses only, with the first two placegetters automatically clinching berths in the $1m Final (1400m) at Randwick on April 11.

Whilst Jason Collett partnered Oakfield Jupiter in her two latest Sydney victories, it is unclear about who will ride her in upcoming engagements.

“Bruce would like Aaron Bullock to ride her, but it’s going to come down to what weight she gets,” Lane said.

“Obviously Jason won’t be able to ride her in the Newcastle Qualifier being on a Saturday as he will have engagements in town.”

Meanwhile, Lane has called a halt to stablemate Oakfield Saturn’s successful campaign after her determined victory in the Bronte Simpson Memorial Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m) at yesterday’s metropolitan stand-alone meeting at Wyong.

Ridden by stable apprentice Anna Roper, Oakfield Saturn ($4.20) did a good job to work from an outside barrier and settle on the pace, then held off late surges from placegetters Perfect Justice ($6) and $2.25 favorite Charleroi to post her fourth victory.

“I spoke with Bruce (Mackenzie) last night, and the mare is going to spell at his place,” Lane said.

“I’m sure she will get over further in time, but these 1600m races have been there this campaign and it would have been silly not to have a crack at them.

“She has done a terrific job this campaign and in fact throughout her career.

“Her 10 starts have produced four wins and four placings and two fourths.

“Oakfield Saturn’s E-Trakka (equine fitness device) readings indicate she will get longer than 1600m.”

Lane put blinkers on the mare yesterday, and is in no doubt the move contributed to her victory.

“She worked in the blinkers last week, and Anna said it was the best she had ever gone,” Lane said.

“I was a bit disappointed when she drew awkwardly, and the only option was to go forward.”

Lane is looking to take his Gilgandra Cup winner Wealthy Investor for a Benchmark 82 Handicap (1600m) at the Showcase country meeting at Tamworth on Thursday week.

He is hoping to boost the gelding’s benchmark rating to chase another country Cup; Wellington (1700m) in late March.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JANUARY 11, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS