PROVINCIAL TRAINERS CONTRIBUTE TO HUGE MIDWEEK QUADDIE DIVIDEND

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PROVINCIAL trainers Ross McConville and Nacim Dilmi’s upset season breakthroughs contributed to a huge midweek TAB quaddie dividend at Canterbury today.

Kembla Grange’s McConville and Wyong’s Dilmi won the last two races with $21 outsiders Donwon and Federal Reserve respectively.

Those results coupled with the first two legs – won by $26 and $6.50 chances – ensured a NSW TAB dividend of $114,332.50 (it paid even bigger at $125 grand on Super TAB).

Donwon (Alysha Collett) gave McConville a welcome return to the city winner’s list; the gelding’s older half-brother South Of India being his previous at Rosehill Gardens in January last year.

Donwon was given a perfect ride by Collett in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m), and defeated Zale ($8) and Sir Franklin ($6.50), leaving $2.60 favorite Inoue (fourth) out of the placings.

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This was five-year-old Magna Grecia gelding Donwon’s third success – and his first in town.

His previous wins were in a Gosford Midway Maiden (1000m) and Moruya Benchmark 74 Handicap (1200m) in May and June last year.

But he still has a way to go to match older brother South Of India (by Churchill), who is a seven-times winner.

McConville took a nose roll off and instead put blinkers on Donwon three runs back before he ran fifth at his home track and then third on the inside Illawarra Grange circuit.

Federal Reserve (Tyler Schiller) put the seal on the big quaddie dividend when he surged home to take the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1550m).

Punters plunged on James McDonald’s $2 favorite Barking Mad, but he could finish only third.

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Federal Reserve, a four-year-old son of Justify, was having only his second start this campaign.

“He was unlucky first-up at Wyong last month when fourth over 1350m, and stepping up in distance suited,” Dilmi said.

“He won over 1600m at Gosford in January, and I expected him to run well today but at the same time expected the favorite to be hard to beat.

“Federal Reserve doesn’t sprint home like that very often, and hopefully is in for a good campaign.”

STORY JOHN CURTIS, AUGUST 12, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS