TEMPO TO DECIDE BANDIT’S PMC QUALIFYING CHANCES

RACE tempo will determine hat-trick seeker Flying Bandit’s chances at home tomorrow of becoming Kerry Parker’s second Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier.

That’s the opinion of the four-times Group 1 winning trainer, who already has Hawkesbury second Well Timed in the $1m PMC Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 12.

A talented and lightly-raced four-year-old who has won four of his only eight starts, Flying Bandit tackles the sixth Qualifier (1400m) on resumption, and Parker has called up Goulburn-based Nick Heywood to ride him.

Heywood, with 69 wins so far this season, is fifth in the NSW jockeys’ premiership and no stranger to riding for Parker, nor at Kembla Grange where he has tallied 20 winners.

“Lee Magorrian is my main provincial jockey, but when he was hurt at the trials a few weeks back, I had to think outside the square,” Parker explained.

“I didn’t want to be left without a good jockey, and got in touch with Nick when I knew Lee wouldn’t be available.

“He has ridden winners for me when I take horses further south.

“Nick is a heavyweight rider and may declare 0.5kg over on Flying Bandit, but I’m happy to have him on the horse.

“He also rides my two other runners (Bobs Back and Equilibrist).

“Flying Bandit has drawn the outside barrier, and will have to go back.

“That’s why the race tempo is going to be vital. He will need them to run along to give him the chance to have a crack at them over the last 200m.

“Flying Bandit has had the two recent trials, is going really well and ready to go back to the races.”

Flying Bandit ran second over 1400m at Hawkesbury in a Midway Benchmark 68 Handicap on September 7 at the beginning of his last preparation.

He was rested after making it two wins on end at Randwick on November 5 when he bolted away with a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1800m).

Kembla Grange trainers have nine of the 14 acceptors for their home Qualifier.

Mitch Beer has Apollo Mission (Grant Buckley), Artful Persuasion (Donovan Dillon), Salonius (Mitchell Bell) and Zipitalist (Louise Day), Theresa Bateup has Direct Fire (Amy McLucas) and Tartana (Jess Taylor), Rob and Luke Price have Fugitiva (Louis Beuzelin), and Joe Ible has Vintage Choice (Jean Van Overmeire).

In an open Qualifier market, another resumer, leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup’s High Dandy (Zac Wadick) held favoritism at $4.40 with TAB.com.au on Friday morning, ahead of Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle’s Silvanito ($5.50) and Flying Bandit ($6.50).

. The rail is 3m out from the 1100m to the winning post, and in the TRUE position for the remainder of the track.

The eight-race program begins at 1.25pm, with the Qualifier to close the card at 5.40pm.

Story John Curtis, March 21, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos