THEY’RE BOTH NOT BOLTERS, SAY TRAINERS

THEY’RE the rank outsiders in the Provincial-Midway Championships Final – but not as far as their trainers are concerned.

Both Kembla Grange’s Joe Ible and Hawkesbury’s Darryll Kell are surprised their respective representatives Vintage Choice and Mahogany Girl are despised $71 bolters for Saturday’s $1m Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick.

It’s an achievement for the pair, each saddling their first runner in a PMC Final.

Ible, whilst acknowledging a strong field, says Vintage Choice is not entitled to be his current odds.

He has been thrilled with the UK import’s two runs - both seconds – leading into the Final.

Vintage Choice was first-up in a midweek Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m) at Warwick Farm on March 5 before being narrowly beaten by Newcastle mare Imposant in a 1400m Qualifier on his home track on March 22 (third placegetter Flying Bandit won at Hawkesbury on Wednesday).

“His run was super that day,” Ible said this morning.

“Vintage Choice did plenty of work early to eventually take up the running, and gave a good kick in the straight.

“Others up on the speed faded, but he was still standing at the end.

“I’ve been really happy with him since that run, and pleased to have Tyler Schiller on board.

“Tyler has had great success on Bennett Racing’s FawknerPark.”

Ible has two horses for Bennett Racing, and also ran second with Blazerro ($7) in last Sunday’s Gundagai Cp (1800m).

“They’re both due for wins, and hopefully we can get a big one for Bennett Racing with Vintage Choice tomorrow.

“I’m sure he will give us a great sight.”

Hawkesbury mare Mahogany Girl (Chad Lever) has blown like a southerly buster (from $11 before her out of character Rosehill Gardens failure on March 25), and her trainer cannot fathom why.

“You have to completely overlook that performance,” Kell said. “She was fractious in the stalls, and was never comfortable on the heavy ground.

“Her previous form was excellent, and she has bounced back really well.

“A good track at Randwick is what we were looking for.

“Mahogany Girl doesn’t have to lead, but obviously if she jumps in front, we know she is hard to get past.”

The six-year-old mare has made a brilliant return to the track under Kell’s guidance after being sidelined for two and a half years and giving birth to a Peltzer colt.

She will be the trainer’s first runner at headquarters, let alone a $1m PMC Final, and the words of multiple Group 1 winning trainer Clarry Conners are ringing in his ears.

“I spent five months with Clarry back in 2019 when I was looking to take out a licence to train thoroughbreds,” said the former harness racing devotee.

“Clarry was fantastic and I remember him showing me all around Randwick one day and a shortcut where the horses go from the parade area onto the track.

“He said: ‘You never know, you might have a runner here one day’.

“Little did I think that would ever happen.”

Kell, who will turn 60 in a couple of months, started going to Randwick when he was 14 years of age.

Whilst Mahogany Girl will race with synthetic filler (Equilox) in her off fore hoof, Kell says it is nothing to be concerned about.

“It’s only a small amount on both sides,” he said. “You wouldn’t even notice it.”

Wyong trainer Kim Waugh, also chasing a breakthrough PMC Final success, has two runners – Mogul Monarch (Tommy Berry) and Bojangles (Jay Ford).

She also has Northern Eyes next in line to secure a start should there be another unexpected withdrawal.

Bojangles also will race with synthetic filler (but in his near fore hoof), and blinkers come off and winkers go on.

Fellow Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan has booked Kerrin McEvoy for Broadway Bouncer, who will appreciate the roomier Randwick stretches and shapes as a great value chance.

He came from a long way back and was widest on the home turn when a late closing third in the Wild Card (1350m) at Wyong a fortnight ago.

Broadway Bouncer also ran third (to Mahogany Girl and Well Timed) in a Hawkesbury Qualifier (1400m) on March 8, and before that was runner-up over 1200m at Newcastle to Welcometobarbados, who was one of the favorites for the Final until the discovery midweek of a chipped bone to her off fore fetlock forced her unfortunate withdrawal.

The latest TAB.com.au market IS:

$3.80 Matcha Latte

$3.90 Lord Of Biscay

$8.50 French Ruler

$11 Rapt

$13 Magnatear

$14 Money Team

$17 Mogul Monarch

$18 Well Timed

$19 Art Volant, Kind Words, Bojangles

$26 Broadway Bouncer

$34 Imposant

$71 Mahogany Girl, Vintage Choice

Story John Curtis, April 11, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos