WAUGH MAKES YET ANOTHER PROVINCIAL-MIDWAY FINAL

WILL it be this year?

Wyong trainer Kim Waugh’s victory with Mogul Monarch in yesterday’s fourth Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier (1200m) at Gosford meant she has qualified at least one runner for every $1m Final since the annual race’s inception in 2015.

Yet she is still to win one.

Ridden by Wyong apprentice Anna Roper, Mogul Monarch ($19) ran right up a recent blistering home track trial victory by defeating Kembla Grange trainer Paul Murray’s gallant Harry’s Bar ($10); both securing berths in the April 11 Final at Royal Randwick on Day 2 of The Championships.

Both first and second horses were resuming, and added to their first-up records.

Mogul Monarch has now won three from five fresh runs and, whilst Harry’s Bar hasn’t won, she has been placed at all four first-up starts.

The previously unbeaten and heavily backed $1.80 favorite Banjora was a luckless third after fluffing the start.

Roper settled Mogul Monarch in fifth place and brought him with a determined run after straightening in the centre of the track.

Waugh was understandably pleased to qualify Mogul Monarch for the PMC Final (1400m) as the gelding is her sole contender for this year’s series.

“He doesn’t need to run again before the Final; I will look after him,” Waugh told Sky Racing afterwards.

Roper said she has been doing a fair bit of work with Mogul Monarch leading up to yesterday’s Qualifier.

“He ran second in this race last year, and trialled super at Wyong the other day (bolted in by four lengths over 1000m on March 5),” she said.

“Mogul Monarch didn’t manage the 1400m of the Final last year, but he is settling a lot better now.”

This was the third year Waugh has won the Gosford Qualifier, having been successful with Great News 2021 and Shadows Of Love in 2024.

Unfortunately, Great News didn’t make it to the 2021 Final, having to be withdrawn because of an off fore hoof injury – and as a result Waugh missed having a runner for the only time.

She has had placegetters on less than six occasions, starting with Oxford Poet (third to Sure and Fast in the inaugural 2015 running), and then His Majesty also ran third the following year, to Danish Twist.

Newsfan and Spring Charlie ran seconds in 2018 and 2019, Oxford Tycoon ran third in 2020, and Shadows Of Love also filled the same place in Territory Express’ 2024 Final.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MARCH 15, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS