WYNEN’S PLAN TO QUALIFY TRACK SPECIALIST FOR PMC FINAL

DENIM Wynen says it would be a “dream come true” if at Hawkesbury tomorrow she can qualify Monkhana for the Provincial-Midway Championships Final.

The Wyong trainer has especially set the mare for the third Qualifier (1400m), restricted to eligible provincial trained horses.

Unbeaten from two starts at Hawkesbury, Monkhana will be ridden by Wyong apprentice Anna Roper, who has partnered the former New Zealander in all three Australian victories since joining Wynen’s team.

Monkhana won a Benchmark 64 Handicap over tomorrow’s course in February last year when both resuming and making her debut for her new trainer.

She also won another Benchmark 64, but over 1600m, at Hawkesbury two months later, and in August a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on heavy ground.

“After Monkhana ran seventh in The Four Pillars (1500m) at Randwick on November 1, we planned to have a crack at the Provincial-Midway Championships,” Wynen said today.

“We gave her a nice spell of six weeks, and I couldn’t be happier with how she is progressing.

“Anna feels Monkhana is a strong miler, and she likes Hawkesbury obviously.

“Some more rain is forecast, and that would definitely boost her chances.

“Whilst I have had a Group 3 runner (Sunshine Law in the Angst Stakes, 1600m at Royal Randwick last October), this would be a dream come true from my small stable if I could qualify her for the PMC Final.”

The first two placegetters tomorrow will join Octa De Lago, Oui Oui Oui, Buffalo and Oakfield Jupiter in the $1m Final (1400m) at Randwick on April 11 on Day 2 of The Championships.

With early second favorite Imposant’s defection from tomorrow’s Qualifier to instead run at home today in the Group 3 Newcastle Stakes (1400m), Wynen’s fellow Wyong trainer Nacim Dilmi’s Matcha Latte (Ash Morgan) is a dominant $1.55 favorite with TAB.com.au.

Dilmi decided to chase back to back PMC Final victories with last year’s winner, rather than pursue a Doncaster Mile path, and he could not have found a more suitable race .

Hawkesbury trainer Jason Attard has opted for a gear change in the hope of snaring a second Qualifier for the Final.

He already has Oui Oui Oui in the Final, and is banking on blinkers going on Cryptonic (Keagan Latham) tomorrow enabling him to at least run second if Matcha Latte wins as most expect.

Cryptonic ran seventh to Buffalo in last Saturday’s Newcastle Qualifier (1400m), which was clearly the strongest of the two heats run so far.

“Cryptonic barely had a blow when he came back after that race,” Attard said.

“It was his first run in four weeks, and perhaps he didn’t have his mind on the job.

“He has been a bit lackadaisical lately getting back in his races, and hopefully the blinkers will help keep him more focused.

“Cryptonic has worked in blinkers before.

“We might all be running for second against Matcha Latte, and I’ll be happy if it is our horse.”

Along with Attard, fellow Hawkesbury trainers Peter Green (Bold and Blazen), Michael Vella (Cosmeena) and Mal Coupe’s trainer Steve O’Halloran (Nymphadora) are chasing Final qualification.

Wyong trainer Tracey Bartley has withdrawn Dusty Bay from tomorrow’s Qualifier to rely on Cuban Cigar (Mitchell Bell), and with Imposant also to come out, 11 will be left to run.

. Hawkesbury course manager Digby Nuthall at 8am today posted a “Soft 6” rating for tomorrow’s eight-race program, with the rail in the TRUE position.

A total of 73mm of rain – but nothing in the last 24 hours – has been recorded at the track in the past week.

The eight-race program begins at 1.25pm, with the Qualifier the closer at 5.40pm.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MARCH 6, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS