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With a strong hand in Saturday’s Wyong qualifier (now at Newcastle), Wyong trainers are confident they can add to the two local runners already through to the Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championships Final.
Wyong gallopers make up half of Saturday's field of 16, with Kim Waugh saddling up French Bonnet ($6 on TAB) and Different Strokes ($9) in the $150,000 race, while Barossa Rosa ($15) and Mabel ($71) represent Tracey Bartley.
Oakfield Arrow ($16 - pictured left), Pandora Blue ($18) and Fumiko ($31) complete a trio for Kristen Buchanan, while Zorocat ($11) lines up for Damien Lane.
Victorella ($41), trained by Louise Munce and Bartley's Sebrenco ($51), are among the four emergencies.
Waugh and Bartley have already qualified Great News and Kiss Sum, respectively for the $500,000 Final on April 9, both among the top five chances in early betting. French Bonnet resumes in the 1350m Qualifier and Waugh is pleased with her form leading into the race.
"Her two trials have been really good and I'm very pleased with her. She's absolutely flying," she said.
French Bonnet has put together four wins and a placing from her 10 starts, including a Warwick Farm victory over 1400m last preparation. The stable's other runner, Different Strokes also resumes after two trials.
He has three wins and three placings from just seven starts, including a Midway win over 1400m on October 9 before being unplaced in the Four Pillars.
"His trials have been very good as well," Waugh said. "I'm very happy with both of them."
Bartley is equally enthused with his duo Barossa Rosa, a Midway winner who finished a close fourth in the Four Pillars and progressive filly Mabel.
"Barossa Rosa's barrier trial was good the other day and she makes her own luck up on the speed. She's probably the better of my two only because she has a bit more maturity than the filly at this stage, but Mabel's been working really well this week."
The Buchanan stable saddles up two previous Midway winners in Oakfield Arrow and Pandora Blue, with the trainer believing both are good chances.
"I've been really pleased with Pandora and her first-up run this prep was good. My only concern is she could be a bit vulnerable over the 1350m," she said.
"Oakfield Arrow's last run in the Newcastle Qualifier looked plain on paper but she came back with irregular blood work after the race. She's a lovely free-rolling mare, who can handle the wet if the rain comes, and she gets her chance."
Buchanan said she "couldn't be happier" with Fumiko, who backs up from the Newcastle Qualifier on March 5.
Lane's Zorocat ran without luck in the Gosford Qualifier on March 12 and will put in an improved performance off a more favourable barrier.
The first of eight races gets underway at 1.10pm.
