Gary Harley Article – Newcastle trainer Kris Lees has won five of the seven Provincial Midway Championship Finals and he has the number one seed for the 2026 series, Lord of Biscay, who resumes from a three-month spell in the 1,400 metre Racing NSW Provincial Midway Championship qualifier at Saturday’s Newcastle Jockey Club’s Race meeting.
Lee’s will saddle up Lord of Biscay and Tosorray in the Qualifier with Lord of Biscay clearly the most favoured of the pair.
Lord of Biscay, purchased from Ireland by Australian Bloodstock two years ago, has been a good money spinner for his owners accumulating $393,000 in prize money.
The 6-year-old won the 2025 Ballina Cup before a close second in last year’s Newcastle Provincial Midway Championship Qualifier. He finished a close second in the $1 million final at Randwick in April last year.
Lord of Biscay, with race jockey Andrew Gibbons in the saddle, came from last to bolt in with a Beaumont trial win on February 12. He will need luck from the wide barrier, but he has a very good fresh record.
Former smart two-year-old Buffalo has his first start in ten months and he will sport blinkers for the first time in the qualifier. He is the early favourite following an impressive barrier trial win on the Beaumont track on February 12th and he has a lovely barrier with Aaron Bullock in the saddle.
Buffalo trained on the track by David Atkins, was beaten a neck by Vinrock in the Group 1 Sires Produce at Randwick in April last year.
Newcastle trained gallopers dominate TAB’s early market in the Qualifier with Nathan Doyle’s Midnight Opal and Wooloowin well fancied.
Wyong trained mare Oakfield Jupiter has won four from six including Midways at Randwick and Rosehill in the Spring and Damien Lane’s 4-year-old must be considered.
The 1300 metre Settlers Arms Dungog Cup, a 1300m Benchmark 64 Handicap has attracted 20 acceptors with 15 plus 5 emergencies.
The Muswellbrook trained Smoke On The Water, fitter for two runs this preparation, has drawn well in the big field with Andrew Gibbons aboard.
The gelding finished strongly when beaten less than two lengths first up in a Canterbury Highway on January 23 and he was only plain second up in a Randwick Highway Hcp on February 1. Smoke On The Water has won on the Newcastle track.
The opening event the Lovey’s Grocers IGA Super 2YO Maiden Plate is an interesting race.
Kris Lees, Ciaron Maher and Kim Waugh will saddle up youngsters with good trial form. Lees’ filly Pomelo Chamomile was a solid third in a classy field in her only start in the Max Lees Classic 2 year old on The Hunter Day in November. She was very impressive in coming from last to win a recent Beaumont trial.
Maher’s Home Affairs colt Barracks impressed in two recent Warwick Farm trials while Waugh’s gelding Scrap is also on debut after a Wyong trial run and a close second on the Beaumont track.
Saturday is a huge day for the Newcastle Jockey club with ticket sales indicating a crowd similar to the 2025 Hunter race meeting will attend.
The Invades concert on course has attracted huge ticket sales as it aways does.
Photo: Credit to Bradley Photographers