Gary Harley – Kris Lees will have three of his team in the $1 million Racing NSW Provincial Midway Final at Randwick on April 11th after Lord of Biscay and Imposant, qualified the Wild Card at Newcastle on Tuesday.
The first three placegetters in the Wild Card qualified for the final with the Warwick Farm trained Banjora, a $1.45 favourite in the Wild Card.
Lees Lord of Biscay, was scratched from previous qualifiers due to wet tracks and wide barriers, so he went into the Wild Card with a month break between starts.
However, he was the class horse in the Wild Card and was the $4.40 second favourite. Lees former apprentice, Dylan Gibbons had the mount and settled the gelding in second last spot before making ground approaching the home turn. He sprinted quickly down the outside of the field to gather in the leaders to win by three quarters of a length.
Stablemate Imposant, raced in mid-field before he finished fast into second place. Lees had already qualified Miss Busslinger for the April 11th final following her second placing in an earlier Hawkesbury Qualifier. The trainer has won five Provincial Midway Finals, two of which for Australian Bloodstock syndicates and their syndicates are Lord of Biscay and Miss Busslinger. Lord of Biscay finished a close second in the 2025 Provincial Midway Final. Other Newcastle gallopers to qualify for the final are David Atkin’s Buffalo and Nathan Doyle’s Midnight Opal, also raced by Australian Bloodstock.
Newcastle trained gallopers, Lightning Glory and Erin Jo, quinellaed the 1250 metre Highlander Central Coast Class 1 Handicap.
Talented jockey, Nick Heywood made the trip from Goulburn to ride Lightning Glory for his mate Nathan Doyle and the 4-year-old made the trip worthwhile. Lightning Glory is very quick and Heywood let him slide to the lead soon after the start and he was never headed. Doyle was confident the winner would race well after an easy Beaumont trial win recently. Nick rode him in the trial and was keen to make the trip as his trial was impressive. This horse has more growing to do but he has only had four starts for two wins. “Nick and I both were with the Peter and Paul Snowden stable some years back when Mick was an apprentice” Doyle said.
Runner up Erin Jo lost no admirers as she finished well to be half a length from the winner. Trainer Kris Lees was happy with her run and indicated the blue blood filly may head to Brisbane for the Winter Carnival.
The Hawkes stable decision to switch their 4-year-old Cavalry from the Melbourne stable to Sydney proved to be a winner, when the gelding was an impressive runner of the 1850 metre Davali Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. Wayne Hawkes was on track and suggested the son of Brutal was a future group horse.
Photo Credit: Bradley Photos