The Midway Hcp concept was widely lauded by racing participants when introduced on metropolitan tracks last July. Racing NSW made the decision following persistent lobbying from trainer Greg Hickman on behalf of the smaller metropolitan and provincial stables. Hickman convinced the decision makers that owners of horses in these stables should have the opportunity to race for worthwhile prize money, without having to face multiple runners from the big operations.
The script played out perfectly at Rosehill on July 3rd 2021 when Greg Hickman produced Our Bellagio Miss to win the very first Midway Hcp. Last Saturday’s edition was the fortieth in the popular BM 72 series which also included the inaugural Four Pillars last October, and the recent Provincial/Midway Championship Final. In just ten months the weekly Midway races have become a prime target for eligible stables.
The fortieth edition last Saturday created a milestone result for Wyong trainer Kim Waugh, whose grey mare French Bonnet scored a gritty win for the equally determined Nash Rawiller. The four year old looked vulnerable at the 200m when Divine Breath loomed menacingly, but rallied to make it win number five in just twelve starts. French Bonnet’s win enabled Kim to draw level with Kristen Buchanan at the top of the Midway trainer’s list with four apiece. It’s significant that both trainers operate from Wyong stables.
Nash Rawiller gave French Bonnet the perfect run to win Saturday's Midway - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.
Kim opened her Midway account when Ashman led throughout to win at Randwick last July. Different Strokes was her second winner in October followed by White Boots in January. The trainer describes her fourth winner French Bonnet as a homebred. “I won a race with her dam Bonny Heights who was a daughter of Catbird,” said Kim. “One of my valued clients John Stewart decided to send Bonny Heights to Puissance De Lune who’d been a very popular horse in Victoria. He’s a pretty grey by Shamardal and has done a good job at stud.
“Puissance De Lune won a Bendigo Cup and a Gr 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington, but we forget he was also placed in five Gr 1’s. Breeding buffs will be aware French Bonnet’s third dam is Mapperley Heights who won a South Australian Derby and ran second in a VRC and AJC Oaks. She later finished third in the 1984 Melbourne Cup.”
French Bonnet is one of thirty six horses Kim has in training in a dual barn complex on the Wyong racecourse. She also has the luxury of her twenty hectare property just minutes away at Jilliby where her horses can be spelled and pre trained. “Before horses go back into serious training we can do a lot of foundation work on our treadmill and in a very spacious arena we’ve constructed on the property,” said Kim. “We have the necessary paddocks to give horses short breaks during a racing campaign. They really enjoy getting out of the stable from time to time.”
Kim and Mark Waugh with Blake Shinn at Randwick - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
The trainer spoke glowingly of her talented mare Great News who ran a huge race in the recent Polytrack Provincial/Midway Championship Final. The lightly raced mare did a power of work from a wide gate, but still had her head in front 100m out. “She just ran out of puff in the last little bit to finish a length from the winner Kinloch,” said Kim. “She’s won five races and has been stakes placed three times. I’m looking forward to her next assignment in the Gr 3 Darley Crown at Hawkesbury’s standalone Saturday meeting.”
Kim has long held an opinion of three year old gelding Conrad - an opinion shared by James McDonald who rated him a top horse in the making after riding the son of Maurice to two easy provincial wins last year. “He’s just back from a good spell and I couldn’t be happier with him,” said Kim. “James gave me a good report after winning a barrier trial on him at Warwick Farm recently. He’ll be back at the races very shortly.”
French Bonnet gave the Waugh/Rawiller partnership a double for the week. Garrison won at Hawkesbury defeating He's A Hotshot and Salina Dreaming (outside) - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Kim’s fellow Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan got away to a flying start in the Midway series when she won the fourth edition with Casino Mondial at Rosehill last July. She scored again with the same horse in early September at Randwick and followed up a few weeks later with Pandora Blue on the same track. Her fourth Midway success came in January with Oakfield Arrow for long-time supporter Bruce Mackenzie. “It’s very rewarding to be doing well in the Midway series,” said Kristen. “Like Kim, I’m especially pleased that Wyong is playing such a dominant role. It’s a great place to train horses.”
Kristen Buchanan has enjoyed a successful season from her Wyong base.
Many Sydney trainers are frustrated by the unrelenting run of wet tracks. Kristen decided recently to do something about it. On April 2nd she sent Delexo and James Innes Jnr to Eagle Farm to comfortably win a Cls 6 sprint. When three year old gelding Kooled performed badly on heavy tracks in two recent barrier trials, she identified a suitable race on a firm track at Benalla. Kristen arranged for Wangaratta trainer Ben Brisbourne to do the honours and was delighted to see the Frosted gelding stroll home with apprentice Hannah Edgley in the saddle.
Last Saturday she joined a handful of Sydney trainers at Eagle Farm where a Good 4 track was a novel sight. Gerald Ryan and Stirling Alexiou had a field day with three winners from as many runners. Richard and Will Freedman also snared a win on the day. Kristen wasn’t able to win a race but was happy with her two stable runners. Second starter Acceber was strong on the line in finishing third in a two year old event. Her old Midway warrior Casino Mondial was lucky to stay on his feet when he met severe interference in the straight. After all that, he finished only three lengths from the winner in 8th spot.
Again, in search of a firmer track the trainer sent One Way Street all the way to Dubbo for a 1000m maiden on Sunday. As it turned out the Dubbo track came up with a Soft 5, but the state of the going had nothing to do with his unplaced effort. Punters sent him out a $1.80 favourite on the strength of a close second at Wyong late last year. One Way Street gave James Innes Jnr a torrid ride. The Super One gelding raced fiercely between horses to the hometurn and was put off his game when he bumped heavily with another runner at the top of the straight. That run can be safely overlooked.
Oakfield Arrow (James Innes Jnr) gave Kristen her fourth Midway win - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
With over three months of the current season remaining, the BM 72’s will be coming thick and fast. The Hawkesbury Cup programme on April 30th will include a Midway, as will The Coast fixture on May 7th. Another dozen or so Midways will be run right through to season’s end on July 31st. The Wyong “wonder girls” will be hoping for another Midway win or two between now and then. The series has been a tremendous success for Racing NSW. Kim Waugh and Kristen Buchanan have been great ambassadors for the concept and for the Wyong Race Club.
(Banner image - French Bonnet gives Kim Waugh Midway number four. Divine Breath was the runner-up - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.)