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By Ray Hickson

In the autumn it was all about the Provincial-Midway Championships but this time around trainer Jarrod Austin's aim is to snare a stakes win with talented mare Terra Mater.

Trainer Jarrod Austin (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Specifically, he has the Mona Lisa Stakes at Wyong next month on his mind so expects a big first-up showing in the Toyota Material Handling Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

“We had this race picked out a fair while ago as a lead in to the Mona Lisa in a couple of weeks,’’ Austin said.

“It looks a really good option for her. We’d love to be able to pick up a stakes race for her, that’d be the icing on the cake.

“She’s come back in bigger and stronger and everything is going to plan so far.”

Terra Mater, $4.60 with TAB on Wednesday, was a revelation in the summer months with a hat-trick in town and Austin elected to focus on the Provincial-Midway Championships with the lure of its $1 million Final.

She won her way into that race with victory in the Wild Card at Newcastle but finished midfield in the Final behind Territory Express.

The Warwick Farm trainer is a little excited about Terra Mater’s spring ahead based on her two barrier trials, and particularly the latest when runner-up in a 900m heat at Rosehill.

“She towed Nash (Rawiller) right through the line and had a little bit up her sleeve so it was really good to see,'' he said.

“I don’t think you could ask for a horse to trial any better, she was well within herself so I was really happy with her.

“She came back a bit stronger, each time they go out they thicken up a little bit more, and I think she has improved physically.

“She only has to improve that little bit and she’ll be competitive in stakes races.

“She showed in her trials she’s ready to go, she’s performed very well before first-up, so we’re looking forward to Saturday.”

The Listed $200,000 Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) is run at Wyong on September 1.

Austin is anticipating a big improvement from Let’s Go Bro in the Midway Handicap (1500m) and said it wouldn’t surprise him if the gelding springs an upset.

The five-year-old only beat two horses home in a 1300m Benchmark 68 at Wyong on August 4 but the trainer was pleased with the manner in which he finished the race off, suggesting the extra distance will be in his favour.

Terra Mater runs second in a Rosehill trial on August 6

“He was over racing a bit with the blinkers on so we took them off an he relaxed really well at Wyong,’’ Austin said.

“He got a long way out of his ground but he found the line well.

“If he can settle again like that I have no doubt he’ll run out 1500m strong. I know it’s a step up on what he’s been running in but I’ve always thought he was up to this level.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting