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By John Schell

An in-depth look at the chances of every runner in the $150,000 Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championships Wild Card (1400m) at Newcastle on Wednesday.

1. ANG POW (Richard & Will Freedman): Form was well below best at first couple of runs back from a spell this campaign when failing to beat a runner home in each of them. Since ran well in a trial before showing improvement when a last start fifth in this grade at Gosford behind Shadows Of Love. Drawn wide again here and place looks best.

2. CLOUDLAND (Kris Lees): Had some good city form last preparation with a couple of wins on the Kensington track. Resumed from a spell with a third in this grade at Kembla Grange before failing to fire from a wide gate at the same track last time out. On pace runner with another bad barrier to contend with so will need luck in order to turn things around.

3. UZZIAH (Scott Aspery): Showed improvement to score a win in Midway grade at Randwick two starts ago then took on this company when failing to make an impact at Gosford behind Shadows Of Love. Talented at best but needs luck if he’s going to figure here.

Kayobi (Pic: Bradley Photos).

4. KAYOBI (Sam Kavanagh): Highly consistent five-year-old which ran fourth in the final of this race last year and then also ran fourth in The Coast at Gosford. Was placed in three straight city runs last year before being spelled and resumes here. Looks primed to run a bold race on the back of two recent trials.

5. PEACE OFFICER (Clarry Conners): Was racing well last preparation when following a Rosehill Midway win with a couple of placings at Canberra and Nowra and then being spelled. Ran well in a trial before resuming with a midfield effort at Kembla Grange in this grade. Drawn the rails here and should play a part in the finish.

6. WILLINGA FREEFALL (Kris Lees): Form at the end of last campaign was good with an Eagle Farm victory wedged in between a string of city placings. Had two trials before resumed with a third in this grade at Gosford and is a chance again in this from the ideal draw.

7. BASARWA (Kris Lees): Ran a solid enough race when resumed with a fourth at Canterbury but since then was only average when failing to beat a runner home here behind Territory Express in similar grade. Has had a trial since then but would need to improve in order to be any chance here.

8. LITTLE BEGINNINGS (Kris Lees): Failed to fire when resumed from a spell at Canterbury then showed improvement when fifth to Short Shorts in this grade at Hawkesbury. Since failed to fire at Kembla Grange when near last behind Ruby Flyer and would need to improve on that to be any hope here.

9. TERRA MATER (Jarrod Austin): Was racing in great form last campaign when stringing together three straight victories in city grade at Canterbury and Randwick. Resumed from a wide barrier and hit the line well to finish fourth behind Shadows Of Love at Gosford and will have derived benefit from that performance. Will appreciate the bigger track here and looms as one of the hardest to beat.

10. BALTIC COAST (Kris Lees): Form was patchy last campaign and was spelled after failing to beat a runner home at Randwick. Has two trials before resuming with a solid fourth at Kembla Grange in this grade when hit the line well. Talented at best and is far from the worst here.

11. BUNKER HUT (Michael Freedman): Won a couple on end at Warwick Farm and Rosehill last year either side of a break then was midfield in a couple of other city runs before being spelled. Resumed with a midfield effort at Gosford and is drawn well here. Could sneak into the placings.

12. WELL TIMED (Kerry Parker): Struck winning form when resuming from a spell with a Nowra victory before backing that up with a Hawkesbury success. Since stepped up to this grade and ran a cracker when third to Ruby Flyer at Kemble Grange. On pace runner drawn well here and can give plenty of cheek again.

13. C’MON MATE (Ross McConville): Had been racing well with a couple of Hawkesbury placings in first three runs since resuming from a spell including a third behind Short Shorts in this grade. Since failed to fire behind Ruby Flyer at Kemble Grange and needs to lift on that to be any hope here.

Terra Mater (Pic: Steve Hart)

14. PURE HYDROGEN (John Thompson): Was well below best in latest starts at end of last preparation when big odds and failing to make an impact. Resumed with a handy fourth at Kembla Grange but against much easier grade than this. Others preferred.

15. BINDI’S CHOICE (David Pfieffer): Resumed with a win on this track then was placed on the Kensington track and again here before tackling this grade when sixth to Ruby Flyer at Kemble Grange. Drawn wide here and will need luck in order to figure this time.

16. DARK GLITTER (Mike Van Gestel): Lightly raced but is building a good record with three wins from six starts. Has tackled two of these qualifying races and finished midfield in each of the and hit the line well to score a strong win at Kemble Grange last time out. One to watch.

SPEED MAP: Cloudland looks to again push forward from a wide gate to take up the running. Well Timed is another on pace runner which should be in a prominent position from the outset from a good gate. Willinga Freefall can race closer from the good gate, while Peace Officer can utilise his good draw and take up a forward position. Kayobi shouldn’t be too far back and Terra Mater looks to get a good run midfield.

SELECTIONS:
9 TERRA MATER
6 Willinga Freefall
12 Well Timed
4 Kayobi

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday's Newcastle meeting