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By Gary Harley

Newcastle Jockey Club will host a Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championships (1400m) on Thursday and the event has attracted a capacity field and with the race open to Provincial-trained horses and those under the care of Midway-eligible trainers and it is a high quality event.

Talented Central Coast-trained Matcha Latte ($2.90 favourite on TAB), narrowly beaten in a qualifier on this track on March 1, is set to atone for his third placing in that race after coming up with a favourable barrier.

Matcha Latte (Tom Sherry) scores at Royal Randwick. Image by Bradley Photographers

The five-year-old will be ridden for the first time by the in-form Ashley Morgan.

Narrowly beaten by subsequent winner Here To Shock in the Group 3-Cameron Handicap in September, Matcha Latte was first-up here on March 1 and he was gallant in a very strong race.

He sat outside the leader until the top of the straight when he kicked clear but the gelding was claimed in the shadows of the winning post.

Trainer Sara Ryan is happy with Matcha Latte’s progress since and is confident: “I had him a touch too soft first-up and he is a much fitter horse this time.

"I am happy with the barrier and the prospect of a good surface is encouraging. I'm also happy to have Ash in the saddle,” Ryan said.

John Sargeant’s French Ruler ($6.50) heads to Newcastle third-up and he is a definite threat on a track where he races well.

The three-year-old's only win was on this track and he has outstanding credentials for this race.

French Ruler was beaten a head by Snitzanova in the Gr 3-Newcastle Spring Stakes in November before finishing less than two lengths from the winner Snitzanova in the Gr 2-Sandown Guineas at Caulfield.

He was narrowly beaten in the Canberra Guineas on March 9 and Kerrin McEvoy has the mount.

Nathan Doyle’s pair Overriding ($15) and Wooloowin ($4.40) can run well, and the filly Pleasure Artist ($11) beaten two lengths in the Gr 1-Spring Champions Stakes in October resumes after a nice trial win.

Sara Ryan believes her other two gallopers Bluebird Bay ($2.60 favourite) and Koios ($2 fav) will be hard to beat on Thursday.

Chad Scholfield rides Bluebird Bay a son of The Autum Sun as he steps up to the 1850m trip in the Davali Yearlings @ Easter Midway Class 1 & Maiden Plate.

He won a Hawkesbury Class 1 1600m event in his second race start in October then went to the paddock and the colt was doing his best work late when a closing fourth first-up at Newcastle on March 7.

“Bluebird Bay is a promising stayer and this trip is ideal. He worked to the line well first-up over 1500m and he will be hard to beat,” Ryan said.

Koios will be ridden by Reagan Bayliss in the 1200m A-Plus Contracting & Poly Welding Provincial Class 1 Handicap.

Prior to an unlucky performance at Warwick Farm last start on March 5 he was a close second at Canterbury and bolted in with a Scone Maiden.

Koios was checked and held up in the straight when 1.63 lengths from the winner at Warwick Farm on March 5 and he made good ground late.

Newcastle’s promising 2yo colt Buffalo ($2.15 fav) will appreciate a massive drop in class when he returns home for the opening event, the 1200m Dailey Family Funerals 2YO Maiden Plate.

Trained by David Atkins, Buffalo has caught the eye in fast finishing performances in Group 2 events in Sydney since an unlucky third in the Max Lees Classic at Newcastle in November.

Last start at Randwick in The Todman Stakes the colt came from last to be beaten two lengths not far behind Golden Slipper favourite Wodeton. Jason Collett makes the trip to ride Buffalo, and he has ridden him in his two Sydney starts.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Newcastle here