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By Ray Hickson

You could argue that Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan has her bases covered with front-running mare Margie Bee and the versatile Casino Mondial tackling Saturday’s $100,000 Midway Handicap (1800m) at Randwick.

Trainer Kristen Buchanan (Pic: Bradley Photos).

But the way she sees it is that both horses will be able to run their races in a manner that best suits their style and that gives her confidence about their chances.

Buchanan is a big fan of the Midway concept and claimed the first of what she hopes will be many with Casino Mondial two weeks ago.

“It’s my goal to win a good few of them this year and capitalise on it,’’ Buchanan said.

“The current owner group bought (Casino Mondial) back from an online sale and he stayed in my stable and that was with the lure of the Midway races because I thought they’d be perfect for him.

“They both get their chance to run their own races and be competitive in their own right without bringing each other undone. He’ll find himself midfield or a bit off the pace and she’ll be setting a good tempo.”

Margie Bee has almost reached marvel status in the Buchanan stable with the way she’s been able to adapt her front-running ways from sprint trips to beyond a mile in the last nine months.

And it shows in her recent form with the six-year-old recording a city win at 1900m and three city placings between a mile and that trip and Buchanan said she’s backing up, into the race she’s been eyeing for a little while, in great order after a game second behind So Wicked last weekend.

“I was pleased to see it in the programming,’’ she said.

“We thought about waiting for it and not running last week but she’s just did too well between races so we’re kind of trying to keep a lid on her. She’s a machine.

“I think stepping up in trip really works for her.

“She loves to lead, she loves to dominate, she used to do it over 1000m but she can’t do that any more. She has the toughness to stick it out over nearly 2000m now which is wonderful.

“We’re letting her do her thing, which is terrifying to watch sometimes, and as she’s stepped up in trip she’s had an easier time of it because anyone who tries to take her on are bringing themselves undone.”

Margie Bee, $8.50 with TAB on Thursday, has drawn wide at the tricky 1800m start but Buchanan said it changes nothing when it comes to how Rachel King will ride her, she’ll be heading to the front.

“I don’t curse it with her as much as you do with some horses,’’ she said.

“I don’t have the luxury of changing my instructions because she just does what she does.

“I’m happy with where Casino has drawn and with her she gets to where she wants to be without having to dig up and hold a spot. It’s an advantage in some respects.”

Casino Mondial wins at Rosehill on July 24

Casino Mondial is in his second campaign for Buchanan and she admits his first-up Midway win at Rosehill was a pleasant surprise, but it also gives her some confidence that he can do it again despite rising 2kg.

The gelding clocked a race best 34.66 for his last 600m (Punter’s Intelligence) as he came from near last at the 1500m and jockey Hugh Bowman weaved his way through to defeat Arctic Thunder, who confirmed the form with a win on Wednesday.

“I figured out a lot about him last preparation and I’m looking forward to getting out to a trip with him after his run the other day,’’ Buchanan said.

“I thought he would run a good race but he might have been out of his comfort zone at 1500m. The tempo through the race worked out for him and Hughie’s ride was spectacular.”

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