Successful Wyong trainer Damien Lane is hopeful his Provincial Championship aspirant Bombasay can cause an upset in Saturday's Newcastle qualifier over 1400 metres.
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The Newcastle qualifier is the first of five at the provincial circuits, with Gosford, Wyong, Hawkesbury and Kembla Grange staging their heats through March. The three placegetters in each progress to the $500,000 final at Randwick on April 10.
Bombasay was beaten out of a place in the 2020 Newcastle heat when trained by Kris Lees.
The five-year-old was transferred to Lane's stables during the 2020 winter and he had three starts during the spring under the former Coonamble trainer's care. He won the Wyong Springtime Stakes on September 4.
Second-up Bombasay was beaten half a length on the Kensington track and in his last start before a spell he led all the way to win at Randwick on Everest Day, October 17.
Bombasay beat smart sprinter Trumbull in a Wyong barrier trial on February 4. He has had 14 starts for five wins and six placings and Darryl "Digger" McLellan has the mount on Saturday.
"Jason Collett has ridden Bombasay in all of his three starts for me and he travelled to Wyong to trial him three weeks ago," Lane said.
"He likes this horse a lot and he was happy with the trial and so was I. The 1400 metres first-up with only one trial is a gamble, but I have faith in him.
"He has had a jump-out at Wyong over 1000 metres and he is fit enough. Just the same, Bombasay will improve plenty with this run under his belt.
"The barrier is not ideal but these heats are normally run at a good tempo and hopefully Digger can get cover."
It is a wide open race with Lees-trained Animate the early favourite and Bombasay in double figures.
James Cummings will send five horses to Newcastle with his most fancied pair in the opening two races.
In Flanders runs in the 1200m maiden plate, and Athelric steps out in the 900m two-year-old maiden.
In Flanders has been runner-up in her past two starts at Warwick Farm and Gosford and she has drawn perfectly.
Athelric is yet to be placed, however the colt was beaten only 2.8 lengths behind Shaquero in the group 3 Breeders Plate in October. He finished fourth behind one of the Golden Slipper favourites, Stay Inside, at Randwick last start. He is very quick and has drawn perfectly. Christian Reith rides both horses.
Richard Litt's Moremi in the 1500m maiden and Paul Perry's Saquon in the 1600m class 1 handicap both have bright prospects.