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By Ray Hickson

When Nacim Dilmi was part of the Godolphin machine he was used to experiencing success in Group 1 races.

Trainer Nacim Dilmi (Pic: Bradley Photos).

He’s only been the trainer of defending Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) winner Matcha Latte since taking over the Domeland horses this season but he’s well aware how special the gelding is to everyone involved.

It might not be a Group 1 race but, in some ways, to Dilmi it’d be just as satisfying.

Randwick was the stage for Matcha Latte's previous trainer Sara Ryan's biggest wins - in the Big Dance with Attractable and last year's Final - so it'd be fitting for Dilmi and all concerned with the horse if history repeated.

“This horse would go through a brick wall for you, he’s such a tough horse,’’ Dilmi said.

“After everything he’s gone through to still be able to compete at a high level it’s huge for the horse and all the staff at the stable.

“Most of them will be at the races on Saturday, it was a big thrill for them when he won the qualifier. He’s definitely the stable favourite and hopefully he can repeat last year’s result.”

Matcha Latte has had three trainers so far. He started out with Mark Newnham where he notched a number of stakes placings through to the end of his three-year-old season.

Sara Ryan then took over as Domeland's trainer but after he ran second in the Carbine Club Stakes at The Championships in 2023 he ran into problems.

A tendon injury had him off the scene for almost 18 months and shortly after he returned with a second in the Cameron Handicap of 2024 he bled and that put him on the sidelines again until he contested last year’s Provincial-Midway Championships series.

When Dilmi was handed the job he’d had feet problems from the end of that preparation. So he’s had his work cut out getting him back to the races let alone to be defending his title in a $1 million race at Randwick on Saturday.

“For me it’s very big because I’m training now and to win it would be massive for me,’’ he said.

“To have a horse like him under my care, and being able to bring him back to the races, and to be with a chance again in the race he won last year it makes it even better.”

The initial target for Matcha Latte was to see if he could warrant a shot at the Doncaster Mile, which is Domeland owner Mr Cheng’s favourite race.

Though he’d run creditable races in his first two starts from a spell it was decided Matcha Latte should be aimed a bit lower and he won his way into the Final via an all the way win in a qualifier at Hawkesbury a month ago.

If successful on Saturday, the six-year-old would be the first horse to win the Provincial-Midway Championships twice.

“I’m glad I went to Hawkesbury because that gave him the opportunity to win,’’ Dilmi said.

“I said to (Ash Morgan) make sure the horse knows he’s there to race and not just having an easy time in front.

“Whether he won by five or by two it didn't matter as long as he knows he’s here to do a job because I knew I wasn’t going to run him again in between.

“The horse has good gate speed, he should put himself right on the speed. I’m comfortable with the horse, he’s going into the race in great order and now it’s all up to him.”

If Probability Theory lines up in the Listed $200,000 Bisley Workwear South Pacific Classic (1400m) take it as a big endorsement of Dilmi’s opinion of the lightly raced filly.

If she goes around at Gosford on Thursday take it as he wants to give the three-year-old a soft launch before stepping her up in grade through the campaign.

He’s booked Jamie Melham to ride her at Randwick, fellow Championships Day 1 heroine Rachel King has the ride at Gosford.

Dilmi concedes Gosford is the easier option and he’s wary of not giving her a gutbuster first-up since tackling the Spring Stakes at Newcastle which was won by Green Spaces.

Matcha Latte wins the Hawkesbury Qualifier on March 7

“It was her first racing prep and she was very backwards when I started at Domeland, she’s probably gone to a level the team didn’t expect her to,’’ he said.

“She’s won two out of four and ran fifth in a Group 3. She was on a back up and it was a big step up class wise but she ran really well and I think she’s in for a very good prep.”

All the fields, form and replays for Day 2 of The Championships at Randwick on Saturday