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Trainer Theresa Bateup believes Direct Fire and Tartana will give her one of her best chances to get to the $1 million Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championships showpiece on home turf at Kembla Grange on Saturday.

Bateup will saddle up both chances in the $150,000 Provincial-Midway Qualifier (1400m) and believes the talented duo can make their presence felt.

“They are both live chances,” she said. “They've both been great horses for the stable, very honest and consistent. You always go to the races knowing you have a chance when they are lining up.”

Direct Fire (Amy McLucas) scores at Sapphire Coast. Image by Bradley Photographers

TAB rates Direct Fire as the better of Bateup’s two chances at $12.

Direct Fire is dropping back from a mile following his impressive win the Bega Cup last month at the Sapphire Coast on February 2.

Bateup has given him a freshen up since then and believes the drop back in distance shouldn’t be a concern for the gelding.

“He is pretty versatile,” Bateup said. “Heading into the Bega Cup everyone was questioning if he would run a strong mile but I’ve always thought he was a miler.

“It was good to see him do that and then he had two weeks in the paddock.

“He is probably on the fresh side and will improve off the run after having a little freshen up.

“The plan was to trial him first but they moved the trials but he is going good.”

Tartana ($19) is having her second crack in the Provincial-Midway series after finishing sixth in the Hawkesbury qualifier won by Mahogany Girl.

Bateup conceded the daughter of Invader went into the heat a tad underdone after suffering a minor setback following her win at Warwick Farm two starts ago.

“She won the race at Warwick Farm and lost a shoe coming back to scale and stood on a toe clip," Bateup said. “She had a couple of weeks off after that with a slight setback so I thought she was a run underdone going into Hawkesbury.

“I thought the run was quite good, she just peaked a bit late to be beaten just over three lengths. She loves Kembla and should peak her with the run under the belt.”

Bateup was rapt when the barrier draw came out with Tartana drawn the inside and Direct Fire next to her in barrier two. Amy McLucas pilots Direct Fire while Tartana has Jess Taylor aboard.

Kembla horses make up the majority of the field with Kerry Parker’s Flying Bandit ($6) among the leading chances.

Mitch Beer is set to take a heavy-handed approach with Apollo Mission ($21 into $19), Artful Persuasion ($23), Salonius ($41) and Zipitalist ($101) while Joe Ible has Vintage Choice ($19). Robert and Luke Price will unleash Fugitiva ($11).

View final fields with full form & race replays for Kembla Grange here