Bargain buy books shot at $1m Midway Championship
Terra Mater wins at Newcastle
Jarrod Austin's last-ditch effort to get Terra Mater into the $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final paid off at Newcastle on Wednesday.
READ: Randwick The Championships Day 1 Preview - Two $34 roughies
It was looking like it could have been a hard luck story for Austin's stable star as she was caught behind a wall of horses but courtesy of a rails hugging ride by Nash Rawiller she got the chocolates in the $150,000 qualifier.
"You don't second guess Nash, he knew what he was doing," Austin said post race.
1ģ Terra Mater
2ģ Willinga Freefall
3ģ Baltic Coast@austinracing1 mare Terra Mater takes out the Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championships Wild Card at @newcastleraces_ and qualifies for the $1m Final at Randwick on April 13 along with the @leesracing placegetters. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/ertvn2arMW
- Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) April 3, 2024
"He bounced her out like that and she had to duck and weave a little bit but she was strong through the line and we're really happy with her.
"She likes the big track that's for sure so getting to Randwick will suit her."
The Kris Lees' brigade of Willinga Freefall and Baltic Coast gave the Newcastle conditioner a further two runners in the race after filling the placings behind Terra Mater.
He also claimed fourth with Little Beginnings.
Lees holds an extremely strong hand in Saturday week's Final on Day 2 of The Championships, highlighted by race favourite Tavi Time.
In its nine year history, Lees has won five editions of the race, including the last three with Spangler, Kinloch and Cristal Breeze.
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