Provincial Racing - NSW

02/06/2026

Blake Ryan Racing was ready to “sell out” on the home turn at Grange Racecourse yesterday, & thought his horse Smoke ‘N’ Darts had come to the end of his first racing campaign.

And there were one or two more occasions afterwards when he was also resigned to defeat.

Thankfully for the Hawkesbury trainer that didn’t happen – & he notched his 10th winner of the season when Smoke ‘N’ Darts ($3.50 fav) broke through in the 1300m Provincial Maiden.

The three-year-old son of North Pacific had been runner-up at his first three starts, & that looked like being the same story again when he was headed by Wyong trainer Sara Ryan’s Galactic Force ($19).

But he fought back gamely under his 60.5kg topweight, & edged out Galactic Force, with fellow Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup’s Lion Hunt ($3.80) a nice third on debut. Read more 👇 📸 Bradley_Photos https://www.provincialracingnsw.com.au/post/darts-gives-ryan-10-for-the-season-so-far

02/06/2026

Heavy tracks, hard yards, but still finding the value 💪💰 — Kembla Grange today back on the course proper with the rail in the true brings another chance to stay ahead 🏇🔥

Provincial Racing - NSW will have all the stories trackside as they happen. Kembla Grange Racecourse

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SELECTION INSIGHT IN THE COMMENTS ⬇️ 💬

01/06/2026

A formal recruitment process has begun to find a new Chief Executive at Hawkesbury Race Club Limited following James Heddo’s decision to finish his duties in mid-July.

Hawkesbury Race Club announced yesterday that Heddo will end his four-year tenure on July 17 to semi-retire and take up a part-time position as General Manager of Central Coast Basketball.

Heddo joined the club on April 1, 2022 and has overseen a period of significant operational, financial and governance improvement there. Read more 👇 https://www.provincialracingnsw.com.au/post/search-begins-for-new-ceo-at-hawkesbury-race-club

01/06/2026

FOR want of a better explanation, it’s often referred to as “character building”.

Nacim Dilmi can certainly attest to it.

The Wyong Race Club trainer, who has done a terrific job in his maiden season, winning 31 races so far for Domeland, had a forgettable weekend.

His talented three-year-old I Am Carrot performed below expectations at Eagle Farm on Saturday, & Oceanfront suffered a bleeding attack for the first time at Rosehill & incurred a mandatory three months’ ban.

To top it off, Dilmi’s promising filly Probability Theory (pictured) was lame Sunday morning & as a result will be an absentee from Saturday’s $700k Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm. Read more 👇 📸 Bradley_Photos
https://www.provincialracingnsw.com.au/post/oaks-withdrawal-seals-dilmi-s-forgettable-weekend

01/06/2026

01/06/2026

Great to see these wonderful ex- jockeys at Swansea RSL - yes plenty of stories told
Left to right - Robert Thompson, Peter Miers,
Brian Wood, Kevin Langby, Tony Marney, Stuart Plain, Peter Losh, Clarke Little & Geoff Challen.
Seated - Neil Campton

01/06/2026

THE new Illawarra Grange track has a real supporter in Brad Widdup.

The leading Hawkesbury Race Club Limited trainer has won three races at the two meetings conducted on the circuit inside the course proper.

After snaring a double with favorites Whoa Nellie and Tequisoda at the opening fixture on May 5, he backed up by scoring with Kosrae on Saturday.

Whilst the lightly-raced filly wasn’t favorite – she was an $8 chance – jockey Christian Reith made every post a winner in the 1200m Provincial BM 64.

Kosrae led around the turn, gave a good kick in the straight and gamely held out a late finishing Rob & Luke Price’s All Machiavellian ($6.50) to make it two wins from only five starts.

Widdup paid $40k for the daughter of North Pacific on behalf of Mulberry Racing at Book 2 of the 2024 Magic Millions yearling sale at the Gold Coast. Read more 👇 Kembla Grange Racecourse https://www.provincialracingnsw.com.au/post/widdup-a-fan-of-new-illawarra-grange-track

31/05/2026

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush – or the provincials to be more exact!

Multiple Group 1 winning trainer Kerry Parker Racing lost the lead in his home track’s local premiership to rivals Mitch Beer & George Carpenter on Saturday, but celebrated a Rosehill victory with lightly-raced filly All The Way Mae (above).

Parker & Team Beer were tied on 12 wins each beginning Saturday’s meeting at the new inside Illawarra Grange track, but the latter posted a double to become outright leaders.

“It’s been a good season at home, but I’ve said before I don’t have the cattle to compete with Mitch & George,” Parker said.

“Good luck to them, but a win in town more than cancels out two winners at the provincials.

“And it was especially pleasing to do it with All The Way Mae.” Read more 👇 📸 Bradley_Photos Kembla Grange Racecourse https://www.provincialracingnsw.com.au/post/parker-s-bird-in-the-hand-better-than-two-at-the-provincials

30/05/2026

It was a successful Saturday for our Provincial trainers, with Kembla Grange Racecourse's, Kerry Parker Racing's All The Same Mae & Nathan Doyle's Super Bright in the winner's at Rosehill.

At the Kembla Provincial meeting, the Mitch Beer & George Carpenter training partnership had a double, while Ed Cummings, Kim Waugh & Brad Widdup were all in the winners stall. 👇

29/05/2026

Kris Lees Racing has sent Tavi Time north as he chases a Lord Mayors Cup in two States today.

The totally luckless Scone Cup runner has arrived safely at the Gold Coast, and will take his place in the 1800m Group 3 Lord Mayors Cup at Eagle Farm, with Tommy Berry to ride.

The leading Newcastle Racecourse trainer has withdrawn Tavi Time from the 1800m Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup at a rain-soaked Rosehill Gardens, & will rely on You Wahng (Jay Ford) and Zaphod (Andrew Gibbons) there.

Rosehill was rated a ‘Heavy 10’ this morning for the 10-race program, whereas the weather is on the improve in Brisbane, where Eagle Farm was a ‘Heavy 8’ with hopes that it will be in the soft range today.

“The better track in Brisbane was the reason I decided to send him north,” Lees said. Read more 👇 Bradley_Photos
https://www.provincialracingnsw.com.au/post/lees-chasing-dual-lord-mayors-cups