Trainer Richard Litt had a strong start to the Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championships with Essonne winning the first qualifier. Despite racing wide throughout, the lightly raced galloper showed a sharp turn of foot in the home straight and ran over the top of her rivals in the final stages. Ben Smith's runner Herb came from the back of the field to finish second and secure a spot in the final, just ahead of Crackalacka who was honest finishing third.

Phearson continued his rise through the grades with a strong first-up win to secure his place in the Provincial-Midway Final. Trained locally by Brad Widdup, the lightly raced five-year-old was positioned just behind the speed by jockey Grant Buckley and eased into the clear at the right time on turning. Once there he let down strongly passing the 200m to hit the lead and was never in danger from that point as he coasted to the line. Wyong trainer Damien Lane’s mare Denetta, having her first run in 10 weeks, followed the winner through and booked her place in the Final. Willinga Freefall loomed with the runner-up but had to contend with third..

Wyong trainer Kim Waugh is no stranger when it comes to qualifying a horse for the Final and she's done it again with the smart three-year-old True Crime who led all the way under jockey Tyler Schiller. It was a tight finish in the end as Tracey Bartley's Sebrenco sustained a run from before the home turn to get close but not close enough. Geo raced handy all the way and held third.

Promising four-year-old Kayobi maintained his unbeaten record since joining the Sam Kavanagh stable with a strong win in the only qualifier run at 1200m. He was positioned just off the pace around sixth coming to the turn and when Brenton Avdulla wound him up he produced a big finish to score a strong first-up win and confirm his place as one of the horses to beat. Locally trained mare Audette, prepared by Kylie Gavenlock, looked the winner when she hit the lead about 120m out after enjoying a box seat run but was ambushed. The early leader Espirito held on to run third.

Short Shorts signalled she’ll be a force at Randwick with a runaway win in a very fast run Kembla Grange qualifier. The Brad Widdup trained mare sat second behind a strong speed set by Zenti who spread the field out over plenty of ground in the middle stages. Short Shorts reeled in the leader at the 400m and jockey Alysha Collett went for home. The Kris Lees trained Cloudland was right on her back and momentarily looked a threat before the Widdup mare kicked into another gear and put the result beyond doubt. Cloudland safely held down second place to also qualify while Reggie’s Boy made some ground from about midfield to run third.

Acquitted gave leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees his first qualifier winner for the 2023 series with an emphatic win. Koby Jennings settled Acquitted in the second half of the field in the three wide line before making a move approaching the 600m and sending the gelding around the field, hitting the lead coming to the turn. From there he kept the momentum going and held a comfortable 2-1/2 lengths on the line. Cross The Rubicon jumped onto the winner’s back to follow him home and arrived in time to run second, giving Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup his third qualifier and cutting Soloist out of that spot after he held second down placing for most of the home straight.

Leading trainer Kris Lees bolstered his representation in the Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championships Final with a trifecta in the last chance Wild Card on his home track. After an even effort in Gosford qualifier, Loch Eagle appreciated the step up in distance as he sat near the tail of the field and let down with a strong burst in the straight to score by a widening 1-1/2 lengths, catapulting him back to the top of the markets for the Final. Spangler lifted off his Hawkesbury qualifier fifth placing as he followed his stablemate home but just lacking that same turn of foot. Willinga Freefall did quite a good job to sit outside the lead and attack around the turn and hold on to claim third and a berth at Randwick.