Kim Waugh has qualified two runners for the Provincial Championship final with Safada and Spring Charlie running the quinella in the first heat at Hawkesbury.
The first three in any of the provincial heats get into the $500,000 final on April 13 with the Greg McFarlane-trained It’s So Obvious claiming the third spot from Sunday’s 1400m-race.
The winner started the $3.20 favourite with Jason Collett riding him to a short neck win over his stablemate, a $5 chance, with the pair three lengths ahead of It’s So Obvious ($9).
“I gave them a good head start but I was confident I could run them down,” Collett said.
Waugh has had placegetters in the $500,000 final before and is hoping this time it will be different.
She said she was uncertain what the pair would do between now and the final.
“They are both so professional. I can’t split them,” Waugh said.
“I’m not sure if they will have another run or just a trial.”
The two are at $6 for the final with the Gwenda Markwell-trained Archedemus the TAB’s $4.50 favourite.
Archedemus still has to qualify and will attempt to do that in the Kembla Grange heat on March 23 but is at the head of the market based on his win at Rosehill on Saturday.
The gelding claimed his fourth successive win in a benchmark 78, leading all the way over the 1350m to beat Star Of The Seas by 1-3/4 lengths.
Bennelong Dancer took out Saturday’s Southern Districts qualifying heat for the Country Championship final on April 6 when he beat Lady Mironton.
The first two in each regional country heat gain automatic entry to the final with a wild card race at Muswellbrook on March 30 the last chance for those who previously miss out.
