DEAMER RAPT WITH HIS PMC FINAL HOPE

JASON Deamer says it was a “stretch” trying to win the 2018 Provincial Championships Final with Bon Amis.

Now he’s hoping to win this year’s Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday with a mare who has a totally different racing style.

“Whereas Bon Amis was purely a sprinter who we tried to stretch out to 1400m (he ran second to Princess Posh in a Newcastle Qualifier and then fifth, with Blake Shinn aboard, to that mare’s stablemate Serene Miss in the Final), it’s quite the opposite with Rapt,” Deamer said today.“She is a ‘miler’ who we are keeping fresh for the 1400m.”

Hard-working Newcastle trainer Deamer won eight races with $4000 buy Bon Amis for a Newcastle syndicate.

The Bon Hoffa gelding won his first four starts in 2017, culminating with a Rosehill Gardens Benchmark 75 Handicap (1100m).

Bon Amis also was placed on eight occasions from 23 starts, including a third to Savatiano in the inaugural running of the 2019 $1m The Hunter (1300m) on his home track.

Deamer also deserves plaudits with how he has managed Rapt.

The four-year-old daughter of More Than Ready fetched $130,000 for Dynamic Syndications (she is raced by a ladies’ syndicate) at the 2022 Magic Millions yearling sale, and has won five races and been placed on six occasions and earned just over $300,000.

That will swell by $540,000 if she can win Saturday’s PMC Final, for which she is currently on the third line of betting at $8 with another mare, Kembla Grange’s Welcometobarbados.

Tim Clark has been confirmed as Rapt’s rider, and he is no stranger to win the annual feature.

Clark won the 2017 edition on another mare Maryore, when the series was for Provincial trainers only.

He rode Rapt at her fourth start when runner-up in a Gosford Maiden Plate (1100m) in October 2023, and has been reunited with the mare at her last three runs.

Clark won a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m) on Rapt at Randwick on December 21 before the mare was a luckless and impressive seventh (from a near outside alley) to Miss Joelene in the $500,000 The Wave at weight-for-age at the Sunshine Coast on January 4.

He also was aboard when Deamer qualified Rapt early by winning the opening 1400m heat at Hawkesbury on February 20 at a surprising price of $21, and the trainer has kept her away from the racing spotlight since.

“There really wasn’t anything suitable, but we decided not to run her again before the Final,” he said.

“But she had a nice trial at home last Wednesday when she ran home strongly (defeating one of fellow Newcastle trainer Kris Lees’ two Qualifiers in Lord Of Biscay) to win over 920m on the course proper.

“I’m really happy with her condition, and looking forward to Saturday.

“If we get a decent pace, we know she will be strong at the finish as she was when she won at Hawkesbury.”

Deamer of course will be at Randwick, but will have a representative at his corresponding home track meeting on Saturday as well as sending Jack Duggan and Jumeirah Beach north to race at Doomben the same day.

. HOOFNOTE: News of James McDonald’s booking for Lord Of Biscay has resulted in the import now challenging Wyong’s Matcha Latte for PMC Final favoritism.

Lord Of Biscay firmed from $6 to $5 today, just behind Matcha Latte ($4.50).

Lord Of Biscay’s trainer Kris Lees won his 91st race of the season today when hotpot Miami Baby ($1.50), with stable apprentice Ben Osmond aboard, scored at the Kempsey meeting held at Tuncurry.

.The updated TAB.com.au market is:

$4.50 Matcha Latte

5 Lord Of Biscay

8 Rapt, Welcometobarbados

11 Money Team, Well Timed

15 Bojangles, French Ruler, Magnatear

17 Mogul Monarch

26 Art Volant, Broadway Bouncer

34 Imposant

51 Mahogany Girl, Vintage Choice

Story John Curtis, April 7, 2025 - Bradley Photos