AS this year’s Provincial-Midway Championships continues at Hawkesbury on Saturday, last year’s Final winner Territory Express will make his Melbourne debut at Flemington on Saturday.
Trainer Paul Niceforo has planned only the one southern start – in the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap (1400m) – before returning home for a shot at the $4m Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Royal Randwick on April 5.
Because of the talented gelding’s barrier issues, Niceforo took Territory Express south especially for renowned horseman Julien Welsh to work with him.
“Julien is doing a terrific job with Territory Express, and Carleen Hefel does a lot of work for Julien and will ride him on Saturday,” Niceforo said this morning.
Territory Express was placed under a RacingNSW stewards’ suspension when he stood flatfooted at the start of the Group 3 $1m The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange on November 23 last year.
He missed the start by many lengths yet still beat five horses home.
Territory Express went south after a 1200m Warwick Farm trial on February 11 went horribly wrong.
However, Niceforo and the gelding’s managing part-owner Maryanne Cram are adamant a random pre-trial blood test that morning played a contributing role.
“Territory Express became very agitated following the test, and dug his toes in and wouldn’t jump,” Niceforo said.
“We gave him a 1000m jumpout at Cranbourne last Monday, and there was no problem at all.
“Carleen Hefel rode him, and he was the first out, then took 100m to get going.”
Outstanding mare Pride Of Jenni won the jumpout in which Territory Express finished fourth of five runners, and was subsequently cleared by stewards to resume racing.
“Territory Express is in great order and is ready to go on Saturday,” Niceforo said.
“He has won first-up before, and the big stretches at Flemington should suit him.”
Niceforo is keen to get Territory Express into the Doncaster Mile after narrowly missing a start last year.
The gelding was edged out by Democracy Manifest in a thrilling finish to the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens last March.
Victory would have guaranteed him a start in the Doncaster, so the Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) a week later became the next option, and with Zac Lloyd aboard, he finished brilliantly to defeat Strait Acer and Shadows Of Love.
“After the Flemington race, Territory Express will return home and contest the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude (1500m) at Rosehill on March 29,” Niceforo said.
The Prelude winner automatically becomes exempt from a Doncaster ballot, if one is necessary.
Territory Express has 52.5kg in the big Randwick “mile”, and is currently well down the order of ballot.
First acceptances are due by 12 noon on Tuesday. Territory Express is a $51 chance with TAB.com.au, star three-year-old filly Lady Shenandoah, unbeaten from two starts so far this campaign, being the $4.50 favorite.
Story John Curtis, March 6, 2025
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