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Those willing to forgive Oxford Poet’s last start flop could be rewarded in Newcastle’s Provincial Championship Qualifier.
The Kim Waugh-trained gelding is having a second tilt at qualifying for next months Provincial Championships after a forgettable day out on his home track.
The gelding was sent out to make all however folded up badly on straightening and finished four lengths off the winner.
A fortnight later he heads to Newcastle for the 1400m Provincial Championship Qualifier and interestingly, with a Tongue Tie applied for the first time.
Under the set weights of the $100,000 event, Oxford Poet is extremely well placed with the son of Dylan Thomas meeting his rivals on substantially better weight terms than what would be the case under handicap conditions.
He has drawn more favourably at Newcastle on Wednesday in barrier 6 and should take up a prominent position with much more ease than was the case at Wyong.
Outside of that last start flop at Wyong, his form this campaign has been excellent.
Following a dominant first up win at Rosehill, Oxford Poet was only narrowly beaten at the course three weeks later.
He posted a narrow third on that occasion behind the likes of San Diego and Mahican.
Form out of that race has since held up well with San Diego placing in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes last start while Mahican won a Benchmark 80 at Rosehill last Saturday.
To say the quality of opposition he faces in this contest is lesser than what Oxford Poet acquitted himself in two back is an understatement.
He should prove too good for these on the way to contesting the Provincial Championship at Randwick on April 11.
On ratings, Slots is the main danger based on a bold third in the Wenona Girl Quality as a 200-1 outsider.
It was a bold performance however it shapes as somewhat of an anomaly when looking at her prior performances.
Slots recorded a Timeform rating of 100 in her first up outing which marks a 20 pound improvement on a prior master rating of 80.
The mare has already attracted early support for Wednesday’s Provincial Championship Qualifier however for now, expectations should be tempered somewhat.
Mana Manu resumes after a breakout preparation where he worked through the grades nicely.
His campaign culminated with a success over 1200m at Warwick Farm.
The Allan Denham-trained gelding possesses plenty of ability and class alone can have him there at the finish.
Concerns surround him though in regards to fitness first up over 1400m and his ability in general to handle a distance which he is untried at.
