Banjora sets sights on Provincial-Midway Championships

Jockey Zac Lloyd showed no nerves navigating a narrow inside path on exciting sprinter Banjora at Rosehill midweek, even as trainer Bryce Heys watched anxiously.

"Plenty of room," Lloyd said.

"He's a big horse, so he needs a bit more room than an average horse. He was just going that well he was able to bulldoze his way in there."

Banjora certainly forced his passage, the $2.50 favourite displacing runner-up-to-third Astronomix ($2.70) to burst clear internally and prevail by one length against Beau Bandit ($51), arriving at the post alertly.

The pair had mirrored this bold move for a win at Gosford previously, with Heys expressing a desire to steer the flawless gelding clear of barriers.

"He is more than brave," Heys said.

"Two starts in a row I can't say he was looking pretty, and that I had any confidence we'd get the result, despite the horse's ability, but to overcome that twice in a row now, not many can do it."

Attention now turns to the 1200m Provincial-Midway Championships heat over Gosford on March 14, where a win might secure a berth in April's Provincial-Midway Championships Final at 1400m in Randwick.

"I was going to go to the Gosford qualifier for the Provincial Midway," he said.

"The 1400 might be a query, but I thought against that class of horse, he might be alright."

"Hopefully he ends up in the Provincial-Midway Championship."

On Wednesday, Chris Waller alongside James McDonald required just one more victory for their 500th partnership success, narrowly failing twice as Almaaz lost by a head to Fireball Miss and Soverato was overtaken late by Aisle Two.

Four additional opportunities await them at Canterbury's Friday night program.

Explore top Australian betting sites to place wagers on Banjora in the upcoming Gosford qualifier for the Provincial-Midway Championships.