Pomelo wins her way to Provincial final
Kembla Grange trainer Gwenda Markwell reckons she might have to trade in her Winx cap for one emblazoned Pomelo after the mare raced her way into the Provincial Championship Final.
The heat was transferred to Saturday’s Rosehill meeting after Gosford was washed out on Wednesday but the slight delay made no difference to Pomelo ($2.45 fav), who raced to a 2-1/2 length win over Heavenly Anna ($31) with Dream Lane ($12) a close third.
Both placegetters also qualify for the $400,000 final on April 8 at Randwick.
Markwell entered into the spirit of the meeting with her cap celebrating champion Winx, who won the George Ryder Stakes earlier on the Golden Slipper Day program.
The addition of the provincial heat as race 10 on the card put extra pressure on the already heavy track which stood up to the load.
“I’ll have to get Pomelo hats made,” Markwell said.
“She is a very good mare and will be right in it in the final.
“They let me give her a gallop on the course proper at Kembla after Gosford was called off which was a big help.”
Pomelo has won four of her past five starts and her win on Saturday propelled her to $5 favouritism for the Provincial Championship Final.