For Foxtrot Bravo, running in Saturday's Midway Handicap at Rosehill is just reward for continually exceeding expectations.
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And after the week trainer Theresa Bateup has had, why not take a step up to the bigger stage while the winning streak is rolling.
Bateup walked away from the $1 million The Gong meeting with a rising star in Divine Breath taking out the Benchmark 72 (1400m) and The Guru claiming a BM78 over 2000m, before Styrke 'Em Onesie kept the strike rate ticking over with a win at Wagga on Monday.
With the rain expected to tumble across the South Coast, Saturday's provincial meeting at Kembla Grange hangs in the balance, with the track already rated a Heavy 9.
Bateup said she has been pleasantly surprised with Foxtrot Bravo's progress and deserves his shot among the Rosehill field.
"He's just super honest, he's always tried really hard," she said.
"We thought he was more of a country grade to begin with, but he just keeps on improving every time.
"With the rain hanging around at Kembla, why thought, why not give him the chance, especially now we've got a Midway out over ground."
Foxtrot Bravo is a $17 chance, with Tyler Schiller on board and will take on Our Bambino for The Gong winners Robert and Luke Price, in a Midway featuring Rebel Rama, Jazzland and Jesse James as the favoured runners.
Bateup spent the inaugural The Gong day at home watching it on television, before Monegal won for her in 2020.
Two triumphs this year ranks among her career highlights and now Bateup is eyeing the Summer Provincial Series with Divine Breath, who was third in the first-ever Four Pillars earlier this preparation.
"It's been very hectic, but I'm proud of the stable," she said.
"We haven't looked too far ahead to the autumn with Divine Breath, but she'll either go to the Hawkesbury or Kembla (Summer) heat).
"She's a 71 rater now, so we'll look at something in town, maybe look midweek, but she's still a little bit untapped and she handles most track conditions."
Meanwhile, Shoalhaven Heads trainer Terry Robinson takes The Kosciousko champion Art Cadeau up to Group 3 level in the Festival Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.
Art Cadeau was luckless in the Goulburn Cup last start, but powered over the top of Handle The Truth to win the $1.3 million race at Randwick last month.
The five-year-old gelding is a $9.50 chance, behind the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Ellsberg ($2.80) and Joe Pride's Brutality ($7).
In other news, restrictions on jockeys travelling have been lifted, while the Nowra Country Championships heat is on February 13, with the final at Randwick on April 2.
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