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By John Curtis

Jason Attard didn’t hesitate at all.

When a winless five-year-old named No Regard was retired after six starts (the best he could finish was eighth at Hawkesbury in August last year), the Hawkesbury trainer took a call from the gelding’s breeder Kate Nivison.

“Kate was so disappointed that No Regard didn’t measure up that she wanted to put husband and wife Mike and Jo Watson in another horse as a replacement,” Attard said this morning.

“She asked me what I considered what was the best of the unraced young horses I had for her.

“I told her without doubt that it was Oui Oui Oui, and Kate was happy to include the Watsons in the filly to race with her under her Etak Thoroughbreds banner.”

A “veteran” of only three starts and already successful, homebred Oui Oui Oui lines up at her home track on Tuesday, attempting to put Attard back in the provincial spotlight.

Having returned to training in his own right, Attard will start the Yes Yes Yes filly in the XXXX Gold Midway Class 1 Handicap (1400m), and Tom Sherry will ride her.

Attard accepted with Oui Oui Oui in two races at Royal Randwick last Saturday, but opted not to run in either.

“I have liked this filly from the first time I saw her and rode her around the track at Hawkesbury,” he said.

“She is beautiful, and Kate doesn’t like rushing her horses, so we didn’t start her as a two-year-old.

“I want to look after Oui Oui Oui and was reluctant to run her on a bottomless track at Randwick, especially when this race came up at home.”

Oui Oui Oui is the fifth foal of the now retired Bernardini mare Buon Auspicio, and a half-sister to dual Hawkesbury winner Leandra (also retired).

Attard debuted her at Kembla Grange on November 5 last year when she ran fourth in a 1200m Maiden Handicap as a $17 chance: “She went off her tucker a bit after that, and I didn’t push on with her,” Attard explained.

“Oui Oui Oui came back a stronger filly, and after winning a trial at home on March 25, resumed and won a 1200m Provincial Maiden Plate at Kembla Grange on April 15.

“Then I threw her in the deep end in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) on May 3, and wasn’t disappointed at all with her performance. The timing was right; it was 1400m and on our home track.

“She settled well back and ran on nicely to finish eighth, beaten just over four lengths. Oui Oui Oui has trained on strongly and on her home track again back in her own class, I’m sure she will be hard to beat.”

Market assessors strongly agree. TAB this morning quoted Attard’s filly as a dominant $1.65 favourite, with only two others (Iceman and Empusa) under double figures; at $7.50.

Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle, needing only one win for a career 300, has decided to put blinkers on Empusa (Ash Morgan).

The Hellbent filly broke through at Hawkesbury in a 1500m Maiden Plate on April 5 before finishing last of eight in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) at Gosford 20 days later.

Empusa’s rider Andrew Gibbons reported she never travelled comfortably at any stage, and recommended blinkers be added to her gear.

Racecourse manager Digby Nuthall posted a Heavy 9 rating this morning for the seven-race program, with the rail out 4m from the 1100m to 450m, and in the TRUE position for the remainder of the circuit.

“We have had 250 mils of rain in the last seven days, but nothing in the last 24 hours,” Nuthall said. “A good percentage of that rain fell overnight last Thursday, and the track is better in some parts than in others, but overall definitely in the heavy range.”

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Hawkesbury here