By nick berney
Selections based on a soft to heavy track. Monitor for bias/pattern.
Race 1 – 1:15PM MCGRATH ESTATE AGENTS MAIDEN SHOWCASE PLATE (1200 METRES)
1. Edge Of Reward resumes for his new trainer Nathan Doyle and has trialled well in preparation for
this event. The four-year-old produced his career peak figure first-up last prep after racing wide, and
his run was full of merit. Further, he was slightly outpaced when the sprint went on, but once he
built momentum, he hit the line hard and ran the fastest final 200m split of the meeting in 11.32.
The gelding has a strong starting price profile, a dominant ratings profile relative to his rivals and if
he gets luck from the draw, expect him to be hard to beat.
Racing returns to Port Macquarie with an action-packed card.Credit:Getty
Dangers: 4. Tiva Bay was honest last campaign in time/sectional merit races and brings a strong
ratings profile. First-up last prep, he was $2.9-$2.5 late in the trade but was checked/blocked at a
critical stage and tried hard to the line once clear. The Kris Lees-trained galloper brings strong form
lines, maps well and is proven on rain-affected ground.
14. Darpano was heavily backed last start at
Scone into $1.50 and ran on well into third, clocking the equal fastest final 400m split of the meeting
in 23.08. The three-year-old profiles well for this event and is suited but will now have to stretch to
1200m. 12. Scotland is rock-hard fit and repeating his last start effort can put him in the finish. 11.
Osterberg is a lightly raced galloper and a key late market watch. Add 7. Star Of Yamba who returns
to her home track and can have the last shot.
How to play it: Edge Of Reward WIN.
Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 2 – 1:50PM JR RICHARDS & SONS COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN SHOWCASE PLATE (1000 METRES)
6. Golden Breeze, who represents value, chased a fast tempo throughout last start and was honest
in a high-rating race with decisive margins throughout. The three-year-old has a tricky draw but is
suited back in distance and onto a soft surface. Expect him to be running on late and can rate to win.
Each-way.
Dangers: 4. Cenotes tried hard last start at Grafton in the inferior ground and is ready to peak third-
up. The three-year-old maps to have all favours, and Andrew Adkins rides for the first time. 1. Elite
Quality comes through the same race as Golden Breeze and must be respected. Debutante 10.
Millennibarr has trialled well enough and is a key late market watch.
How to play it: Golden Breeze E/W.
Odds & Evens: EVENS.
Race 3 – 2:25PM PEAK COFFEE CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
Forget 1. Abuela’s last start in a Midway Handicap (1300m) at Rosehill, where she pulled up with a
poor recovery, albeit starting at $7 in the market. Prior to that start, she chased a solid tempo and
tried hard to the line beating the rest easily. The four-year-old has strong provincial/metropolitan
form lines for this, maps well, and Aaron Bullock rides.
Dangers: 3. Jacenza overcame difficulties to win last start at Tamworth after getting
checked/blocked at a critical stage. He has a strong starting price profile, and his ratings profile
suggests the jump in grade is no issue. 10. Albi Dot Com and 7. Pendleton resume from long layoffs
and have trialled well. Add 2. Paradise Island to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Abuela WIN.
Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Race 4 – 3:05PM DE BORTOLI WINES COUNTRY MAGIC CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
9. Sharp Rock was well fancied on debut at Scone 14 days ago and savaged the line late to score.
Further, he ran solid time relative to the day and clocked one of the fastest final 400m splits in
23.24. The gelding will be fitter from that effort and is an improver over a further distance. He has a
tricky draw, but the track pattern may suit, and he has the key asset of acceleration to overcome the
barrier.
Dangers. 13. Ilovethegame can bounce back with a favourable map and is on a 10-day backup. 4.
Ghost Hunter sat outside the leader at a solid pace and battled on well. He will be fitter for that and
will roll forward. Add 6. Heir Apparent to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Sharp Rock WIN.
Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Race 5 – 3:40PM BIRDON GROUP SPRINT (1200 METRES)
1. Charmmebaby must carry 62kg but gets in well at the weights under the conditions. The six-year-
old went to a new level last prep, and before spelling, she was only beaten 3.4 lengths in the Group
1 Tatts Tiara (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
The mare looks to have returned well after an impressive trial,
and she is well placed here.
Dangers: 3. Saquon will need to overcome a tricky draw but is a big improver back up to 1200m. The
Paul Perry trained runner can rate to win and is a knockout chance. 9. Rahni Factor is a last start
winner and maps to control the pace. Add 4. Nictock and 13. Proverbial to trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Charmmebaby WIN.
Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Race 6 – 4:20PM FASTPLAST BUILDING SUPPLIES HASTINGS CUP (1500 METRES)
4. Kedah raced wide throughout in the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m) at Newcastle last start and
battled on OK. The seven-year-old will be fitter for that effort, and third-up last prep, she won and
produced one of her career peak figures. The Kris Lees-trained galloper receives a senior jockey for
the first time this campaign, drops significantly in grade, maps to have all favours and can rate to
win.
Dangers: 7. Olympic Gaze was outpaced up when the tempo quickened first-up at Canterbury and
tried hard in defeat. He is suited to the rain-affected ground and will be running on. 2. Hit The Target
had all favours last start when winning at Newcastle but won easily. The gelding faces tougher
opposition here but maps again to control the pace. Add 5. Relucent who has a gear change and has
strong form lines.
How to play it: Kedah WIN.
Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 7 – 4:55PM 2022 CARLTON DRY PORT MACQUARIE CUP *BIG DANCE ELIGIBILITY * (2000 METRES)
Import 3. Quality Time, who profiles well for this race, is in career-best form and on an upwards
ratings spiral this preparation. The gelding was a dominant winner last start at Rosehill, and he did it
in style. Further, he had every chance but sprinted away from his rivals to run his final 400m split in
22.66 and was eased down before the line.
He is an improving type in his second campaign under
the guidance of trainer Chris Waller and brings the clear best last start figure. In addition, he maps to
have all favours, has a starting price edge over his main rivals, is proven on rain-affected ground and
is hard to beat with even luck.
Dangers: 4. Caboche and 2. Rousseau come through the same race as Quality Time and are both set
to peak fourth-up stepping out to 2000m. 10. Onemore Sapphire won at this track 12 days ago on a
testing track. Moreover, he maps well and is a knockout chance. 5. Our Candidate resumes after two
trials. He is a consistent type and can sprint fresh.
How to play it: Quality Time WIN.
Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 8 – 5:35PM FLOWER HOTELS BENCHMARK 66 HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
7. Passistas was checked/blocked at stages last start and tried hard. Moreover, she clocked one of
the fastest final 600m splits in 33.31 and indicated she is ready to peak third-up. The mare brings
provincial form lines to this event, and Jason Collett rides. Each-way.
Dangers: 15. Mussenphere resumes and is suited over further, but with an anticipated genuine
tempo, she may have the last shot. Forgive 2. Zoom Outcome’s last start where he pulled up lame
and has had a trial between runs. 10. Sharkim is coming off a dominant maiden win and add 13.
Crowned Empress to all exotics.
How to play it: Passistas E/W.
Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Best Bet: Race 1, No.1 – Edge Of Reward
Best Value: Race 2, No. 6 – Golden Breeze
