Form analyst Shayne O’Cass runs the rule over Monday’s meeting at Port Macquarie.
PORT MACQUARIE
BEST BET
Race 3 No. 14: Justiciar
Kris Lees-trained two-year-old on debut against older horses but we are late in the season and he seems to have talent.
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NEXT BEST
Race 5 No. 2: Narnia
No secret that he’s getting close to another win. Runner-up at this track/trip 10-days ago.
VALUE
Race 2 No. 7: The Percentage
Low percentage horse but to be fair, he has turned in a few decent runs since he moved to Taree.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 2,5
Race 6: 1,2,3,9
Race 7: 5,9,10
Race 8: 2,3,17
BEST EXOTIC
Exacta Race 3 No. 14 to beat No. 3
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Could be a Bucko versus Bullock TAB Jockeys Challenge at Port. Maybe Bucko by a whisker.
Kris Lees looks set for a successful day at Port Macquarie. Picture: Reg Ryan – Racing Photos
INSIDE MAIL
RACE 1
This is a very strong 2000m race with four last start winners in the 10-horse field. One of them is Gulf of Tomini who deserves great praise for carrying the 60kg yet still rushing past his rivals to win here in a 1500m Benchmark 58 on May 16. Meets the 2000m fourth-up, fit and in form. Speaking of fit and in-form, Better Not Bitter is ‘2121’ at the last four of his seven runs this time in. Take note those two wins are both here at Port Mac (only visits). Strobing is ‘121’ lately.
Bet: Gulf Of Tomini to win
RACE 2
The Percentage has raced 17 times for just three seconds but to be fair the son of Starspangledbanner he used to be housed at Randwick so was racing in decent company a lot of times. His last four runs have been for Glen Milligan and three of them were ‘good’ to varying degrees. Stars might align for him on Monday. Cynic has sone some worthy things in his six starts. Lot to like about his trial at Taree. Bullock on too! Icon of Style seems to be building to a first win. Among Us and Crown’M have claims in an open affair.
Bet: The Percentage to win, quinella 4,7
RACE 3
Justiciar was bred by his part-owner Dame Lowell Goddard who was a High Court Judge in New Zealand where this son of Ardrossan was foaled. Our verdict on his trials? One good, the other very good. He is taking on the older horses but he looks like he has some talent. Passionate Rebel makes his stable debut for Paul Shailer here at the new home track on Monday. Got close to Auzstar in that 1008m heat here on May 19. Falreine has placed at 8 of his 16 starts and 6 of those are seconds.
Bet: Justiciar to win
RACE 4
Madam Rock has a wide draw and topweight but she has been known to get back and charge when dictated to by such things. In respect to the 59kg, you could make a case to argue that she is the ‘best’ horse in the race. Also worth noting that she has raced at Port Mac three times for two seconds and a third. Bonnie Vale is another who races well at the venue. She was runner-up to Mischievous Molly here last start over this trip and that reads well for Monday. Astral Thoughts send out some encouraging signs last start at Taree.
Bet: Madam Rock to win
RACE 5
Narnia is a former Annabel Neasham-trained gelding whose last four runs have been for and with Paul Shailer. The last two of those four are her only two this preparation and they basically are one P.B followed by another one straight after that. Good signs for a win on Monday. Mischievous Molly was $1.35 here last start and after maybe one little heart flutter on the bend, knuckled down late and came away. Go well again. Bantarki paid a big price for his wide alley in the Gosford Highway.
Bet: Narnia to win, box trifecta 2,3,4,5
RACE 6
Iobject is by former Horse of the Year, Dissident. His grand-dam Rinky Dink won the Australasian Oaks and the Tasmanian Oaks. As for Iobject he has done a fine job thus far with two wins and a second from his four starts. One of his wins was here at Port Mac beating Darci Diva. October Revolution is a consistent local who won here a few starts back with 62kg. Tony Ball-trained pair Adamdeeant and the last start track/trip winner Telegraph are major players.
Bet: Iobject to win
RACE 7
Darci Diva has raced 20 times and finished on the podium at 11 of them. Granted, only twice did she win but she is so consistent/honest. On top of that, the Paul Shailer-trained Kiwi import excels here at the home track. Her record at the venue is five starts for a win, three seconds and third. Deep form too. Lambdoma Energy left a very, very good impression at his Port Mac debut winning that 1000m Benchmark 74 five odd weeks ago. Jamesonheart has a dud draw but is going to win races up this/that way.
Bet: Darci Diva to win
RACE 8
Equivocal is a Lonhro filly who ran four times in Victoria; she was 4th of 13 on debut in the Inglis 2YO Banner on Cox Plate day at The Valley. She was $4.40 into $3.30 and won – easily, as it turned out, at her first run up here for Nathan Doyle. What makes the win even more significant is that it was at this track and distance. Rommel’s Wolf (1st) and Richattack (4th) come through the same race as each other on may 16 here. They were both barnstorming over the 1000m so you would imagine that 1200m is bang on.
Bet: Equivocal to win