Kris Lees can kick-off Friday’s Port Macquarie meeting with a mare who impressed on debut. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL
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BEST BET
Race 1 No.4: SNAPOUTOFIT
Kris Lees-trained descendant of the great 1990s Kiwi filly, Snap, she left a big impression when she won on debut at Taree.
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Race 6 No.2: WHERE’S THE FIRE
I Am Invincible gelding trained by Matthew Dunn who roared away late to shed his maiden status at Grafton first-up.
VALUE BET
Race 8 No.3: KERMANTIC
Can be a bit costly but can’t deny his consistency. This might just be the horse’s perfect trip on Friday.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 1,9
Race 6: 2,5
Race 7: 4,5,9
Race 8: 2,3,5
BEST EXOTIC
Exacta Race 5 No. 9 to beat No. 1
DAILY DOUBLE
1st leg: 2
2nd leg: 3
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Aaron Bullock had a skinny day here at Port on Monday by his standards. Keep the faith.
Aaron Bullock can bounce back at Part Mac on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images
INSIDE MAIL
RACE 1
Snapoutofit is a daughter of the (once) underrated racehorse and now promising young NZ-based stallion, Contributer. This mare’s third dam is Snap who won four G1s including the NZ 1000 Guineas/Oaks double. Won like a good horse on debut beating a better field than this. Expect short odds. Stablemate Akauweho is in the perfect race but (I) just can’t see her beating Snapoutofit all things being equal. Tavijewel likewise is handy but all wrapped up in the favourite myself.
Bet: Snapoutofit to win
RACE 2
Vardon remains winless after 12 starts but he has six placings, three of them are seconds. Just of late, he has been mixing and often matching it with far superior hoses to what he lines up against here on Friday. Just needs a well timed ride now. Chautauqua’s half brother I Say Boom would only need to reproduce any of three of his four career runs to be in the medals. Hard Lovin Man has drawn well this time and is second-up at a slightly longer and seemingly suitable longer trip.
Bet: Vardon to win
RACE 3
Strobing is such a blue blood, he is a son Americain out of a Hawk Wing half-sister to Dehere. As for his racing CV, Strobing has won two of 20 with five placings which may not sound all that inspiring but his last three starts are. For the record, they were/are two seconds either side of his Kempsey win. Introvert was brave under fire in those two Ballina wins. He faded out when on the hat-trick at Grafton but he got attacked a fair way from home as usual. Rahaan is itching to get back to this sort of trip.
Bet: Strobing to win
RACE 4
Fire Up Bruce is trained by inaugural Kosciuszko winner John Shelton who would no doubt be pleased with the way this son of Furnaces is tracking heading into Friday’s assignment. Fire Up Bruce was very good late at Ballina but what really marks him up here is that he was second to Maximum Vortex after that. With all that said, Spring Wellness is a considerable obstacle. The son of Pierro was a heavily backed even-money favourite last start at Taree and was just so impressive. Eastowin and No Love Lost have some claims.
Bet: Fire Up Bruce to win, quinella 3,7
RACE 5
Regina’s Girl is a daughter of the Cox Plate winner Adelaide and a rather typical one at that it seems. She’ll run 1400m or a mile one day, probably, which is relevant given that she is 1010m to 1208m on Friday. The way she covered the ground over the last 200m at Coffs on debut makes it the perfect race. Her biggest threat would appear to come from within. That is, if her stablemate Cardsharp can build on his own eye-catching debut. Icon Of Style has run lots better than her C. would suggest.
Bet: Regina’s Girl to win
RACE 6
Where’s The Fire was hugely impressive winning first-up at Grafton. He telegraphed the win somewhat off the back off his third to her Breeders’ Plate-placed stablemate Emperor a few weeks prior but still, he was something to behind as he roared away from the others to win so easily. Better Judgement has the form equal or maybe even a tad superior to Where’s The Fire but Matthew Dunn’s horse has the advantage of being up and running. That said, Kris Lees’ filly does go well first-up. October Revolution and Iamrustyparker are handy.
Bet: Where’s The Fire to win
RACE 7
Boomsita is probably better than these but the fact that she has drawn wide maybe brings her back a peg or two. That is unless, of course, it’s down the middle and over the top but we’ll leave that to Aaron “Leading Jockey in NSW” Bullock. Twin Seas is going pretty darn well for a horse who is an 18-start maiden. The son of Denman has placed at his last couple and he might not be a maiden after this one. Queen of Elegance has run a stack of better races than her record would falsely suggest.
Bet: Boomsita to win
RACE 8
Kermantic has been costly at times but he is still a pretty consistent horse. You couldn’t say that he runs many outright bad races, it’s just that like a lot of horses, he needs things to go his way or at least not work against him. Not sure what barrier 11 means to him on Friday but it’s Bullock again. Paul Shailer-trained gelding Narnia sent out all the right signs there at Taree first-up and this is the new home track for the son of Not A Single Doubt. Matthew Dunn’s Daedalus doesn’t win often but can never be ruled out.
Bet: Kermantic to win