Track Good 4/Soft 5, with the Rail True. Possibility of showers so an even pattern early could give way to off the fence later in the day
Race 1 – MAIDEN PLATE (1200m):
Newcastle-trained 3. Charlie's Law wasn't far off a nice horse at Tamworth last start in what will prove a deep form maiden and gets a real chance here to break through second-up.
Dangers: Promising Newcastle filly 10. Magnolia Power returned with a close-up fourth at Hawkesbury when well in the market and is drawn and weighted to go on with it. Muswellbrook-trained 1. Magic Ray is a threat. Placed five times from nine starts and is never far from the money under big weights; while local mare 7. Smokin' Suzy flew home second run back and also looks close to breaking through at her 13th career start.
How to play it: Charlie's Law to win and box trifecta 1-3-7-10.
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Racing is in Port Macquarie today.Credit:Darren Pateman
Race 2 – MAIDEN HCP (1500m)
Open race over tricky distance, but this looks a nice assignment for local mare 3. Veganza especially coming back from the longer trip where she wilted late. Previous run over this distance when well backed was good, and she's always shown an ability to finish hard from off the speed. Leading trainer/rider combination a big plus.
Dangers: Gosford-trained 4. Clarencetown might only have one placing from eight starts, but his best run was this track last star stepping up to this trip. Suited again and gets a good trailing barrier. Big watch on Newcastle filly 5. Wild Sheila who got home nicely on debut in a strong Tamworth maiden.
How to play it: Veganza each-way.
Race 3 – BM 66 HCP (1500m):
Gosford-trained 5. Magic Name is bursting to win his second race and looks well placed. Just missed finishing hard in his last two and gets nice weight relief here. The one to beat.
Dangers: The rest should be running for second, but locally-trained 2. O'Driscoll was a dominant winner this track in a weaker race two runs back before a fair effort in the stronger Kempsey Cup last start. Better suited this grade and will be in the finish.
How to play it: Magic Name to win.
Race 4 – MAIDEN HCP (1000m):
Tricky affair with several prominent first-starters, including 7. Exdream from leading Newcastle yard who has been a little wayward and green in two trials, but looks to have a fair slice of ability.
Dangers: Coffs Harbour trained debutant 6. Beat That (Drumbeats x Lotsahula by Sequalo) looked good last week in a home trial win and stable renowned for having them ready early; while Wyong mare and first starter 8. Red Cupcake impressed in a recent trial, but has drawn a wide gate for her debut. Of the raced brigade, 3. Casino Mondial made a strong second-placed debut in heavy ground behind the promising Havenot, and should be in the finish from a soft draw.
How to play it: Box trifecta 3-6-7-8.
Race 5 BM 58 HCP (1000m):
Not often I'm very keen on a sprinter bred on staying lines, but from the strong local stable, 4YO mare 5. Let's Rebelle looks beautifully placed returning off a lengthy spell. Just missed in her first two flying home this track before easily winning her maiden third-up. Well in at the weights and will settle off the speed before launching late.
Dangers: The handicapper hasn't missed Taree-trained 1. Akamin (61.5kg) but he's hit the line strongly every run this prep, and this is his right grade.
How to play it: Let's Rebelle to win.
Race 6 CL2 HCP (1500m):
I'll be surprised if promising Newcastle filly 4. Angel Of Heaven doesn't salute again this grade after a slashing win at Scone on debut powering home from midfield when well-backed. Gets in on the limit weight with senior rider aboard and looks near a good thing.
Dangers: Not many in a race of little depth, but 2. Ticket To Fly is honest and wasn't beaten far in a slightly stronger race last start. Will probably drift back from a wide gate and look for a "tail" into the straight.
How to play it: Angel Of Heaven to win.
Race 7 OPEN HCP (1200m):
Good competitive sprint for the older horses and 7YO Coffs Harbour mare 3. Florelle is the one I want to be on. Hasn't won for a while, but put the writing on the wall in stronger Dan Baker BM 86 two starts back when rattling home from the back. Not suited coming back to the 1000m in the Springflyer at home last start when easy in betting, and back up to 1200m here is ideal, despite a rise in weight.
Dangers: Wyong-trained 4. Choice Larga hasn't started for four months but comes to hand quickly and won a trial nicely last week; while easily the youngest horse in the race 7. Penfold competed against stronger two runs back at Randwick mid-week, before narrowly beaten as a well-backed fav in a BM 66 at Moree. Will be in the finish.
How to play it: Florelle to win and quinella 3 and 7.
Race 8 CL1 HCP (1200m):
A few of these are headed for better, including 3YO local 5. Just Sizzling who is ready to win his second race. Has found the line nicely last two from off the speed in what will be solid form races, and is hard fit, so will be rattling home.
Dangers: Wyong-trained 1. Traumatised flew home to be beaten under a length in a BM 58 at Muswellbrook last start, and earlier this year twice attacked the line in much deeper races. Will probably need some luck to get off the fence late in the day, but with a clear run, will be surging into the finish. Newcastle colt 3. Total Power was a dominant winner on debut, but this is a bit tougher
How to play it: Just Sizzling each-way and quinella 1 and 5.
Supplied by Racing NSW.
