Port Macquarie review, 13 August 2021
A double to the Neil Godbolt stable spearheaded the charge and highlighted the advantage for trainers on their home circuit at the Port Macquarie race meeting on Friday.
Jazzles is a relatively new acquisition for Godbolt and was steered to the centre of the track down the straight by Matt McGuren before racing clear to score a solid victory over Grated Coconut in the De Bortoli Wines Class 2 Handicap.
The respected establishment completed a double later in the program when Georgina McDonnell came with a strong run down the crown of the track on Lord Jaysea to run down Delayed Response and Miss Scalini and land a dominant victory.
Adding further satisfaction for the family was that both winners are owned by Neil and Maxine Godbolt with the stable commencing the new season in dashing fashion.
Bladnoch commenced the day well for local trainers when Luke Rolls settled the Greg Middleton trained gelding in the second half of the field before flashing home down the outside to land the prize in comprehensive fashion.
Middleton has a small string in work and the move to vary the racing pattern of Bladnoch to settle off the pace paid dividends for the All American gelding who broke through for a well-deserved victory after numerous placings.
The Port training dominance continued when the Allan Kehoe trained gelding, Dragon Dream, raced clear from Honovi and Italian Tune to land the prize in the middle-distance event.
Jenny Duggan’s riding skills were seen to advantage when she made a move towards the front down the back straight before the son of May’haab raced clear to score by just over a length.
Rocky Simonetta trains just up the road at Kempsey and the win by Monti Di Rose in the Gemlife Rainbow Beach Class 1 Handicap not only landed some strong wagering activity but also completed a magic week for connections following the win by Prima Stella in the Casino Cup last weekend.
Jon Grisdale positioned the daughter of Outreach just off the early speed before Monti Di Rose raced away down the home running for a solid victory.
Koby Jennings weaved a path on Always Written Off before the Nathan Doyle trained gelding landed his debut win in the second event on the card while Terrameades flashed down the outside to score an outstanding victory by around six lengths in the following event.
Courtney Bellamy recently landed her debut riding success on Secrets no More at the track in July and the promising apprentice was seen to advantage when guiding Northern Wilderose to an impressive victory for Coffs Harbour trainer, Paul Smith.
The daughter of Killy was taken straight to the lead by Bellamy and was able to withstand the late challenge of Innervoice and Dr Demon to score by a decisive margin.
Racing was conducted under overcast skies with the soft track conditions generally providing an even surface with some advantage to horses finishing on from the outer sections of the course down the home running.
Races on the program were named in honour of Schweppes, Carlton Dry, De Bortoli Wines, Great Northern Brewing Company and John Oxley Motors as recognition of their continued support provided over a long period of time.
It was also great to welcome GemLife Rainbow Beach as a major sponsor for their premier fillies and mares’ event, $60,000 Queen of the North Handicap in January with their latest over 50’s facility under construction at Lake Cathie.
Racing continues at Port with the Camden Haven Cup highlighting the program on Saturday 28th August with a reminder that all roads lead to the circuit on Friday 8th October for showcase racing featuring the $200,000 Port Macquarie Cup and the $80,000 Birden Group Sprint.
Review
Race 1 – CAMDEN HAVEN CUP DAY 28/8 MAIDEN HCP (1500 M)
Decadent Tale was dispatched as a relatively firm favourite with Bold Contender on the second line of betting despite easing a point while Bladnoch, Cooreei Lass and Glenburn Hotel attracted some support.
It was the intention of Luke Rolls to ride Bladnoch off the pace and the son of All American over raced in the early stages behind Decadent Tale and Dream Storm before storming down the centre of the track for a comprehensive victory.
Bold Contender came from a long way off the speed and made up many lengths to claim second from Decadent Tale with Glenburn Hotel weaving a passage from last to finish just behind the placegetters.
Cooreei Lass made up some ground over the concluding stages while Dream Storm weakened noticeably over the concluding stages after racing on the speed.
Race 2 – JOHN OXLEY MOTORS CG&E MAIDEN PLATE (1200 M)
Elected was the ruling elect for the event from Always Written Off with Pulitzer Prize and Just Ziggy given some chance on the next line of betting.
Always Written Off was quietly ridden in the second half of the field behind the Karen Owen trained stablemates, Seething Chuck and Al Be Purple, before Koby Jennings was able to weave a path on the outside of Rockbarton Roman down the home straight.
The Nathan Doyle trained gelding broke through for his debut win by a decisive margin over Rockbarton Roman with Just Ziggy working home well down the outside to claim third place.
Elected was ridden perfectly by Dylan Gibbons and the English import will derive great benefit from the outing while Pulitzer Prize came from a long way back to finish just behind the placegetters.
Race 3 – GREAT NORTHERN BREWING CO. F&M MAIDEN PLATE (1200 M)
Punters assessed the race as dominated by two runners only with Terrameades holding a narrow call over Bright Eyed Girl with Imagine That specked at longer odds.
Terrameades drew wide and Dylan Gibbons was content to sit well off the speed set up by Jesta Coca and Been a Star before obtaining the tag into the race behind Rocket Royale and racing clear in the straight to score by around six lengths.
Cheketa and Bright Eyed Girl were tracking a wide path, and both made up many lengths down the home running to fill the placings
Latin Affair was camped behind the pacemakers and ran an even race while Imagine That came from near the tail of the field and worked home well over the concluding stages.
Race 4 – DE BORTOLI WINES CL 2 HCP (1000 M)
Oblivion was able to cling onto favouritism despite drifting a point in betting operations with plenty of confidence around Grated Coconut with Hay John and Poita on the third line of betting in front of Jazzles.
Ashley Morgan began well on Oblivion and raced the John Sprague trained gelding to the early lead from Maasai Mara before Adrian Layt decided to attach for the lead on Khitaamy.
Matt McGuren was content to park Jazzles off the speed before hooking the Neil Godbolt trained mare towards the outside down the home running to repel the late challenge of Grated Coconut and score by just under a length.
Khitaamy battled on well for third from Poita and Hay John while it was no surprise to see Oblivion weaken over the concluding stages after being softened up in the running.
Race 5 – PORT MACQUARIE CUP DAY 8/10 BM 58 HCP (1800 M)
Microna attracted plenty of wagering activity and was heavily backed into favouritism over Condover Hall with Roshan and Italian Tune just under the double figure quote.
Dragon Dream was pratted wide early before Jenny Duggan took the initiative and bounded the Allan Kehoe trained mare up to contest the lead with Microna before the pair were clearly headed by Honovi approaching the home bend.
Dragon Dream was able to arrest the lead back from Honovi down the home running and score by just over a length with Italian Tune making up good ground to claim third prize in front of Paavo and Roshan.
Microna weakened noticeably over the concluding stages while Condover Hall ran his usual honest race to finish just behind the placegetters.
Race 6 – SCHWEPPES BM 66 HCP (1500 M)
Prince Arli was heavily supported into favourite with the weight of money causing Alastor to ease noticeably while Miss Scalini attracting plenty of confidence late in wagering transactions.
It was cutthroat tactics in front with Prince Arli and Miss Scalini setting up a high-speed battle before being attacked approaching the home turn by Alastor and Emperor Harada.
With Prince Arli and Miss Scalini continuing to fight close to the rails and Alastor beginning to weaken, Delayed Response loomed large down the straight before Georgina McDonnell hooked Lord Jaysea to the outside section of the track in the shadows of the post,
Lord Jaysea had the momentum and the Neil Godbolt trained gelding bounded clear to score from Delayed Response and Miss Scalini with Prince Arli and Alastor positioned just behind the placegetters when the judge called a halt.
Race 7 – CARLTON DRY BM 58 HCP (1200 M)
Innervoice was dispatched as firm elect from Northern Wilderose with Dr Demon attracting support in front of Wine Time.
Northern Wildrose was taken straight to the lead by Courtney Bellamy and was able to repel the early challenge of Rioli and the late move by Innervoice and Dr Demon to score by a narrow margin.
The efforts of Innervoice and Dr Demon were solid as they both came from the second half of the field and made up many lengths down the outside to fill the minor placings while Secrets no More finished the race off well and Wine Time was responsible for a reasonable performance without threatening danger.to the placegetters.
Race 8 – GEMLIFE RAINBOW BEACH CL 1 HCP (1200 M)
Schiller Bay was the top pick in betting when the starter dispatched the field with a strong move for Monte Di Rose with the weight of money for the latter causing Par Avion to drift on the third line of betting,
Jon Grisdale began perfectly on Monti di Rose and was able to obtain a soft run in transit behind Gumnuts and Let it Sizzle before the Rocky Simonetta trained mare bounded clear down the home running to score a comprehensive victory.
Par Avion made up many lengths in the straight to claim second with Admiral Ash making up many lengths down the outside to fill the minor prize.
Deep Dream was on the pace and battled on well while Schiller Bay was prominent in the middle stages of the event and down the home straight before yielding ground over the late stages.
Horses to follow
Cheketa, Miss Scalini, Innervoice
