The Kris Lees stable has enjoyed a great run of success in recent times and another rising star of the team was produced when Luscinia kept his unblemished record intact by saluting in the Kennards Hire Handicap at Port Macquarie on Friday.
The son of Nicconi was immediately spelled following his successful debut victory at Taree in June last year and had two quiet provincial trials in preparation for the assignment.
After travelling perfectly behind Cool Missile and Mister Ripley, Aaron Bullock hooked around the leaders approaching the home turn and produced a paralysing burst of speed to account for his rivals in dashing fashion.
Luscinia is named after a small nightingale and many keen judges believe the galloper has immense potential and remaining undefeated after two runs indicates a bright future for the Australian Bloodstock owned gelding.
The success for Aaron Bullock completed a riding double for the popular hoop following the emotional victory of Lucky Sham in the preceding event.
The daughter of Shamexpress has been a great money spinner for connections following the recent transfer from Mitchell Freedman to the local stable of Neil Godbolt.
Simon and Alison Thompson own the mare who carries the family colours of red and white quarters seen to success by many fine horses over a long period of time.
It was also wonderful to see former champion jockey, Robert Thompson, in attendance to witness the famous colours carried by Lucky Sham finishing over the top of Nevada Smoke to score a comprehensive victory.
Damien Smith made the journey from his Newcastle training base, and this proved successful when Serg Lisnyy sailed past the post to score on Hunter Bred in the opening event.
The son of Denman quickly accounted for Casino Silk in the home straight to score a solid victory and it is significant the lightly raced gelding is owned by former astute thoroughbred mentor, Ken Lantry.
Ben Looker powered to victory on Whatever I Say in the second event with the Paul Shailer trained gelding landing some confident wagering while Super Art defied a betting drift to salute in the following event.
Cejay Graham had no hesitation in allowing Whatyoulookingat to take the early lead and the John Sprague trained mare ran her rivals ragged in taking out the Fastplast Building Supplies Handicap while Mikado returned from a recent metropolitan campaign to score a gutsy victory in race five.
We All Agree dictated terms in the lead before Jon Grisdale hooked the son of Exceed and Excel to the centre of the track and the Joanne Hardy trained gelding finished resolutely to land the prize by a neck margin.
Surjin provided the Paul Perry stable with a winner on the card when the son of Melbourne Rose came down the crown of the track to land the prize in race six.
Ash Morgan was able to defy the finishing burst of Sound and Vision to score by a narrow margin and continue the popular jockey’s great recent form.
The program was conducted under fine skies with the soft five surface showing extreme resilience after the recent heavy rain while providing some advantage to horses finishing well off the rails.
Racing continues at Port next Saturday with McGuigan BMW Raceday followed by a strong program scheduled for Thursday 31st March.
A reminder that all roads lead to the circuit on Sunday 10th April with proceeds on the day being donated to aid flood victims in northern NSW.
General admission tickets can be pre-booked or purchased on race days with further information regarding reserved seating available by contacting the Port Macquarie Race Club office on 02 6581 1964 or email on admin@portmacquarieraceclub.com.au.
Friday’s meeting was continued the wonderful association with the Master Builders team and races on the program recognised the support provided by Coastal Commercial Linings, SMP Fabrication, Petries Mitre 10, Fastplast Building Supplies, NIS Power and Communications, North Eastern Door Frames, Nationwide Property Brokers and Kennards Hire.
Review
Race 1 – COASTAL COMMERCIAL LININGS MAIDEN HCP (1500 M)
There was plenty of confidence around the chances of Gulf of Tomini with the flashy chestnut gelding holding the lion’s share of the market over Green Rebel with Hunter Bred and Power Legend the only other runners considered a chance.
Tabernaci raced to the early lead before Ben Looker whipped around the field to assume control on Casino Silk with Hunter Bred travelling in the centre of the field on the inside of Green Rebel.
Power Legend was back near the rear of the field on the inside of Gulf of Tomini with the pair spotting the leaders some ten lengths.
Casino Silk headed for home with a good break before Hunter Bred commenced a move down the crown of the track and on the inside of Green Rebel.
Power Legend began sneaking along the rails while Madi Derrick attempted to weave a passage through the field before being disappointed for galloping room.
Hunter Bred claimed the lead in the shadows of the post and the Damien Smith trained gelding scored for Serg Lisnyy by just under a length from Casino Silk with Power Legend grabbing third in front of Our Domino Queen. Green Rebel ran an even race without threatening while it might be wise to dismiss the effort of Gulf of Tomin after a chequered passage down the home straight.
Race 2 – SMP FABRICATION MAIDEN PLATE (1200 M)
Whatever I Say was backed to the exclusion of all other runners and was sent to the barriers as hot favourite over Graphite Mist with some support for Devil’s Inn on the third line of betting.
Following the late scratching at the start of Fantastic Fille, Christian Reith used the rails and allow Graphite Mist to stride clear from Mr Turner, Pendulum and Devil’s Choice with Whatever I Say settling off the pace before making a charge approaching the home bend.
Crystal’s Legacy travelled in a prominent position along the rails while Lago Di Braies was trapped wide in the early stages before obtaining some cover in the centre of the pack.
Graphite Mist was no match for the powerful burst of speed from Whatever I Say with the Paul Shailer trained putting paid to his rivals very easily and raced clear to score by just under two lengths.
Devil’s Inn battled on well for second with Lago Di Braies responsible for a strong debut third in front of Crystal’s Legacy.
Graphite Mist was the first horse beaten down the home running and weakened to finish near the tail of the field.
Race 3 – PETRIES MITRE 10 MAIDEN HCP (1000 M)
Dyed Pretty was the heavily supported favourite for the event over Our Kiwi Princess with Lady Audrey attracting some support while Super Art drifted noticeably after opening as a popular pick.
Dyed Pretty showed gate speed and raced to the early lead from Super Art and Our Kiwi Princess with Justadude moving around the field to be in a prominent early position.
Been a Star was handily placed just behind the leaders while Lady Audrey was ridden along before travelling in the centre of the pack.
Died Pretty held the rails in the home straight before being claimed by Super Art with the Tony Green trained filly clearing out to score a decisive victory from Our Kiwi Princess who just grabbed Dyed Pretty for second prize.
Lady Audrey worked home well to finish just behind the placegetters with the former Victorian responsible for a solid effort while Justadude lost no admirers with his performance to finish in front of Royal Kew.
Race 4 – FASTPLAST BUILDING SUPPLIES BM 66 HCP (1000 M)
Ranuncula was the firm elect for the race over Apalala with some support for Ciao Uno on the third line of betting in front of Whatyoulookingat.
Cejay Graham had no hesitation in allowing Whatyoulookingat to stride clear from barrier rise over Apalala and In a Step with Ciao Uno continuing to make ground despite being trapped wide.
Ranuncula began moderately before Bailey Wheeler was content to camp the Stephen Jones trained gelding just off the early speed with Memphis Squaw and Dr Demon not far away.
Whatyoulookingat maintained a good lead in the straight from Ciao Uno with In a Step kicking back along the rails while Dr Demon and Ranuncula commenced their moves.
Cejay Graham kicked Whatyoulookingat clear in the shadows of the post and the John Sprague trained mare scored a solid victory over Ciao Uno with Dr Demon finishing third in front of Ranuncula and In a Step while Apalala weakened over the concluding stages.
Race 5 – NIS POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS CL 3 HCP (1500 M)
Mikado was the ruling favourite over Theo Legion with Off Her Roca an easing third pick while there was a sprinkling of money for We All Agree after the announcement that Mikayla Weir would ride the gelding on the speed if possible.
We All Agree led in the early stages from Into the Blue with Oh So Hot continuing to make ground towards the lead and Jon Grisdale successfully obtaining a trail on Mikado.
Luxitoria was in the second half of the field on the inside of Theo Legion while Off Her Roca continued to cover additional ground before hooking towards the centre of the track as the field headed for the judge.
We All Agree established a solid lead in the straight but was no match for the late effort of Mikado with the Joanne Hardy trained gelding claiming the lead in the shadows of the post to score by a short neck.
Theo Legion battled on well for the minor prize in front of Persian Beauty while Off Her Roca covered plenty of additional ground before finishing in the middle of the pack.
Race 6 – NORTH EASTERN DOOR FRAMES BM 58 HCP (2000 M)
Surjin held the call in a wide market from Endorphins with Mauricently a drifting third elect in front of Onehero, who did attract some support at value prices.
Telfer found the early lead before Jai Williams took Contaminated to the front running role with But I Know travelling in third place on the inside of One Star Shining.
Surjin travelled in the centre of the field on the outside of The Borough and Onehero while Endorphins was back near the tail of the field on the inside of Mauricently.
Contaminated came back to the pack very quickly as the field headed for home with Onehero bursting through the centre while Endorphins snuck along the rails and Surjin commenced a move down the outside.
Surjin sustained the run down the crown of the track and was able to withstand the late finishing burst of Sound and Vision to score by a short neck while Senatorian worked home well for third.
Endorphins used the rails run to finish just behind the placegetters while Mauricently made up good ground down the extreme outside section of the circuit to finish strongly in front of Onehero.
One Star Shining and But I Know had a bumping duel down the home running and it might be wise to dismiss the effort of both gallopers when assessing future assignments.
Race 7 – NATIONWIDE PROPERTY BROKERS CLASS 2 HCP (1100 M)
Lucky Sham was dispatched as ruling favourite from Nevada Smoke, with Moyassar almost doubling his betting quote while She’s Spicy, Apex and Being Naughty attracted some support just under a double figure quote.
Nevada Smoke set the tempo before being challenged by Lucky Sham in the early stages with Arlizar continuing to make ground around the outside while Super Bound held his ground along the rails and just in front of Apex.
She’s Spicy worked around the field to be camped in a trailing position behind Moyassar with Being Naughty travelling in the second half of the field.
Nevada Smoke and Lucky Sham cleared away as the field headed for home with strong riding by Aaron Bullock driving the latter to the front for a comprehensive victory as Being Naughty made up good ground to claim third prize in front of Moyassar.
Race 8 – KENNARDS HIRE BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1200 M) 58 HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
Luscinia eased a point but retained the favourite birth from New Republic with Auzstar a firm third pick in front of Cool Missile, Prince Arli and Mister Ripley.
Cool Missile jumped well and raced to the early lead from Mister Ripley with Prince Arli settling in third place around Luscinia who was perfectly positioned just off the early speed.
Auzstar worked around the field to be in a prominent position and the leading group raced clear from New Republic with Oakfield Tepee working into the race after obtaining the trail behind Auzstar.
Cool Missile maintained a two-length lead from Mister Ripley before Aaron Bullock made a move from the rails to the centre of the track and quickly ranged up to the leaders.
Despite Cool Missile running a gallant race and Oakfield Tepee making up good ground over the latter stages of the race, Luscinia powered away to keep his unblemished record intact to score by just over a length.
Mister Ripley finished just behind the placegetters in front of New Republic while Auzstar failed to fire and finished in sixth position.
Horses to follow
Gulf of Tomini, Lago Di Braies, Lady Audrey
