Port Macquarie review, Sunday 24 April 2022
A riding treble by Ash Morgan propelled the popular jockey towards a season milestone of one hundred victories and highlighted racing action at the Port Macquarie meeting on Sunday.
The Welsh born hoop sits precariously on ninety nine wins at the present and it seems a racing certainty that he will break the magic mark for the current NSW riding season in the next few days.
Morgan has worked hard at his trade since relocating to Australia a few years ago and his record has reflected this with countless wins and a strong strike rate to his credit.
The day commenced well for the respected rider when he was able to probe through the centre aboard Yorikiri in the home straight before the Paul Perry trained gelding raced clear to account for My Sonny’s Faith and Casino Silk.
Further success followed immediately when settling the Jenny Graham trained gelding, Evocator, off the speed before finishing with a powerful run to race clear from Eva Daniela and Rhapsody Queen.
The three peat was completed when Morgan came with a timely run on Icing on the Cake to clinch a decisive victory over Smart Thinker and Sir Lincoln.
The Astern filly is a new acquisition from the Snowden stable to Glen Milligan and continues the great recent record enjoyed by the prominent Taree mentor.
It was also a day for multiple riding victories for Ben Looker with the local jockey completing a treble thanks to the wins by Baika, Laphroaig and Leeside.
Looker assessed the better ground to be down the centre of the track in the home straight and rode Baika appropriately when the Aiden St Vincent trained mare finished over the top of Poita to land the prize in the Fisher’s Plumbing Plus Handicap.
Similar tactics were successfully adopted when the local hoop came down the outside to score on the Paul Shailer trained pair, Laphroaig and Leeside, later in the day.
Having recently broke the one thousand career winning mark, Looker has continued his great recent record following a win at Grafton earlier in the week prior to his successful effort at Port.
Jasper Franklin rode Huriwai on the speed and the Nathan Doyle trained gelding raced clear to claim race three while Jenny Graham capitalised on her training victory with Evocator earlier in the day when Jeff Kehoe found the line first on Super Dooper to account for Darci Diva in the penultimate race.
The track was rated heavy following consistent rain in the days leading up to the program and displayed some advantage to horses finishing on while still providing chances to rails runners.
The Port Macquarie Race Club would like to acknowledge the support provided by valued brands including Barrier Signs, Great Northern Super Crisp, Carlton Dry, GemLife Rainbow Beach, Fisher’s Plumbing Plus, John Oxley Motors, Fastplast Building Supplies and Stowe Australia in the staging of the program.
Racing continues at the circuit on Tuesday 17th May with a seven race program scheduled and strong prizemoney on offer for the various classes.
Limited reserved seating remains available inside the Ivan Livermore Stand, or tables are available in the outside bar or betting ring.
There are great viewing and seating areas available with refreshment, dining and wagering facilities in full operation throughout the grounds 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.
The club is delighted to advise that the $200,000 Port Macquarie Cup to be conducted on Friday 7th October is on the list of qualifying races for the $2 million Big Dance race to be held at Royal Randwick on Tuesday, 1 November 2022 with the field being drawn from the winners and second placed horses of 25 Country Cup races from across NSW. This will add further importance and interest to the club’s feature race.
Review
Race 1 – BARRIER SIGNS MAIDEN PLATE (1506 M)
Sindegar was the heavily supported favourite over Finding Alice with Yorikiri on the third line of betting operations over Casino Silk.
Yorikiri began well before settling in fourth place behind La Rosa D’Oro with Sindegar handily positioned on the outside of Tonquani before Cejay Graham made her move on My Sonny’s Faith and dashed the chestnut gelding to the lead.
Casino Silk settled on the outside of Tonquani with Flying Alice on the rails and just off the pace while Canny Boy was back at the tail of the field.
My Sonny’s Faith maintained a sizeable lead as the field headed for home before Casino Silk commenced a move down the outside section of the track as Ash Morgan drove Yorikiri through the centre and the Paul Perry trained gelding kicked clear to score by a length.
Mahomes finished just behind the placegetters and Canny Boy made up good ground down the outside while Finding Alice was responsible for an even effort and Sindegar yielded ground late.
Race 2 – GREAT NORTHERN SUPER CRISP MAIDEN HCP (1206 M)
Eva Daniela was the ruling favourite for the race with strong confidence around the chances of Rhapsody Queen causing Evocator to drift significantly while Razzama was the only other runner considered a chance.
Lee Magorrian positioned Eva Daniela just off the speed with Lady Steps and Chill Out Miss dictating terms in the lead as Rhapsody Queen rolled off the rails in the initial stages of the race on the inside of Rinnero.
Razzama obtained a trail behind Rhapsody Queen with Ash Morgan settling Evocator in the second half of the field.
Lady Steps and Chill Out Miss were quickly claimed in the home straight by Eva Daniela before Rhapsody Queen began a move and Razzama hooked to the outside section of the track.
Morgan weaved a passage on Evocator and drove the Jenny Graham trained gelding through the centre and the son of Divine Prophet dashed clear to claim the prize over Eva Daniela.
Rhapsody Queen finished in third place from Rinnero, who was forced to track wide for most of the event.
Race 3 – CARLTON DRY MAIDEN HCP (1206 M)
Huriwai was the popular elect in a race featuring good support for Crystal’s Legacy with Justadude just under a double figure quote in front of Pontoon Pete.
Lanover missed the start and Bonee stayed in the stalls while Huriwai dashed to the early lead from an outside gate from Justadude with Pontoon Pete driving through along the rail.
Crystal’s Legacy positioned just off the speed with Terenzi heading the remainder of the field.
Huriwai darted to a clear lead as the field rounded the home bend and raced clear from Justadude and Pontoon Pete before booting away to score by just under five lengths while Duble Memory worked home well to finish just behind the placegetters in front of Crystal’s Legacy.
Race 4 – GEMLIFE RAINBOW BEACH MAIDEN PLATE (1006 M)
Chiky Chiky Mama was the firm elect with confident wagering for Icing on the Cake propelling the filly to a clear second pick while Smart Thinker and Venatic were just into a double figure quote.
Jesta Coco raced to the early lead from Smart Thinker with Icing on the Cake travelling wide on the outside of Venatic and Sir Lincoln while Chiky Chiky Mama travelled off well off the rails in the centre of the field.
Jesta Coco led narrowly on the home bend from Smart Thinker with Venatic saving valuable ground along the rails before Icing on the Cake commenced a forward move and Chiky Chiky Mama hooked towards the crown of the track.
Smart Thinker was claimed in the shadows of the post by Icing on the Cake with success on the Glen Milligan trained filly providing Ash Morgan with an early treble while Sir Lincoln boxed on well for third in front of Chiky Chiky Mama, who covered plenty of additional ground.
Race 5 – FISHER’S PLUMBING PLUS BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1006 M)
Punters took risks with the chances of Whatyoulookingat and this allowed Virtuous Miss to claim favouritism with Poita a solid third pick in front of Baika.
Whatyoulookingat claimed its customary role as pacemaker over Virtuous Miss with Inwithachance handily positioned on the inside of Gold Rhapsody and Baika as Poita trailed the field.
Jasper Franklin nursed Whatyoulookingat towards the home turn before Inwithachance attacked for the lead as Poita drove along the rails and Baika surged towards the outside rail.
Poita hit the lead but was no match for the finishing burst of Baika who powered home to score by a long neck with Inwithachance holding third.
Gold Rhapsody finished just behind the placegetters and Whatyoulookingat wilted after leading with Virtuous Miss failed to handle the conditions.
Race 6 – JOHN OXLEY MOTORS CLASS 2 HCP (1506 M)
Cantrell held the call in a wide betting market over Shorebreak and Imprinted with a sprinkling of money for Laphroaig and The Borough just under the double figure quote while Asserting was considered some chance.
Shorebreak claimed the early lead from Cantrell with Imprinted prominently positioned in third on the outside of The Borough as Persian Beauty settled juts behind the leading division.
Saintly Sunrise travelled in the centre of the field on the outside of Laphroaig with Luminoso travelling wide in the early to middle stages of the race.
Shorebreak and Cantrell swung the home bend together with The Borough commencing a move as Ben Looker elected to roll away from the fence on Laphroaig and transfer to the centre of the track in commencing a run.
Cantrell dropped Shorebreak before The Borough issued the challenge but the group were no match for the finishing burst of Laphroaig as the Paul Shailer trained gelding stormed down the outside to claim victory from Persian Beauty, who finished well along the rails with Cantrell holding on for third from Bold Contender.
Race 7 – FASTPLAST BUILDING SUPPLIES BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1206 M)
Darci Diva tightened a half point to claim favouritism despite a late rally of support for Claptone with Dr Demon almost doubling his early figures in front of Being Naughty.
Claptone began awkwardly when the start was affected as Quick Nick assumed the front position from Super Dooper with Darci Diva handily positioned on the outside of Bahahaa.
Dr Demon camped just off the pace in the initial stages from Being Naughty while Claptone settled at the tail of the field in front of West Germany and Budawang.
The field spread across the track in the straight as Super Dooper found the front from Quick Nick before being challenged by Darci Diva with Dr Demon sticking on resolutely towards the inside as West Germany commenced a run through the centre of the pack.
Super Dooper held on under strong riding by Jeff Penza to provide Jenny Graham with a training double over Darci Diva with West Germany making up many lengths to grab third in front of Dr Demon.
Race 8 – STOWE AUSTRALIA CLASS 2 HCP (1206 M)
Leeside tightened a point and claimed the favourite position from Mussenphere with Askebar a firm third pick in front of Inspiration and Vallejo.
Following the late scratching at the barrier stalls of King Kikau, Brooke Stower used the inside barrier to drive Cinzento to the early lead from Klopp with Inspiration darting through the centre and Leeside obtaining cover just off the speed.
Bailey Wheeler settled Askebar just off the pace on the outside while Vallejo dropped back to the tail of the field in front of Mussenphere.
Cinzento was challenged for the lead on the home turn by Inspiration before Klopp made a move to the centre of the straight as Leeside found the middle split between runners and Mussenphere commenced a run.
Leeside found the front in the shadows of the post and was able to withstand the finishing run of Klopp and Mussenphere to score a decisive win while Askebar and Inspiration were placed just behind the winning trifecta.
Horses to follow
Persian Beauty, West Germany, Mussenphere
