Port Macquarie preview – Sunday 26 April 2026
Followers of Tony Ball were celebrating as the prominent Taree mentor landed multiple victories after Where’s the Fire and Strobing saluted on Kendall Blues Race Day at Port on Sunday.
Matthew Bennett was assigned to ride Where’s the Fire in the Cass Oil Handicap and was content to settle well behind the early speed being established by Once a Lady and Deebee’s Girl before tracking a relatively wide course approaching the home bend.
The field began to pack in the home straight and Cutting Edge burst through the centre to claim the lead while Miss De Blaas continued to utilise the rails to work into the race well.
As the pair looked set to fight out the finish, Where’s the Fire came storming down the outside with a paralysing burst to round up the leaders and race clear to score by around two lengths.
Victory also highlighted the riding skills of Matthew Bennett as the evergreen hoop summed up the race perfectly to find the most advantageous ground and continue his resurgence from an injury enforced layoff.
It was then the time for Shannen Llewellyn to shine for the Tony Ball yard and this occurred when piloting Strobing to a well-deserved win in the middle distance event sponsored by Dean Anderson Homes.
The flashy chestnut gelding is sired by a previous Melbourne Cup winner in the shape of Americain and was content to travel just behind the speed being established by Damascus Gate before challenging on the home turn.
The pair raced together down the home running before Strobing kicked clear to claim the winner’s cheque by a length margin with Farraige responsible for an outstanding second following a creditable placing at Kempsey on Anzac Day.
Not only a successful day for Tony Ball but the latest win continued a wonderful period of riding success for Shannen Llewellyn as the promising apprentice took her overall career tally to one hundred and thirty three career wins.
It is also significant the rising star racked up her third metropolitan win at Canterbury during the week aboard The Face as the relationship continues with the Ball stable.
Racing commenced with Home Siren being sent to the barrier as post time favourite and the striking chestnut filly staged a titanic finish with Polymer to claim a narrow victory on debut for the Luke Rolls and Cassie Schmidt combination.
Carmine deserved to break his maiden success in the second event and the Lyndall Olson trained gelding dually saluted following another strong and positive ride from Anna Roper while Rockbarton Marshal claimed the Super Maiden Handicap.
Despite lacking any solid betting support, Nikody’s Binks established a solid tempo and literally ran rivals ragged to score a comprehensive win by over five lengths in the MC Dirtworx Handicap.
Victory was sweet for the Peter Cheers trained gelding and compounded an extremely fruitful weekend for Ray Spokes as the popular Coffs Harbour hoop took his riding tally to four wins over the Anzac long weekend.
Neil Godbolt has dominated racing on the North Coast over many years and the prominent Port trainer continued to accumulate his career tally after Savvyrocker took out the final race on the program by a length margin over Look at Mego.
There is no harder working or more respected jockey than Jeff Penza and his ride aboard Savvyrocker was an absolute peach as he steered the well supported mare to the winner’s circle.
The Port Macquarie Race Club was delighted to welcome the Kendall Blues Rugby League Football Club as a key supporter for the day and hope their players, associated personnel and supporters had an enjoyable day of racing action.
A huge thanks also goes to KSL Concreting, Phil Dykes Automotive, Cass Oil, Flanagan Construction & Concreting, Dean Anderson Homes, Mc Dirtworx and Rhe Chapman Mortgage Brokers for their sponsorship of the day.
Racing continues at the circuit with a midweek fixture scheduled for Monday 15th May and further information regarding reserved seating in the Ivan Livermore Stand is available by contacting the Port Macquarie Race Club office on 02 6581 1964 or email on admin@portmacquarieraceclub.com.au.
