3 minute read
With an imposing record at her home track and trainer in form, Wannawinwin ($6.50 on TAB) has plenty of positives going into the Schweppes Handicap at Port Macquarie on Friday.
The daughter of Wandjina is lightly raced but does have a great deal of potential and this was highlighted by a dominant win over Offyarocatwo and Grandellie at her previous appearance.
This took the mare's overall tally to two victories and one placing from five runs and it is significant that all of her best performances have been on rain-affected ground at the Port track.
The recent win by Wannawinwin commenced the racing season strongly for John Sprague [pictured left] with the popular local mentor continuing a great run of success over the past couple of months.
Despite being severely affected by the flooding on the north coast earlier in the year, Sprague still amassed 16 wins and over 20 placings for the previous state training season.
The obvious danger centres around Don't Doubt Katie ($2.90 favourite) with the Nathan Doyle-trained mare resuming from a spell since posting a decisive victory at the circuit in March.
The daughter of Extreme Choice will benefit from two solid efforts in recent trials at Wyong and Muswellbrook over the past month and it should be noted the stable were responsible for a double at the previous race meeting conducted at Port when Hypnosis and Bullinachinashop saluted.
Speaking of Hypnosis ($3.70 fav), the son of Press Statement has strong claims in the sixth event on the program despite attracting top weight.
With strong placings at Newcastle and Scone prior to his commanding last start victory at the local circuit, the gelding looks set to continue his great form and Doyle has allocated promising apprentice, Jasper Franklin, the mount to alleviate the gelding's weight impost.
The task for Hypnosis will not be easy as Grandellie ($11) has been racing consistently and had difficulty obtaining clear galloping room down the crown of the track in her recent run when second behind Wannawinwin.
There was a real bumping duel in the straight between Grandellie, Barney Rabble and Offyarocatwo and a clear run in Friday's event should put the Jenny Graham-trained mare into strong calculations.
The other danger in the event is Amberstern ($5.50) following a debut victory over Satay Chicken at Tamworth and Dylan Gibbons has been engaged to ride the Kris Lees-trained filly.
The program also marks the return of Georgina McDonnell to the track after the prominent apprentice jockey was sidelined with injury following an incident aboard Joyful Link at Tamworth in early July.
McDonnell resumed riding duties at the Wyong barrier trials last Wednesday and has been assigned three mounts on the eight-race program headed by Steady Jam ($19) in race six with the Mark Stewart-trained gelding responsible for an encouraging performance when fourth at his debut run for the new stable.
Nathan Doyle has been quick to identify Georgina's talent and her move to the Newcastle mentor should prove successful for the combination with a strong apprentice claim at the provincials providing further confidence.
Despite a previous season punctuated by time out of the saddle, McDonnell recorded 32 winners and 68 placings with Racing NSW records indicating victory over Dylan Gibbons and Bailey Wheeler in the Mid North Coast Racing Association Apprentice Rider's Premiership.
Graeme Flyght now manages the promising apprentice and contact details can be found in the relevant official publications and websites.
The course proper is slowly recovering from the inclement weather conditions prevailing over the past few months and recent sunny breaks should ensure the surface will provide fair racing conditions for the program.
Limited reserved seating remains available inside the Ivan Livermore Stand with tables also 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 Port Macquarie Race Club office on 02 6581 1964 or email on admin@portmacquarieraceclub.com.au
Races on the card carry the names of De Bortoli Wines, GemLife Rainbow Beach, Barrier Signs, Carlton Dry, Great Northern Super Crisp, John Oxley Motors, and Schweppes with everyone urged to support these fine brand names.
Racing continues at the circuit on Saturday 27th August with a six-event program highlighted by the Camden Haven Cup with the meeting coinciding with San Domenica Stakes day at Rosehill Gardens.
Port Macquarie Race Club is delighted with the announcement by Racing NSW of state prizemoney increases across the board with minimum stakes of $27,000 for Country TAB meetings providing further confidence for all participants.
A reminder the feature race meeting for the club is approaching rapidly with the $200,000 Carlton Dry Port Macquarie Cup highlighting a wonderful day of racing set for Friday 7th October.
Massive prizemoney of $500K is up for grabs for the club's premier meeting of the year with the cup shaping up as one of the best as it provides the opportunity for successful connections to contest the $2 million Big Dance at Randwick in November.
The carnival will continue on Saturday with the annual Steeline fixture with a strong program catering for most classes of horses.
A further reminder regarding The Kosciuszko, which is the world's richest race for country-trained horses, now carrying $2 million in prizemoney due to a recent upgrade from Racing NSW. Every horse in the race is nominated by a winner of the Kosciuszko sweepstakes who share in the prizemoney of their nominated horse.
$5 tickets in the Kosciuszko sweepstakes are available for sale through the TAB App and your local TAB venue. The Kosciuszko race is a 1200m sprint contest run under set weights and penalties conditions for NSW country and ACT-trained horses only and will be run at Randwick on Saturday 15th October 2022 to complement The TAB Everest.
SELECTIONS
Race 1 – 12.30pm DE BORTOLI WINES BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1812M): 1 Byakko, 3 So and So, 5 Starboard Light
Race 2 – 1.05pm GEMLIFE RAINBOW BEACH MAIDEN HCP (1506M): 10 Solarosa, 11 Uninsurabal, 2 Sonny
Race 3 – 1.40pm PORT MACQUARIE CUP 7 OCTOBER CG&E MAIDEN PLATE (1206M): 4 Run Rory Run, 8 Wonder Brahma, 7 Windani
Race 4 – 2.15pm BARRIER SIGNS F&M MAIDEN PLATE (1206M): 1 Astern Girl, 9 Caroline Bay, 3 Our Kiwi Princess
Race 5 – 2.55pm CARLTON DRY BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1206M): 7 Cotton Caper, 2 Annulus, 4 Admiral Ash
Race 6 – 3.35pm GREAT NORTHERN SUPER CRISP CLASS 1 HCP (1206M): 1 Hypnosis, 7 Grandellie, 4 Oblivion
Race 7 – 4.10pm JOHN OXLEY MOTORS BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1506M): 4 Visceral, 9 Oakfield Warpaint, 11 Swing the Tide
Race 8 – 4.45pm SCHWEPPES CLASS 2 HCP (1006M): 6 Wannawinwin, 2 Don't Doubt Katie, 7 Captain Wise
