Track good 4 and rail true.
Race 1
4. Kooky is a lightly raced mare which can strike fresh at good odds getting back on dry ground, and with blinkers going on. Went down narrowly in autumn as a hot favourite when having her first outing for the new local stable off a long break before floundering here in heavy going and immediately spelled. Hasn’t publicly trialled, but has early ability being placed in two of three first-up, and she draws to either roll to the front or sit outside the lead. 9. Immortal Storm was only run down late on debut at Grafton after being backed from $7 into $5. Likely to jump clear favourite, but under the odds. 1. Angels Cloud hits peak fitness, with a significant jockey change. 7. Bonjour Bill and home tracker 11. Zous Apollo, both improving into their second starts, can figure in the minor money.
How to play it: Kooky to win.
Race 2
10. Rustemo is an emerging three-year-old in the Kris Lees stable returning as a gelding behind two progressive provincial trials. Always shown enough across three spaced runs in smarter company as a two-year-old, despite being a long way from the finished product. Given plenty of time since autumn, and he’s drawn to hit the ground running. 8. Oakfield Universe is a lightly raced mare resuming from a low draw off a handy trial. Gap to the rest headed by 11. Dam Impact, a second-start improver bred to get further.
How to play it: Rustemo to win.
There are eight races on the program for Port Macquarie Cup Day.Credit: Jenny Evans
Race 3
1. Moscow Circus is a progressive enough mare and finds a suitable race down in class second-up. Campaigned in Brisbane last prep when progressing off a dominant maiden win to tackle carnival three-year-old company. Was only a length away in BM 65 grade at Doomben first-up and gets right back in at the weights after the jockey’s 2kg claim. 9. Ellofadude made light work of a small and poor field on debut at Tamworth when a raging favourite, and is well up to this level. 2. Star Prediction has been in the money in his last four, including an easy maiden win here two starts ago, and drawn to get a soft trail. 6. Chica Del Mar is a lightly raced and second-up improver. 7. Got The Smarts hit the line from a long way back fourth-up at Lismore and is hard fit.
How to play it: Moscow Circus to win.
Race 4
8. Queen Of A Hand is well placed to make it three wins on the bounce this prep, despite tackling a field with more depth. Has shown good tactical speed to claim her last two and draws to dictate again. Further boosted by one of the main market rivals being preferred at Thursday’s Hawkesbury meeting. 2. Buck Pharaoh has to carry a big weight, but drawn to get cover and four of his six career wins have come at this course. 7. Leantothemoon is a sparingly raced provincial mare resuming from a wide draw off a solid trial. Gap to the rest headed by 6. Grey Effects, reloading off a 36 day freshen-up and trial win.
How to play it: Queen Of A Hand to win.
