Port Macquarie preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, January 19, 2025
Trainer Tony Ball is looking to build a strong hand for next month’s Country Championships Qualifier and two of his leading contenders step out at Port Macquarie.
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Trainer Tony Ball has his sights set on next month’s Country Championships Qualifier with as many as five horses and two of them take their next step on that path this weekend.
Toy Story and Highly Tempted face off when they line up in the Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap (1250m).
The four-year-old kicked off his latest campaign on a winning note when he came from midfield with a solid run to score a half-length victory over Working Capital at this same track and distance.
“I was surprised he was so far back the other day. I expected him to be outside the leader,” said Ball.
“Normally he jumps and puts himself there but he just switched off midfield.
It's the favourite Highly Tempted making it look easy in Race 3 at Taree! pic.twitter.com/HBhE7myqqw
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 16, 2024
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“It’s good that he has shown he can settle further back and still race just as well because I want to have a go at the Country Championships with him.”
The son of Astern returned from a tendon injury last year and had a solid campaign with placings in three of his seven starts including a three-quarter length second behind subsequent Group 1 placegetter Snow In May.
“He had a good preparation last time in but has come back better,” Ball said.
“He has drawn out but that won’t be a problem. The wet track won’t worry him.”
Highly Tempted got his preparation off with a third placing at Port Macquarie on January 3 but Ball is taking the blame for that defeat.
“That was my fault. I thought I would run him over 1100 metres and he would sprint well fresh but Aaron (Bullock) came back and said he was ready for 1200 metres or 1300 metres.
“He will appreciate getting to the 1250 metres this weekend and on a wet track it will be like 1300 metres which will be right up his alley.
“He is a swimmer this horse. He will be the one to beat and Aaron is riding him again.”
Ball also has his sights on the Country Championships Qualifier for Highly Tempted.
Three-year-old gelding Take A Break may have finished seventh in his return to racing at Port Macquarie but Ball saw plenty of merit in the run and expects him to make his presence felt in the Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1250m).
Snow In May (The Autumn Sun x See You Soon) maintains her undefeated record showing her toughness and ability first up at @newcastleraces_🙌 Well done to @KPMcEvoy on a great ride and congratulations to all her connections! pic.twitter.com/EZ59TJGC8s
— O'Shea & Charlton Racing (@JohnOSheaRacing) August 29, 2024
“His run in the Super Maiden first-up was very good,” he said.
“Courtney (Ferris) did nothing wrong, he was just a bit too strong for her. He just got trucking too early.
“He has drawn out wide but he will go forward from the gate and sit outside the leader.
“He will be better with that run under his belt and he has run well on a heavy track here before.”
Fellow three-year-old Scattering is the second emergency in the race and Ball thinks he can also run well if he gains a start.
“His form in his first preparation was woeful but he has come back a different horse this time. His attitude has changed,” he said.
“It was a good run first-up. He was beaten just over three lengths and hit the line well.
“I expect him to be finishing hard again.”
Ball also think Winterwinds is capable of a good run in the Super Maiden Handicap (1600m).
“I know he got beaten seven lengths but that was his first start and over 1200 meters,” he said.
“He is by The Autumn Sun so you know he will run the mile and the blinkers go on.
“I think he’s a sneaky each-way chance.”
ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS
BEST BET
Race 7 No. 6: Highly Tempted
Ran well for third first-up. Will appreciate the step up in distance and like it wet.
NEXT BEST
Race 5 No. 1: Rampazetto
Was a close second two starts back before a handy run at Canterbury.
VALUE BET
Race 6 No. 4: Nay Pee Cee
Good win two starts back and almost made it two in-a-row.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 1, 3, 7
Race 6: 2, 3, 4, 5
Race 7: 1, 11
Race 8: 3, 6
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Champion jockey Aaron Bullock is be hard to beat in the TAB Jockey Challenge as usual.
INSIDE MAIL – PORT MACQUARIE
Rebellious Red raced wide and lost ground around the corner before closing well to finish a length second on debut at Coffs Harbour. Extra trip should suit, just has to handle the wet track. Battle Hymn is a debutant by Written Tycoon from the Bjorn Baker yard. Worked home well for a close third to the speedy Mrs Maree in his recent Warwick Farm trial. Bombinate didn’t have a lot of luck on debut at Muswellbrook. Blinkers on can sharpen him up.
Bet: Rebellious Red to win
Sir Tom is still a maiden after 25 starts but he has run some solid races. Was beaten a nose at Taree two starts ago in one of his four seconds at this track. Has wet track form including a third on the heavy on debut. Viaconi raced keenly and was checked off heels before finishing fifth behind Madam Instrife when resuming at Canterbury on Dec 20. Queen Calanthe battled away for second to Show ‘Em Howl at Taree last start.
Bet: Sir Tom to win
Take A Break ended his first campaign with a third to Uncut Gem on a Heavy 10 over this track and distance in August. Raced a little ungenerously first-up when seventh behind Whispering Muriel at Port Macquarie. Aaron Bullock goes on. Magic Shannon has placed in four of his last five and was fourth in the other. Placed twice on the heavy. Zoona Than Later has also been in the minor placings at his last four runs. Has a heavy track placing.
Bet: Take A Break each-way
Magic Pharoah comes from last to win the first at Muswellbrook! pic.twitter.com/bEj7UvSSOP
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 2, 2025
Yorikiri was just behind the placegetters over 1408m and 1600m before a three-quarter length second to Magic Pharoah over 1750m at Muswellbrook on Jan 2. Has a second placing over this trip on a heavy track. Stablemate Tiwi Girl dropped back from provincial grade and stepped up from 1350m to 1800m with a gutsy win at Port Macquarie. Is a winner on a heavy track. Fighting Magnus followed a handy fourth to Jack Duggan in Bm68 before dropping back in grade and winning over this track and distance.
Bet: Yorikiri to win
Rampazetto was beaten a half-length by My Shalom in a Canberra maiden before finishing just over three lengths behind Altair I Am when seventh in a Randwick Super Maiden on Boxing Day. Gets his chance. Not My Problem was beaten a nose by Welcome Back at Taree two starts ago before a close third to Cats Quarters on a heavy track at Port Macquarie. Will be prominent again. Wing Nut split Cats Quarters and Not My Problem before a third to Tikiroo at Taree.
Bet: Rampazetto to win
Nay Pee Cee scored a nice win at Kempsey from Chillcuz who won her next start. He was then beaten a nose by Scotland at the same track. Drawn well and will go close a gain. No Tackle ran a handy third behind Toy Story over 1250m at Taree on Jan 7. Will appreciate the step up to the 1400m. Scoundrel debuted with a second at Newcastle and followed up a maiden win at Kembla before to Melbourne where he tackled higher grade races than this. Resumes as a gelding.
Bet: Nay Pee Cee each-way
Today was the day for Catchy Tunes!@Gmacracingpic.twitter.com/Chjtp24CER
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 24, 2024
Catchy Tunes is having a good campaign with two wins, the latest over 1100m at Bathurst in November. Has also been just the placegetters a few times. Placed twice on the heavy. So Be Inspired was handy second in her Beaumont trial last month then defied a big betting drift from $8.50 to $16 with an all-the-way win at Muswellbrook on debut. Bred to handle the wet. Once A Lady has found her best form with back-to-back wins at Taree and Port Macquarie. Wet track is the query.
Bet: Catchy Tunes to win
Highly Tempted resumed from a spell with a handy third to Bodhi Boy over 1100m at Port Macquarie. He is a second-up winner, won on the heavy and will appreciate the step up to 1250m. Stablemate Toy Story kicked off his campaign with a nice win from Working Capital over 1250 at Taree. Otium started last preparation with a win on the heavy over this track and distance and closed off with four consecutive minor placings. Will be prominent again.
Bet: Highly Tempted to win
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