Port Macquarie preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, December 29, 2024

Two failed sales could prove a blessing in disguise for trainer Damien Lane and the connections of Turf Fever when the gelding makes his debut at Port Macquarie.

Trainer Damien Lane heads to Port Macquarie with a couple of leading chances.

Trainer Damien Lane was on the verge of selling Turf Fever, twice, before this weekend’s debut.

Neither sale eventuated but it could turn out to be a blessing for the Wyong horseman.

A son of the one-time boom two-year-old (and unsuccessful 2019 Golden Slipper favourite) Cosmic Force, Turf Fever was knocked down to Lane for the sum of $44,000 at Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in February 2023.

“We took him to the Breeze Up Sale (in November 2023) and didn’t get what we wanted for him,” Lane said.

“And then, after he won one of his trials, we actually had him sold to Hong Kong but he didn’t pass the vet. It was nothing major hence the reason we are keeping him and racing him now.”

Stakes winner Cosmic Force (pictured) is sire of Turf Fever. Picture: Grant Guy

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

Turf Fever looks ready to make an impression when he steps out in the McGrath Property Management Midway 3YO Maiden (1000m) aided by a favourable alley and 2kg off for outstanding apprentice Anna Roper.

“He’s had a few trials and has trialled up well,” Lane said.

“Obviously, he goes to the races for the first time and he’ll take good improvement on whatever he does but he’s done a good job at the trials.

“We gave him a few little preps; in and out, and educated him. He’s ready to go to the races.

“I think he is definitely a better horse when he finds the fence. He is still a little bit green.

“Whether he has got the speed to cross and lead or whether he ends up just behind them, we will see.”

Turf Fever has a long way to go to emulate a couple of his direct equine ancestors.

For starters, his grandam Donna Carina is a sister to the dam of three-time Australian Horse of the Year, Sunline.

On top of that, Turf Fever’s ninth dam is Entreaty who will be forever remembered as the dam of the immortal, Phar Lap.

Lane and Roper will combine for a second time when the stable’s handy filly Sneaky Sofia resumes in the Rococo By De Bortoli Class 1 Handicap (1100m).

Fingers Hunter does enough to salute in the Wellington Boot! pic.twitter.com/wt2j4ggePU

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 14, 2024

The Cressfield-bred daughter of Merchant Navy shares something in common with the late, great Angst given that both were runner-up in their respective Wellington Boot missions 19 years apart.

“She’s a nice filly,” Lane said.

“She was very impressive first-up last prep and I probably went to the races too quick with her after that. I think she is better on the fresher side.

“She has done a job and has improved each prep and has trialled up well this time.

“She steps to 1100m first-up this prep whereas she won a 900m last prep but she is a bit stronger now so it looks a nice race for her.”

Sneaky Sofia will have a stablemate to keep her company in the stalls with She’s A Bad Girl lining up in the same race after a luckless third at Dubbo.

“She didn’t haven’t that much luck early but she attacked the line,” Lane said.

“From the good draw, it would be nice to see her possie-up and have her attack the line like she did last start.”

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 5 No. 3: Sneaky Sofia

Wellington Boot runner-up with some outstanding form and resuming off a brilliant trial.

NEXT BEST

Race 1 No. 8: Alideel

Ran a very creditable race in the Woodlands on debut. Has a future.

VALUE

Race 6 No. 11: Monte Maximus

Former Kembla resident whose best is good enough to medal here.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 2, 3, 5

Race 5: 3

Race 6: 4, 6, 11

Race 7: 1, 2, 3

Jockey Braith Nock looks a good chance to take out the TAB Jockey Challenge. Picture: Bradley Photos

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Braith Nock will be on some leading contenders across the card.

INSIDE MAIL - PORT MACQUARIE

RACE 1

Alideel is a classically bred filly by Dundeel who won the AJC Derby, her third dam is Savana City who won the AJC Oaks. Alideel is a sister to Mare Of Mt Buller. This Mark Minervini-trained filly was a real eye-catcher in the Listed Woodlands at Scone at her only run. This race is a bit short but she is the one going places. Turf Fever, likewise, has a future beyond country racing and he seems much ‘faster’ and thus better suited to a 1000m of the pair. Formal has drawn well and good enough.

Bet: Alideel to win, quinella 2, 6

RACE 2

Rockbarton Flash has raced three times and raced very well indeed each time. How’s this for a debut; a head second to the still unbeaten and potential Group horse in Churchill’s Choice. Gets a big tick for the next two and this is a huge step back in ‘class’ for him. The Bentley is a rather reliable horse with four placings from his nine starts. Note that was fourth in that same race that Rockbarton Flash was second in last start so has a bit of ground to make up.

Bet: Rockbarton Flash to win, exacta 9 to beat 3

Churchill's Choice finished best to win on debut at @sconeraceclub! A nice ride from @AlyshaCollett for the Nathan Doyle stable. pic.twitter.com/9XTmA7jdf2

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 19, 2024

RACE 3

Rockbarton Angel’s turn this time for the Nottage/Atkins combo. The four-year-old mare has raced three times, all in pretty strong Maidens as it turned out. She was fourth on debut in a 900m Maiden where Duke Of Bronte was runner-up. First-up here; market watch advised. The Gerry Harvey-bred and owned galloper Escalante was $11 into $8.50 at his Nathan Doyle stable debut and ran a huge race, coming from ninth of 11 at the turn to finish runner-up to the above average Shropshire Lad. Play it Again has drawn to be in the action.

Bet: Rockbarton Angel to win, box First 4 Nos. 2, 5, 6, 13, 15

RACE 4

Like Lukey is aiming for the proverbial picket fence, having bagged his hat-trick with another comprehensive win in a Benchmark 64 at Hawkesbury on December 15. Worth noting that those three wins come with a combined margin of circa eight lengths. Both Like Lukey and Subarctic are entered for the same 1900m race at Canterbury on New Year’s Day so we might lose one, or both. Punjabi Landing a lightly-raced Paul Shailer-trained son of Puissance De Lune who is going to eat-up this trip off an easy second-up mile win.

Bet: Like Lukey to win

RACE 5

Sneaky Sofia was a tad unlucky perhaps not to have won the Wellington Boot back in mid-April. Fast forward to her early spring preparation and she went ‘134’, all three runs at provincial level. She was never not going to win her trial but you like to see them win that ahead of a new campaign. Kris Lees’ filly Cutepi has the advantage of having had a recent run; in this case, it was a neck win at Newcastle on a 900m Maiden. On her way now it seems. Hot Jive has only managed to win one from 15 but she has placed six times and often in decent company.

Bet: Sneaky Sofia to win, exacta 3 to beat 5, Daily Double 1st Leg (3), 2nd Leg (2)

💪🏻 Monte Maximus was too strong!

The 3YO #Invader gelding found the gap, and held off the late finishers for a hard fought victory! 2 Career Wins for Monte Maximus! 🐎💨

Invader stands for $8,800 inc GST!#AquisStallionspic.twitter.com/616XcWKZzQ

— Aquis Stallions (@AquisFarm) May 23, 2024

RACE 6

Monte Maximus is another of the Vic and Yvonne Bates-owned horses who started off with Robert and Luke Price at Kembla before being shipped up to Noel Mayfield-Smith at Coffs Harbour. This will be the son of Invader’s first run for Angst’s trainer. It’s a good race that he is in by Mid-North Coast standards but still considerably easier than what he has run in, and occasionally run well in, before. There wouldn’t be many more consistent or in-form horses on the Coast or anywhere else for that matter than Heir Apparent who is four from nine here at home.

Bet: Monte Maximus each-way, quinella 6, 11

RACE 7

Lounerse has no jockey booked at the time of writing this preview so not sure about whether she comes or not. Hope she does come because it really is an ideal race for her bearing in mind, she is one for one at this track and distance and what’s more, she beat a handy horse called I Am Sugoi that day. Kris Lees-trained mare Lady Soames has a very tidy strike-rate of four wins from 12 starts and significantly one of those was first-up. You would think being a Benchmark 66 winner at Muswellbrook beating Silver Halo deals her in here.

Bet: Lounerse to win or if scratched Lady Soames to win

PORT MACQUARIE

BEST BET

Race 5 No. 3: Sneaky Sofia

Wellington Boot runner-up with some outstanding form and resuming off a brilliant trial.

NEXT BEST

Race 1 No. 8: Ran a very creditable race in the Woodlands on debut. Has a future.

VALUE

Race 6 No. 11: Monte Maximus

Former Kembla resident whose best is good enough to medal here.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 2,3,5

Race 5: 3

Race 6: 4,6,11

Race 7: 1,2,3

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Braith Nock will be on some leading contenders across the Port card today