Port Macquarie preview: Trainer Glen Milligan is quietly confident promising filly Kaiyu can continue on her winning ways

Trainer Glen Milligan heads to Port Macquarie with four very good chances and can start the day on a winning note with Kaiyu shooting for a hat-trick.

Trainer Glen Milligan saddles up several leading chances at Port Macquarie on Thursday.

It isn’t Kaiyu’s back-to-back wins that surprised trainer Glen Milligan but rather her debut failure at Taree back in April.

The Pine Lodge Thoroughbreds-bred and owned filly had always show Milligan she had her fair share of ability but is just took a little while for her to show in on the track.

After a nice trial on her home track, Kaiyu beat just two home at he first start.

“She has always shown a bit of ability and I said to the owners from day one she will have no trouble winning races,” Milligan said.

“She made a bit of a fool out of me at her first couple of runs.

“Matt Bennett rode her in the trial and was quite keen to ride her on debut. Unfortunately, she was disappointing.

Kaiyu gives Mollie Fitzgerald another winner, and upsets the favourite in the first on @port_races Cup Day! pic.twitter.com/AP90fAvbLV

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 11, 2024

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!

“Then Newcastle was a big step up,”

The daughter of Super One returned with an eighth at Taree before going back-to-back Port Macquarie.

“There were excuses first-up and we actually backed her second-up when she won her maiden and again the other day when she won again.

“It’s good to see her turn the corner and show us on race day the ability she shows at home.”

Kaiyu will attempt a hat-trick when she lines up in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m) with Milligan’s apprentice, Teighan Worsnop to ride.

“She is improving all the time but she has to as she is going up in grade and up in weight. She does get a bit of relief with Teighan’s claim.

“The barrier isn’t ideal but if she can jump cleanly and put herself in the first two, then she is in with a great chance.”

Punch One Out is another who has shown Milligan he has handy ability and was gallant in defeat when runner-up to Lightscameraaction at Port Macquarie last start.

“He’s a horse I think will make a nice bush horse next preparation,” he said.

“It was a good run last start. He was caught three and four-wide throughout and just kept trying to the line.

“I thought he could win but he was just posted wide and the winner was too good.”

Lightscameraaction dominates in the Port Macquarie opener! 💪 pic.twitter.com/F7yAqSQaag

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 27, 2024

The gelding lines up in the Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1200m) with Luke Rolls to ride.

“I feel he will get 1400m or even a mile next time in so I think stepping up to the 1200m suits. He is just going to need a bit of luck from the alley,” Milligan said.

“It wasn’t his best piece of work last Saturday. I was a little bit disappointed with him. If he brings his A-Game, he will be right in this race.”

Milligan expects recent stable additions Wing Nut and Queen Calanthe to be competitive in their respective assignments.

Wing Nut is coming off a handy third at Port Macquarie where he was stepping up from 1200m to 1509m.

“I said to Luke the other day that the only think that will beat him is that he might be a run short going from 1200m to 1500m and that was the case,” he said.

“Luke said after the he thought he was the winner at the 200m but at the 100m the fuel gauge was empty.

“He’s done well since then and Teighan goes on and takes 1.5 kilos off.”

Queen Calanthe makes her debut for Milligan following two close seconds at Nowra and Bathurst.

“One of those was in a Benchmark 58 too,” he said.

“She is going well and I was happy with her work last Saturday morning.

“I thought she should be winning on her work but the barrier and weight has me worried.”

SIBLINGS FACE OFF IN SENTIMENTAL SHOWDOWN

In an eerie set of circumstances, half relations and race favourites will face off against each other chasing their maiden win in the race named after their breeder.

Five-year-old Gelsey takes on her year younger half-brother Toyger.

in the George Altomonte Corumbene Stud Memorial Maiden Plate (1000m).

Gelsey is resuming from a two-year absence and is having her first start for new trainer Tim McIntosh.

The daughter of Sebring started her career with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and finished third in her only two starts at Hawkesbury and Rosehill in October and November 2022.

After failing to get in foal last spring, she has since been sold to her current owners who wanted to give her another go on the racetrack.

“I’m not sure about her history. I think she was retired to breed with. I think Corumbene Stud bred and raced her initially.

High Blue Sea shows them how to break a maiden!@clarkyhk with a great ride for @GRyanRacing. pic.twitter.com/DntOa8TBc1

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 16, 2022

“Her new owners have since bought her and one of the guys asked if I would be interested in putting her back into work.

“When I had a look at her form, it looked pretty good and there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with her so we decided to give her a go.”

Gelsey contested a barrier trial at Scone on October 30 and pleased McIntosh with her third placing behind Grandini.

“I’ve had her about 14 weeks now and she has been pretty good most of the way through this preparation,” McIntosh said.

“I was quite happy with her trial at Scone the other day and she seemed forward enough that she should run a good race over the 1000m.

“She has shown us a bit and I think she will run well first-up, but looking at her form, she just may be looking for a bit further down the track.”

Gelsey opened a $2.90 equal favourite with Toyger with TAB Fixed Odds before easing to $3.80 while the Mark Minervini-trained gelding firmed into $1.90.

In the same race, McIntosh also saddles up Myalaby who is resuming from a spell after a handy fourth in the Scone trial.

“She was a little bit weak and immature last time in,” he said.

“She trialled pretty well the other day, she just knocked up a little bit late.

“She has found a nice race where she can be competitive.”