Best bets and inside mail for Port Macquarie Cup day on Friday

The Marc Quinn-trained local Agirlsbestfriend will have plenty of admirers when she steps out in the Hastings Cup to close Port Macquarie Cup day.

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass presents his best bets, value selections, exotic and quaddie tips for Port Macquarie Cup day on Friday.

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PORT MACQUARIE TIPS

BEST BET
Race 9 No.9 AGIRLSBESTFRIEND
Big winner here at home last start over this trip. In great shape for this.

NEXT BEST
Race 4 No.8 NINGALOO REEF
Perfectly catered for, on every level, to shed her maiden status. Has talent.

VALUE
Race 3 No.6 JUSTICE WARRIOR
Canterbury placegetter on debut. Blueblood in top stable trialling like a bomb.

BEST EXOTIC
Exacta Race 9 No.9 to beat No.3

QUADDIE
Race 6: 1,6,8,10
Race 7: 1,3,4,9
Race 8: 2,7
Race 9: 9

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Luke Rolls will be popular – for good reason – in the TAB Jockeys Challenge.

PORT MACQUARIE INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1: MAIDEN PLATE (1000m)
MR DAMAGE (1) has finished second three times and was third once in his five starts up this way for his previous trainer. First run today for Cassandra Schmidt, box one, Luke Rolls. Easy to like. DIAMONDSAREREMIO (4) led but was passed and then well beaten on debut but still ran second to Get Some Fun who might be pretty good. We will find out when it runs in the race after this race. BONDI PROPHET (10) was third in that same race.
BET: Mr Damage to win.

RACE 2: CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1200m)
PONY SOPRANO (7) is a very racy grandson of former gun Victorian mare Tickle Me who was backed off the map (for good reason) when he ran his six rivals off their legs to win a 1200m Super Maiden at Coffs on Sep 15. What a fascinating clash we have ahead given he has to beat GET SOME FUN (11) (and others) this time. Get Some Fun won by panels herself here over 1000m on Sep 29. HIGHLY TEMPTED (6) and DE FORZA (5) have claims.
BET: Pony Soprano to win, exacta 7 to beat 11.

RACE 3: SUPER MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)
JUSTICE WARRIOR (6) is the fifth foal of Stradbroke and Tatt’s Tiara winner Srikandi. This son of Justify has placed at two of his three starts, one at Canterbury and another behind Concordia Wind. Trialled twice, won them both. MARAIS (8) is yet to miss a place in 6 starts and in great company too – just cannot draw a decent barrier though. SHEILA’S FANTA SEA (5) and JARED (1) are best of the rest in a string Super Maiden.
BET: Justice Warrior to win.

RACE 4: SUPER MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)
NINGALOO REEF (8) is a Claire Lever-trained Chad Lever ride. The son of Rubick has placed at three of four starts. Better still, his two runs this preparation are seconds at Hawkesbury and Kembla. GIMME GIMME (10) held her ground first-up at Scone behind a potentially handy horse in Speedy One. Ran fourth to Erno’s Cube in the Max Lees last November. PHENOM (13) ran 8th of 10 behind More Territories on the Kenso on debut was $8 into $6.50.
BET: Ningaloo Reef to win.

RACE 5: PORT MACQUARIE SPRINT (1200m)
Inver Park is a Kris Lees import that has run in some very strong races since coming to Australia. He ran 5th in the Cameron behind Democracy Manifest and 11th of 16 beaten five odd in the Sydney Stakes behind I Am Me. Conrad has set the scene for a big return today with a couple of lovely trials. His best is good enough to win this. Local trainer Marc Quinn has Crowie’s Shout absolutely flying.
BET: Inver Park to win, trifecta 1 (standout) to beat 3,6,8.

RACE 6: CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1100m)
MICHELLE’S GIRL (10) has only won twice in 17 starts (with two seconds) but to her credit she always gets out there and has a go. It’s not easy to win with her pattern and on top of that she is usually at the provincials and in some very strong races lately. She deserves some reward for effort. VEECEE (1) adds huge interest to the Cup day undercard. The former Maher/Eustace resident has run in a Blue Diamond and MM Guineas. With Cassandra Schmidt now.
BET: Michelle’s Girl each-way, box First 4 Nos. 1,6,8,9,10.

RACE 7: BENCHMARK 66 (1000m)
BUCK PHAROAH (1) has won four races and placed 10 times (five seconds) from 20 starts and a lot of times, he has deadset carried the grandstand. The Neil Godbolt-trained son of American Pharoah doesn’t run ‘bad races’, least of all at home and at this trip. SIGSWORTH (9) is a lightly-raced local with a very good CV. Right in this. So too the other Neil Godbolt runner OCTOBER REVOLUTION (3) who has a great jockey but a not so great barrier.
BET: Buck Pharoah to win, quinella 1,9

RACE 8: PORT MACQUARIE CUP (2000m)
TWIGMAN (7) has always been a rather talented stayer. He made it all the way to the ATC Derby in 2023 running an creditable 11th of 18. The son of Preferment used to live here at Port Mac which explains why he has raced there 4 times for 2 wins as it happens. Third-up and peaking for this. If TOURISTIC (2) was to bring his ‘Eliyass form’ with him, these others are racing for second. RAF ATTACK (3) has the good draw and best front runner jockey in Australia riding.
BET: Twigman each-way, quinella 2,7.

RACE 9: HASTINGS CUP (1500m)
AGIRLSBESTFRIEND (9) has placed in numerous Highways (been unlucky in a few too!) and was runner-up in the MNC Country Champs Qualifier at Tuncurry so her class and talent is plain to see. She is trained here at Port by Marc Quinn and is a last start winner over this trip – and bolted in too. Scone Country Cup winner RHYTHM IS A DANCER (3) was masterfully ridden (Clayton Gallagher) when a narrow but still quite emphatic Spring Cup winner at Tamworth.
BET: Agirlsbestfriend to win, exacta 9 to beat 3, trifecta 9 (standout) to beat 3,14,15 (boxed).

Originally published as Best bets and inside mail for Port Macquarie Cup day on Friday