Port Macquarie and Queanbeyan best bets, inside mail for Friday January 23, 2025

A wife and husband trainer and jockey combination can make some early honey for punters at Port Macquarie if their stable newcomer can salute.

Jockey Jon Grisedale will ride Humphree Bear in the opener at Port Macquarie on Friday. Picture: Bill North/The Daily Examiner

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass provides his best bets and quaddie analysis for Port Macquarie and Queanbeyan on Thursday.

PORT MACQUARIE TIPS

BEST BET

Race 1 No.4: Humphree Bear

Ram well on debut, trial winner since in outstanding style.

NEXT BEST

Race 8 No. 7: Sumo Fish

Won his last two starts of the previous campaign. Races well at the venue.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No.10: McKeon

Has won first-up in the past. Nice trial, top jockey on.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 3

Race 6: 1,3,6

Race 7: 4,10

Race 8: 7,10

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Star apprentice Shaw Wilkes’ Friday book is small but select.

PORT MACQUAIRE INSIDE MAIL

RACE 5

Pony Soprano cost $18,000 at the Inglis Gold Yearling Sale in Melbourne in 2023 and has won $32,900 in just three starts. For the record, he won by panels on debut and was above honourable in the next two. Spelled and trialled in great style on Jan 7. Nightcapped has drawn wide but she has the talent (and jockey) to overcome. Last start Kembla Grange winner The Pacific has drawn well but could potentially be saved for Wyong on Sunday.

Bet: Pony Soprano to win

RACE 6

Laizabout won by 6½ lengths on debut at Taree then was found to be significantly lame subsequent to his 12 of 12 at Tuncurry on Aug 9. Has a wide alley but he is too good to mark down on that score alone. Bodhi Boy won debut himself, spelled, and won again first-up here at Port on Jan 3. Impossible to fault, doubly so after he drew barrier one. King Larry won his first two before that Highway run on Jul 20 where he raced wide and faded. Trialled well and drawn well.

Bet: Laizabout to win, Daily Double 1st Leg (3), 2nd Leg (7)

RACE 7

McKeon was originally trained by Peter Moody – trivia time, she was last of 7 on debut at Pakenham behind then first starter Magic Time! McKeon has run some fantastic races since she was picked up online in May 2023 for just $2,250. One of those was her neck second in a Highway. Invasive Dreams was so emphatic, winning at Muswellbrook at her first run for Kristen Buchahan. Veadachance’s best is surely good enough to take this out.

Bet: McKeon each-way, box trifecta 2,4,8,10

RACE 8

Sumo Fish had a record of two wins from his first 15 starts but went for a spell with two more, back to back, and incredibly decisive each time. The other notable point to factor in is that both were pretty good quality Benchmark 58s. Shae Wilkes is ‘211’ on Sumo Fish and the favourable draw seals the deal. Monte Drifter turned in a poor run there at Coffs last start but that was a Benchmark 82 so he will feel more comfortable back to a 66.

Bet: Sumo Fish to win, exacta 7 to beat 10

QUEANBEYAN TIPS

BEST BET

Race 7 No.2: Soho Sushi

Only won one from 16 but is very consistent and very competitive – always.

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No.4: Rouge Homme

Raw but talented type who is getter better with each run.

VALUE BET

Race 4 No.6: Call Me Artie

Places more than his wins by a factor of four but can salute here

QUEANBEYAN INSIDE MAIL

RACE 5

My Shalom beat a subsequent Newcastle winner in Webejamin when they met in Canberra in that 1400m maiden on Dec 13. Granted a bit of time has elapsed since then and now My Shalom but he is in very good hands and this does look a suitable race for the gelding. Canny Queen didn’t have much room to show herself off in her Newcastle 1250m return. Not sure this is her track hence why she was nominated for Newcastle (again) tomorrow.

Bet: My Shalom to win

RACE 6

Amont could deliver Jim and Greg Lee a race to race double at Queanbeyan, especially after this fellow drew barrier 2. A couple of other things in his favour are the 1000m and the Queanbeyan configuration, which should play to his strengths. That goes double for Getty who is sure to make full use of barrier three. Has to answer a few questions after finishing last of six at Nowra. Snappy Jim has claims.

Bet: Amont each-way

RACE 7

Soho Sushi has only managed one win from 16 starts but has placed seven times, six of those are seconds. Her record here at Queanbeyan over this same trip of three starts for a second and a third. She also performs fresh so ticks a lot of boxes. You Wish has run first or second at seven of her 11 starts. Only one is a win but it was at Queanbeyan and she has run well in some pretty strong races. Kiss The Colours is fast!

Bet: Soho Sushi to win, exacta 2 to beat 3, quinella 2,3

RACE 8

Pins And Needles was, maybe not run off her feet, but certainly found a very fast run 1000m at Kembla first-up a wee-bit sharp for her on the day which is understandable given she was first-up as well. Getting to 1200m is a huge plus, can’t say the same about the wide draw. Nom’ed for Tuesday at Goulburn. If indeed she is absent, Laguna Seca’s already bright prospects are enhanced. He runs, almost exclusively, more good races than bad. Sweet Future should relish Queanbeyan.

Bet: Pins And Needles to win or if scratched, Laguna Seca to win

Originally published as Port Macquarie and Queanbeyan best bets, inside mail for Friday January 23, 2025