Port Macquarie races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail

Fortunate circumstances can land John Bannister Wauchope Cup success with Poseidon Ruler. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer John Bannister has his sights set on the Wauchope Cup with Poseidon Ruler. Picture: Bradley Photos

If it wasn’t for a bad barrier, Poseidon Ruler would have been at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday instead of at Port Macquarie in Sunday’s Wauchope Cup.

But if it wasn’t for a global pandemic, he wouldn’t be in Australia right now as his trainer John Bannister explained.

“I bought Poseidon Ruler from Domeland,” he began. “He was going to Vietnam but they couldn’t export him because of Covid. I had a video of him and I liked the way he walked and I thought ‘he’s got to run that horse’.

“We paid $3,500 for him and then I bought his mother (Lady Pachira) from Adelaide for $600. She’s got a filly foal at foot on her now by Lord Of The Sky.”

While Poseidon Ruler was very nearly an Aussie expat, he is clearly much happier on home soil.

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!

“I train off a farm and he gets out in an acre paddock 24/7,” Bannister said.

“He loves being out there. His mate is a pet kangaroo that stays in the paddock with him.

“It’s quite funny actually, the kangaroo lies down and has a sleep and he just stands to next it.”

Rural life obviously agrees with Poseidon Ruler who maintains a happy and relaxed demeanour, sometimes too relaxed.

“He is like a kid’s pony,” Bannister said.

“You could actually ride him up the main street of town anywhere and tie him to a post and it wouldn’t bother him.”

And Bannister ought to know.

“He is like having a pet dog. He’s been with me every day for three and half years.

“There has been not one day in that time where I haven’t actually been there with him because he spells at the farm.”

Poseidon Ruler’s Wauchope Cup assignment on Sunday is more or less, Plan B, for the son of Tycoon Ruler who was supposed to be in Sydney 24 hours earlier for what would have been his fourth consecutive Midway.

Apprentice Georgina McDonnell will ride Poseidon Ruler in the Wauchope Cup. Picture: Bradley Photos

“We were definitely going to Rosehill but you just can’t win from bad barriers at Rosehill,” Bannister told The Sunday Telegraph.

“He’s had bad barriers at just about every start his whole prep. He has been close but you just need a bit more luck.

“He should have run second two starts ago at Randwick and last time he had a bad barrier and sat three-wide the trip but he still ran home in 33.60 seconds for his last 600m.”

Poseidon Ruler’s string of wide draws has well and truly ended on Sunday, drawing one in the Cup.

Whether that turns out to be a blessing or a curse remains to be seen.

“I didn’t really want one at Port, I wanted five,” Bannister said.

“We are just going to have to ride for luck and hopefully it will all open up because you can’t go around them ten wide.”

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 4 No. 9: PRIDEFILLY

Impressive trial winner before her debut at Newcastle where her finish was much better than her start. Go well.

NEXT BEST

Race 5 No. 2: LJUNGBERG

City winner in a past life; the son of I Am Invincible sent out some good signs in a good race last start.

VALUE BET

Race 6 No. 2: FIRE UP BRUCE

Has been in a purple patch of form for a while and is one for one at this track and distance.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 2,3

Race 6: 1,2

Race 7: 1.2.5

Race 8: 1,2

State jockey premiership leader Aaron Bullock looks set for another successful day. Picture: Bradley Photos

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Two words - Aaron Bullock.

INSIDE MAIL - PORT MACQUARIE

RACE 1

Gulf Of Odessa was third at Ipswich for Chris Waller on debut and third at Murwillumbah for Aiden St Vincent at the horse’s 11th and last start. For the record he ran some creditable races in between but the essential point to make is that he has just about run a P.B at his most recent outing. Last Descend is winless after 13 starts but you would be hard pressed to find a bad run from the son of Duporth. Going to get there one day; could be Sunday.

Bet: Gulf Of Odessa each-way, quinella 3, 5

RACE 2

Cenotes has placed at five of his six starts and a commendable fifth at the other. It’s not being unfair to the horse to say that you (that is I) would have expected him to have won one along the way but as his trainer pointed out; he gets given some massive weights. Been crying out for this trip all along. Bonnie Vale has some good numbers at the track and more to the point, the trip. Passionate Rebel has a wide draw but Aaron Bullock on. First-up run was okay too.

Bet: Cenotes to win

RACE 3

Nothing’s Sacred has managed to win two of his 24 starts but he has placed seven times, six of those are seconds including his two runs here at Port Macquarie during the month of May. One thing that stands out about those ‘seconds’ is that one was behind Gulf Of Tomini and the other he was in front of Mischievous Molly. Bantarki has a very good draw and was rather close to Nothing’s Scared at Port Macquarie. She’s Rewarding has won two of four at this venue. That’s both her wins by the way. Narnia is a major contender.

Bet: Nothing’s Sacred to win

RACE 4

Pridefilly is worth plenty as a broodmare when she is all done and dusted given she is a granddaughter of Mica’s Pride, a stakes winner herself and absolute broodmare gem. Pridefilly’s owner/trainer Nathan Doyle has a huge 29.7 per cent winning strike-rate at Port Macquarie. Regarding Pridefilly, she was very, very strong late at Newcastle from the back (and wide). Gardenzio creates interest on debut on the score of a couple of nice trials. Kissing Supido has solid provincial form.

Bet: Pridefilly to win, box trifecta 1, 2, 4, 9

Ljungberg looks a good each-way chance on Sunday. Picture: AAP Image

RACE 5

Ljungberg won at Randwick, Canterbury and on the Kensington track when he was housed in the High Street stables of Hall of Famer Ron Quinton. These days he is a Taree resident, at Tony Ball’s headquarters to be precise. Ball was adamant that the son of I Am Invincible was going to run a big race in deep Benchmark 74 last start and he was right. He was fairly beaten by stablemate Standing Bear so due respects to both. Rejinsky and Poita are genuine players.

Bet: Ljungberg each-way

RACE 6

Fire Up Bruce has been in fantastic form this campaign. In his four runs since April 11 he is ‘3212’ and that last second at Lismore was a narrow defeat. John Shelton has brought the son of Furnaces to Port Macquarie once only and he won easily. That was as recent as May 19 too. Bow only won a Class 1 at Bowraville on June 3 but credit to him; he drew 9 of 9 and carried 62kg first-up. Doesn’t know how to run a bad race. Kennysing has finished on the podium at exactly half of his 18 starts.

Bet: Fire Up Bruce to win, quinella 1,2

RACE 7

Poseidon Ruler has been famously unlucky pretty much in and at all three Highways in April, May and June. You can understand why they didn’t take him down to Rosehill yesterday given the wide draw. The horse has box one in the Wauchope Cup which is tricky to say the very least - or at least could be. Dubai Tycoon has gone within inches of winning at the Sunshine Coast and the Beef Week Cup in his two runs this preparation. Racing like 1500m ought to suit now. Mikado beat Dubai Tycoon in the Beef Week Cup.

Bet: Poseidon Ruler to win

RACE 8

Orlabent was out of this world impressive, winning at Wyong. Can’t vouch for the quality of the opposition but the Kris Lees-trained gelding ran 1.03.96 for the 1100m and was deadset ears-pricked over the last bit. No slam dunk here with the big weight and the bad alley but he does look to be on an upward trajectory. Pack Of Wolves and Rommel’s Wolf ran one-two here in an uncommonly strong Class 1. Both are trained at Coffs Harbour but go well here. Bellzen and Cavente are in the mix.

Bet: Orlabent to win

Originally published as Port Macquarie races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail