Port Macquarie preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, February 16, 2025

Trainer Robert Agnew’s long range plan has just one hurdle remaining as his bargain buy Pony Soprano chances a place in the Country Championships Final in the Port Macquarie Qualifier.

Trainer Robert Agnew has bargain buy Pony Soprano primed for the Country Championships Qualifier at Port Macquarie. Picture: Supplied

Robert Agnew is shooting for the biggest win of his training career when he saddles on Pony Soprano in the MNCRA Country Championships Qualifier (1200m).

The local trainer set the three-year-old son of Thronum for this race a long way out and was pleased to see what he did first-up over the same track and distance of this assignment.

While admitting he thought Pony Soprano would win easier than he did in the end, Agnew reports he’s got plenty of improvement to come after the gelding had a good blow after the race.

“He’s such a clean winded horse and I thought I had him fitter than he was first-up so he’s got a bit of improvement in him going into this race,” Agnew said.

“I thought he would win by a lot more but in saying that, he did have a good blow after the race.

Pony Soprano get the respect and the win at Port Macquarie pic.twitter.com/lks1DBRfPK

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 24, 2025

“We gave him the one trial that we planned for, the one run he had to win to get in and he did that and here we are.”

Despite being part of the local brigade, Agnew and his galloper were handed the visitors gate after drawing barrier 14 on Thursday.

And while on paper it does look to pose an issue for Pony Soprano, Agnew is optimistic it will all play out well.

He’s booked Ashely Morgan for the job after the talented hoop was able to win on him first-up.

“I’ve seen Outreach To Henry and Bomarea drawn just outside him and they will go forward,” Agnew said.

“Admittedly I would have liked to draw a bit closer to the inside where I could see a horse like Bodhi Boy kicking up to be third the fence and me in the one, one.

“It is sticky if a horse like Sixspeed kicks up on the inside and then all of a sudden my horse is three deep but Port Macquarie is a track that you can sit wide on and still win.

“It’s not ideal but it’s still achievable”

Snaring the first placed cheque of $76,250 would take Pony Soprano’s prizemoney up to $125,000 through just five starts.

That’s $107,000 more than what Agnew forked out for his stable star as a yearling.

The 2023 Inglis Gold Yearling Sale saw Pony Soprano head to Agnew’s stable for just $18,000 and he’s since won two of his first four with plenty more to come on the horizon.

The lightly raced Bomarea never looked like getting beaten. pic.twitter.com/dQuboBA8ue

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 16, 2023

“We got him cheap for $18,000 and he’s been a professional from day one,” Agnew said.

“It’s a good group of owners and we’ve got the right horse for the race.

“He’s just been real professional the whole way through.

“I couldn’t see him getting beat at Coffs Harbour and he won accordingly.

“I gave him another run after that then put him in the paddock and set him for the Country Championships.”

Bookies posted Pony Soprano as a $9.50 chance with the Marc Quinn-trained Bomarea going up as the $4.40 top elect.

Only three other horses are ahead of Pony Soprano in betting with the unbeaten Bodhi Boy ($5.50) the clear second favourite.

Next in the market are Laizabout ($7.50) and Sumo Fish ($8.50), both of which are trained by Taree conditioner Wayne Wilkes.

Only one horse from the Mid North Coast region has gone on to win the Country Championships Final at Randwick

That horse was Victorem from the Jenny Graham stable who won the heat at Port Macquarie in 2018 before going on to beat Don’t Give A Damn and O’ So Hazy in the final.

JETT HATTON’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 5 No. 3: Kosuke

Tackled Group 3 level last time out before a spell. Should have a big class edge on this field.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No. 4: Yorikiri

Doesn’t have the most attractive record but has found the right race. Drawn to get every chance from gate one.

VALUE BET

Race 8 No. 4: Solar Power

Covered a stack of ground last start in a hot race. If he can get some fortune today, he will run well at a double figure quote.

QUADDIE

Race 1: 3

Race 2: 9, 12, 14

Race 3: 6, 8, 9, 10

Race 4: 4, 3, 8, 14

Ashley Morgan will be hard to beat in the Jockeys Challenge. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Ashley Morgan rides in five of the eight races and partners Pony Soprano in the Country Championships Qualifier. All but one of his rides are hard in the market.

INSIDE MAIL - PORT MACQUARIE

RACE 1

Rodeo Dealer was good over the 1300m at Newcastle when resuming. Came from last and flew home to grab fifth. Will appreciate the drop in grade and should be closer to the speed after drawing barrier one. Spiethtacular has trialled well in the lead up to her debut. Drawn to get every chance from barrier six with Ben Looker on board. Think Port Macquarie is a tricky track to have start number one on though. Cool Space led and knocked up in the straight last start at Scone when five weeks between runs. Notably gets the tongue tie applied here.

Bet: Rodeo Dealer to win

RACE 2

Yorikiri comes out of a few strong races leading into today’s test. Drawn to sit just behind the speed from barrier one and with Ash Morgan sticking in the saddle. Doesn’t have a fantastic strike rate but looks well placed here. Wannawinwin carries 62kg after the claim for Teighan Worsnop. Returned off a long break at Port Macquarie a few weeks ago over 1200m. Will be much improved out in trip. Did beat subsequent Darwin Cup winner Hadouken last preparation.

Bet: Yorikiri to win

RACE 3

Mum Knows should be at her peak third-up into the preparation. Does have a tricky barrier but that’s somewhat offset by the fact that Aaron Bullock jumps on board. In a weak race she looks the play on an each-way basis. Kid Billy was trapped wide without cover last start at Grafton after drawing barrier nine of 13. Jumps from barrier four today, so expect an improved performance. Broken Wings was a keen leader two back at Tamworth before coming from well back at Walcha last start. The common denominator is she was narrowly beaten each time. Drawn wide here so you think they will take their medicine and go back.

Bet: Mum Knows each-way

It was a thrilling finish to the @NewhavenPark Mid North Coast Country Championships at @ManningClub on Sunday, with Swamp Nation and runner-up Little Prophet taking Glen Milligan, @derrick_madi and @ColtProsser to their first Finals. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/DU0wZTsbma

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 21, 2022

RACE 4

Swamp Nation’s last win came about two years ago in the Country Championships Qualifier that was held at Taree. She’s struggled to find form at her last few runs but gets here first-up in a race she’s more than good enough to be competitive in. At the price I’m going to have something on her. Procrastinator enjoyed the leaders track last time out at Bowraville. Should be able to ping to the front again from barrier two. Bow is first-up off a 19 week break.

Bet: Swamp Nation each-way

RACE 5

Kosuke is a three-year-old son of The Autumn Sun resuming off two trials. Last seen contesting the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes during the spring, so the stable obviously has a big opinion of the horse, and this is a big drop down in grade. Strobing can run a race at a price.

Bet: Kosuke to win

RACE 6

Blinkers go on Monte Tiana for the first time in her career. Narrowly beaten last time out at Grafton off a forgive run at Port Macquarie. Drawn well for this and Matt McGuren sticks. Hell Of A Fox has a tricky barrier to overcome. Looks ready to win off her last start effort behind Matt Damon’s horse, Dale.

Bet: Monte Tiana to win

Do we have a Country Championships contender in Bodhi Boy?

Next stop the @Evergreen_Turf Mid North Coast Country Championships on February 16 for Lyndall Olson's unbeaten three-year-old after he and Ben Looker completed a hat-trick at @port_races. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/AcLl0eA42d

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) January 24, 2025

RACE 7

Bohdi Boy has won his first three starts and looked every bit of a Country Championships contender. Drawn a tricky barrier out wide but he’ll press forward and be right in this. Two of his three wins have come at this track. Pony Soprano was a strong winner first-up from a spell. Hit the line like a horse that’s going to appreciate the 1400m second-up into his campaign. Bomarea is the proven horse in the race. Tricky draw but she’s four from four when resuming from a break. Synthetic hoof filler first time is the only gear change. Laizabout was third to Bohdi Boy first-up. Will enjoy the extra ground.

Bet: Bohdi Boy the horse to beat

RACE 8

Thought Solar Power was the value in the race after being trapped three wide without cover when resuming in a hot race at Taree. Is a winner second-up but will just need a bit of luck from a wide barrier. Queen Of A Hand is on the seven day back up after finishing second at Taree last week. Did finish second to Pony Soprano the start prior around this circuit. Sigsworth comes out of the same race as Solar Power. Even effort there after Mollie Fitzgerald gave him a good ride and they should get their chance again from gate two.

Bet: Solar Power each-way

Race 5 No. 3: Kosuke

Tackled Group 3 level last time out before a spell. Should have a big class edge on this field.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No. 4: Yorikiri

Doesn’t have the most attractive record but has found the right race. Drawn to get every chance from gate one.

VALUE BET

Race 8 No. 4: Solar Power

Covered a stack of ground last start in a hot race. If he can get some fortune today, he will run well at a double figure quote.

QUADDIE

Race 1: 3

Race 2: 9, 12, 14

Race 3: 6, 8, 9, 10

Race 4: 4, 3, 8, 14

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Ashley Morgan rides in five of the eight races and partners Pony Soprano in the Country Championships Qualifier. All but one of his rides are hard in the market.