Port Macquarie preview: Twigman looking to book his Big Dance ticket for trainer Paul Shailer and jockey Andrew Adkins

Trainer Paul Shailer and Twigman will return to their former home track contest the Port Macquarie Cup and potentially secure a Big Dance ticket.

Twigman returns to his former home track for a shot at the Port Macquarie Cup. Picture: Bradley Photos

Gold Coast-based trainer Paul Shailer will be back on familiar ground in his quest for the Port Macquarie Cup (2000m) where will combine with another former local, namely Andrew Atkins.

Shailer saddles up Twigman in the $200,000 Cup which also serves as the second last Big Dance eligible race before the $3 million Listed mile classic is run at Royal Randwick on the first Tuesday in November.

“I’ve got a lot of fond memories of my time at Port,” Shailer said.

“Good Club, good people and a great racetrack.

“We trained a lot of winners there with a really healthy strike-rate and it was a good springboard to get me where I am now.”

The Sky Racing Hcp at @GCTurfClub goes to Yet He Moves in a photo! 📸@cwallerracing | @JimmyOrmanpic.twitter.com/bwL5InAIVI

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 21, 2024

For the record, Shailer led in 22 winners at Port Macquarie with a strike-rate of 20.4 per cent which leaps to 49.1 per cent when placings are added.

Those numbers should get a boost this week given Shailer’s assessment of Twigman as a ‘top three chance’ in the 2000m Cup.

“He’s a pretty good horse without being a top-liner,” Shailer said.

“He is effective third-up, he loves that track, loves the distance, loves a rain affected track, gets a lightweight and has a hometown jockey on who will be hungry to win that race.”

Twigman is rated an $8.50 chance to win the Cup, making him one of only four horses under double figures.

“I thought it lacked a little bit of depth to be fair,” Shailer said. “Obviously the one (Redstone Well), two (Touristic) and three (Raf Attack) are the main chances but after those three, it’s a very open race.”

Once a resident of Port Macquarie, the now Queenslander Twigman, has what is more or less a visitor’s draw in barrier 8 of the 11 participants.

“He is a very versatile horse,” his trainer said.

Big win from Twigman in the 2nd at Port! 🏇💨

An early double for @Grantbuckley30. pic.twitter.com/5koWYITI3C

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 23, 2022

“He can race on the speed, he can get back. I think he’s led in one, he’s come from last in one.

“He goes on all track conditions but he certainly appreciates a rain affected track and it is raining in Port Macquarie at the moment so if it gets to a (soft) 6 or a 7, it probably brings him into play even more.”

Twigman’s ownership group is headed by Magic Bloodstock whose founder, Peter Tighe (of Winx fame), who designed the son of Chris Waller’s four-time Group 1 winner, Preferment.

“He was a home-bred so he has always been six months behind,” Shailer explained.

“He is probably a year away from being the finished product.

“I have had him out to 2400m once before (in the Australian Derby) but that was sort of at the end of his preparation but I really do believe if I can get him out to 2400m when the time is right, it opens up a few more avenues for him too.”

Twigman is the perfect blend of speed and stamina.

His grandsire is the immortal Zabeel while his grandam is Ruffles whose wins included the 1997 VRC Newmarket Handicap and Schillaci Stakes.

QUINN HOPING AGIRLSBESTFRIEND CAN LOCK IN FIVE DIAMONDS PRELUDE BERTH

Frequently unlucky chestnut mare could Agirlsbestfriend could find herself in a million dollar race at her next start but not before she helps bring the curtain down on 2024 Port Macquarie Cup Day in the Hastings Cup.

The Marc Quinn-trained daughter of Star Turn was a convincing last start winner at her home track and over the same 1500m journey as this assignment.

“The only unfortunate part of that was, that win made her ineligible for Highways so we had to cop that one and take our medicine and move on,” Quinn said.

“We won so the owners were happy. The horse gets a bit of confidence. My young apprentice (Liam Blanch) gets a bit of confidence out of it.

Agirlsbestfriend justifies the short quote to win Race 5 at Port Macquarie for @marcquinnracing! pic.twitter.com/5Q6T2oyKGf

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 29, 2024

“So what we lost a little in a bit in money. We have made it up in other ways.”

Agirlsbestfriend is racing for the lion’s share of $50,000 in the Hastings Cup where she has drawn 16 of 18 (minus emergencies).

“With her racing pattern, it doesn’t really matter,” Quinn said.

“The thing I like about this race, it’s a full field and there appears to be a fair bit of speed on paper.”

Agirlsbestfriend will not just pick up $22,000 if successful, she will also collect what Quinn hopes are a few points to add to her benchmark rating to sure up any chance of a seven figure tilt in Sydney fast approaching.

“There is the Five Diamonds Prelude coming up but I just don’t know if her benchmark would be high enough to get her into that,” he says.

“That would be a race we could throw a nomination in because it works out quite well. The 1500m at Rosehill is her sweet spot it seems because she’s run some nice races there.”

Quinn will be represented in another of the features on the undercard with last start winner Crowie’s Shout taking part in the Port Macquarie Sprint (1200m).

“He’s a really likeable horse,” Quinn said.

“He’s no world-beater but he is very honest and he gives you everything every time he goes around and when he becomes right, he manages to maintain his form pretty good.

“I know he goes up massively in grade but he gets to drop massively in weight as well.”

Originally published as Port Macquarie preview: Twigman looking to book his Big Dance ticket for trainer Paul Shailer and jockey Andrew Adkins