1. Sian | Began awkwardly len 2nd of 8 (7) $8.00 53.0 Orbital Express 1600m Gosford (Bm64) Heavy(9) April 25. 3/4 len 2nd of 8 (6) $6.50 52.0 Contributingfactor 1500m Newcastle (Bm68) Heavy(8) May 14. |
2. Mista Razzledazzle | Won once this prep at Port Macquarie two runs back and ran seventh last start at Taree. Rates highly with Ben Looker retaining the ride. Place chance. |
3. Leica Bita Fun | Won once this prep at Grafton three runs back and finished in the middle of the pack last start at Taree. Matthew McGuren has had success aboard previously. Should fight out the finish. |
4. Mcnair | Ran two lengths back from the winner last start at Gosford on a heavy track and drawn perfectly. Won once this prep at Port Macquarie four runs back. One of the main hopes. |
5. Cantrell | Narrowly beaten when heavily backed last start at Port Macquarie and in strong form with two wins from eight attempts this campaign. Ashley Morgan a bonus. Expect to be right up there. |
6. The Fossil | Slowly away len 4th of 10 (8) $5.00 60.0 Deep Snow 1280m Muswellbrook (Bm58) Soft(7) April 29. 1-1/2 len 4th of 8 (1) $5.00 56.0 Irresistible Miss 1400m Tamworth Hcp (C3) Soft(6) May 16. |
7. The Mistral | Ran as favourite last start and placed at Taree on a heavy track but has four placings from five runs this prep. Rates highly with Serg Lisnyy retaining the ride. Big chance. |
8. Luminoso | Len 2nd of 10 (10) $16.00 61.0 Miss Santorini 1512m Port Macquarie Hcp (C1) Soft(7) April 16. Keen 9 len last of 12 (7) $12.00 57.5 Laphroaig 1506m Port Macquarie Hcp (C2) Heavy(9) April 24. |
9. Steel Pier | First-up after 24 week spell and returns to shorter trip. Likely to settle back in the field. Prefer to watch go around. |
10. Serene Beauty | Struggled so far this preparation and no wins in five past runs at Port Macquarie. Racing back from the city but still not in this. |
11. Solar Success | Ran nine lengths back from the winner last start at Grafton on a heavy track and gets the blinkers on for the first time. Has the speed to overcome a very wide draw but still prefer others. |
12. Poetic Power | Ran nine lengths back from the winner last start at Armidale and returns to shorter trip. Has placed in two runs from four this campaign but still not here. |
13. Lincoln Park | Finished three lengths off the winner last start at Taree on a heavy track and no wins in three past runs at Port Macquarie. Expected to settle off the speed. Outside hope. |