Port Macquarie preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday April 27, 2025
It has taken a little longer than originally planned but trainer Glen Milligan finally has Golden Honour up to his ideal trip.
The five-year-old has won three races between 1450m and 1600m and Milligan wanted to get him out to those distances again after the gelding's fast-closing third behind Typhoon Neta when resuming over 1100m at Port Macquarie back in February.
'Jon Grisedale rode him first-up and was rapt with him. He said this horse will knock up winning races when he gets out over further,' said Milligan.
'We just had a couple of hiccups along the way and haven't been able to step him up to this trip until now.'
Golden Honour's latest run was a seventh behind King Larry in a Benchmark 66 over 1200m here at Port Macquarie on April 11.
He drops back to a Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1500m this weekend with stable apprentice Teighan Worsnop's claim bringing him down to 59.5kg.
'He's going well without winning and working to the line nicely,' Milligan said.
'He goes up in weight again coming back to a (benchmark) 58 and he is looking for this trip now.
'He will need a little bit of luck from the alley. They jump and start turning after a furlong there.
'Hopefully they can slot in somewhere midfield and see if he's good enough to run over the top of them.'
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While Milligan rates Golden Honour a good each-way chance, he feels Kermitisapet is his best hope for the day in the opening race.
The daughter of Kermadec ran a solid third on debut on a heavy track at Tuncurry last September before finishing down the order at Port Macquarie and going for spell.
She resumes in the Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1000m) where she opened at $26 with TAB fixed odds.
'I think she is great value. I thought she would be under $10,' he said.
'She has come back well and this a country only maiden.
'There are couple in there with nice trial form but that's different to race form.
'The only thing is she might get back a little bit but is she jumps and isn't too far off them, she can win.
'She's my best chance for the day.'
Milligan also has Saint Cayetano making his debut in the race but said he still has a bit to learn and will be better in time and over a mile.
Punch One Out and new stable recruit Chelsea both step out in the Super Maiden Handicap (1200m).
Punch One Out raced well in his first campaign with a second to Lightscameraaction over 1006m here at his third start while he also had two handy fourth placings.
'He's a horse that's got plenty of upside but mentally he's not there yet,' said Milligan.
'We were quite happy with him and his last couple of starts were good.
'The only thing that went against him, he got back at his last run and it helps if you can race on speed at Port Macquarie at present for some reason.
'He goes into this race without any trials under his belt but he has had a couple of jumpouts.
'He is doing everything right, just whether he is good enough to win first-up over 1200m.'
Chelsea, a $1m Easter Yearling in 2023, was bought by Milligan in late February for $18,000 after he had just two starts for Chris Waller.
'Mentally and physically, he's still six months away but he has improved every time I have galloped him,' he said.
'He's going to get out over a mile in time.'
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
PORT MACQUARIE TIPS
BEST BET
Race 6 No.6: CONFEDERATE LADY
Will take benefit from her first-up placing and looks hard to beat.
NEXT BEST
Race 9 No.9: RATHORAN
Racing in terrific form and can pick up second win for the campaign.
VALUE BET
Race 3 No.10: YORIKIRI
Will appreciate a drop in grade. Went back-to-back here earlier this prep.
QUADDIE
RACE 6: 3, 6, 7
RACE 7: 7, 8, 10, 12
RACE 8: 1, 5, 11
RACE 9: 1, 2, 9
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
TEIGHAN WORSNOP has a nice book of rides and is a chance to win the TAB Jockey Challenge.
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
PORT MACQUARIE INSIDE MAIL
RACE 1: MAIDEN PLATE (1000m)
ANGELS CLOUD (8) resumed without a trial when a length third behind Cool Space on a Heavy 9 here on Mar 29. Followed with a second to Sagaponack again her on Apr 19. At her peak now and hard to beat. KERMITISAPET (12) ran on well for third on a heavy track at Tuncurry on debut before a ninth here on Sept 29. Resuming and can run a cheeky race. CASINO COLLECTION (11) has trialled very well ahead of her debut.
BET: ANGELS CLOUD to win.
RACE 2: MAIDEN HANDICAP (1500m)
PERHAPS PERHAPS (8) resumed for a new stable with a solid fifth to Justifiably over 1509m here after going well back from a wide gate. Can settle closer from a nice gate. IMAREALAMERICAN (1) was just run past late when runner-up to Devils Daughter on a heavy track at Wellington two starts ago. Backed up 11 days later when fifth to Foo Fighter with 60.5kg over this track and distance. Will appreciate the 3kg claim. TEMPLE BELLS (9) was a close to Justifiably last start and has claims.
BET: PERHAPS PERHAPS to win.
RACE 3: BENCHMARK 66 HANDICAP (1800m)
YORIKIRI (10) made up ground from well back when ninth to Fiftyfivechevy at Newcastle last start. Recorded back-to-back wins over this track and distance in February and March. POINT BASSE (2) was third to his smart stablemate Fingers Hunter at Muswellbrook before a steady fourth to Otium at Scone. Unraced on heavy ground but has trialled well on it and soft form is good. MOSGIEL DAISY (8) stormed home along the fence to win here last start. Loves it wet.
BET: YORIKIRI each-way.
RACE 4: SUPER MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200m)
NAMARA (4) was good in her first campaign with placings in each of her three starts, all at provincial level. Ridden along when fourth in her latest trial. KOOKY (6) was first-up from a long break when she led and was just caught late by Battle Reign at Tuncurry on Apr 7. Fitness will improve with the run. PUNCH ONE OUT (11) ran a couple of handy races at the end of his first campaign. Can make his presence felt.
BET: NAMARA to win.
RACE 5: BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1000m)
ZOOM OUTCOME (2) has won five races, four of them on heavy ground. He also loves racing here with three wins from three runs at the track and distance. Comes off a last start Taree win. SHEILA'S FANTA SEA (7) followed a nose second at Muswellbrook with a Taree Super Maiden win and a third to Chesteray at Taree to end last campaign. Placed at her only run on heavy ground. OCTAVIAN TREASURE (1) resumes here and has a solid record over the 1000m.
BET: ZOOM OUTCOME each-way.
RACE 6: BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1000m)
CONFEDERATE LADY (6) got better with each run in her first campaign which ended with a big win from Rustic Tzar at Ballina on Nov 28. Resumed with a three-quarter-length second to the promising Pareto at Ballina on Apr 8. COOL FIZZ (3) was narrowly beaten in consecutive runs at Grafton before breaking through at Taree. Raced flat when eighth here last start. Has two wins and three second from six runs on the heavy. SEYMOUR STARS (7) won well on debut at Grafton last November. Won both recent trials.
BET: CONFEDERATE LADY to win.
RACE 7: BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1200m)
LORD AKOMEED (8) was rewarded for his consistent form with an all-the-way win from Risk Assessment at Taree on a Heavy 8. Followed up with a handy win from Golden Galaxy on a Good 4 here. Drawn well to give another bold sight. CHILLCUZ (10) debuted with a handy second behind Nay Pee Cee at Kempsey before beating Rick For Reward at Grafton. Has been good through the line without being pushed in her two trials. VIA VEGAS (12) was a head second here last start and has place claims again.
BET: LORD AKOMEED to win.
RACE 8: BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1200m)
NAVY STEEL (11) was three-wide early before dropping in for a sit briefly then coming wide again to score a first-up win from Rail Trail at Wellington on Mar 31. Went back from a wide gate when fourth to Speedy Henry at Scone last start. Drawn to race forward. DIVINE BENE (5) also scored a smart win first-up on the Beaumont before a third to Lutetia at Newcastle. Wide draw the only query. TALANA (1) will be improved by her first-up fourth here to King Larry.
BET: NAVY STEEL to win.
RACE 9: BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1500m)
RATHORAN (9) is racing very well third campaign. Got back and was checked at the 400m when runner-up to Fox Reign at Taree last start. Can make amends. GOLDEN HONOUR (1) has been good in his four runs preparation over unsuitably short trips. Now steps up to an ideal trip. FOX REIGN (2) has claims on that win.
BET: RATHORAN to win.
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