6 days ago
Port Macquarie best bets, inside mail for Friday, August 8, 2025
Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O'Cass provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis at Port Macquarie on Thursday.
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PORT MACQUARIE TIPS
BEST BET
Race 5 No.16: REAL MAGIC
Kiwi filly who ran well on debut; spelled, and has been trialling up rather nicely.
NEXT BEST
Always goes out there and gives her best. Fit, just need the breaks.
VALUE BET
Race 4 No.4: KITSILANO
Neat return, step up in trip suits. Won't be a maiden for much longer.
BEST EXOTIC
Race 5 quinella Nos.14, 16
QUADDIE
Race 5: 14,16
Race 6: 3,6,7
Race 7: 2,4,10,14
Race 8: 1,4,6,7,8
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Luke Rolls will be popular, as always, in the TAB Jockeys Challenge
LAY OF THE DAY
Race 2 No.1: MEGA FIGHT
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PORT MACQUARIE INSIDE MAIL
RACE 1: COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN HANDICAP (1100m)
KINGS CUP (1) drew 11, which is probably one of the reasons why Paul Snowden accepted for Newcastle on Saturday. Such was the impressive nature of his Gosford trial, Kings Cup could very well win either race. SHE'S A WILD ONE (6) has the race experience and thus the race fitness edge having finished second at Moree first-up to a moderately handy type. VOLARE (12) has a ''bad' draw but ''good'' talent.
BET: KINGS CUP to win, or if scratched, She's A Wild One to win
RACE 2: BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1800m)
HEART OF PLATINUM (6) has raced 13 times for a win and five placings, Two placings are here at home (from four runs) and she was third at her only track/trip start. Gets back and runs on so will always need the perfectly timed finish – but no doubt about her ability. One could imagine BOLD SPLENDOR (9) getting up on the speed here and given her fitness, she could just stick on.
BET: HEART OF PLATINUM to win, exacta 6 to beat 9.
RACE 3: COUNTRY BOOSTED CLASS 3 HANDICAP (1500m)
SHOW 'EM HOWL (2) has got Country Championships written all over him. He is in an astute stable up there with Robert Agnew and really was quite incredible in the way he won a 58 here at his only run at home thus far. Ran two ripper races in Sydney and deserves a bit of forgiveness for the $1.60 loss at Taree. SUPREME COMMAND (1) is a 65 rater who gets to go around with 57.5kg after the claim. Ran fourth to Bodhi By last start. CLUEDO (3) has barrier two and Aaron Bullock.
BET: SHOW 'EM HOWL to win.
KITSILANO (4) is a 19-start maiden but this could be the day for the son of Vancouver. To be fair, he has placed four times and a lot of the outcome has been decided by his pattern, that is, he often gets back but usually finds the line with a bit of purpose. Terrible draw but has Ben Looker on. KHANT FAIL (9) has placed at five of her 11 starts; all of them were for John Sargent. First run here for Neil Godbolt. Has to be respected. THE FINAL SAY (13) is back to country racing today.
BET: KITSILANO to win, quinella 4, 9.
RACE 5: MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)
REAL MAGIC (16) was a tad unlucky on debut behind Gerry Harvey's handy horse, Chidiac, back on December 10. Failed here the next time, spelled, and has come back and trialled very well indeed. The Per Incanto breed only get better as time goes by and she might be one that has and will. TAPAGAL (14) is an epic blue blood being by Capitalist out of Fast And Sexy. Trials have been OK to varying degrees. Will get every chance from barrier three and Winona Costin riding.
BET: REAL MAGIC to win.
RACE 6: F&M BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1200m)
GOT THE SMARTS (3) is an above average mare with a record of one win, three seconds and a third from her nine starts. One thing we know about her is that she has a powerful finish and that she has been dealt some pretty ordinary draws in her time. Has talent beyond country racing. ALL TOO WILD (2) is the logical danger, perhaps even the one to beat if she comes. That's a big if. Five-year-old mare TROIS (6) was impressive winning her debut at Tamworth on July 18.
BET: GOT THE SMARTS to win.
VALENTINO PRINCE (14) is dropping back to country grade after a long stretch of most unsuccessful runs at the provincials. That said, he doesn't run too many really bad or poor races, he could still bob up and win one at Newcastle or wherever but for now, it does seem like a good idea to drop him in class and build up some confidence. OAKFIELD PLUTO (10) won on debut with Aaron Bullock on from gate two. Bullock on again, only this time it is barrier 3.
BET: VALENTINO PRINCE each-way, box quinella 2, 4, 10, 14.
VEECEE (4) could be in Sydney for the Highway on Saturday but maybe the heavy rain will keep him at home and he runs here instead. That's not to say he is a duffer, time will tell. If he is absent, Veecee's jockey Luke Rolls might win the race anyway via Tony Ball's pretty reliable gelding TELEGRAPH (8). The now seven-year-old has a decent set of numbers right across the board, including a track/trip record of one win and two thirds from five goes.
