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By Rod Fuller

After decisive victories at the circuit over the past month, Kaiyu ($2.90 favourite on TAB) looks set to continue her rise through the ranks in the opening race (Beechwood Hotel BM58 Handicap, 1000m) on Flower Hotels Cup Day at Port Macquarie on Thursday.

The daughter of Super One continues to improve under the watchful eye of Glen Milligan and the prominent Taree trainer has a more than useful horse on his hands after breaking through for a maiden success when scoring by just under a length on cup day.

Last month's Port Macquarie Cup Day

The strength around the performance was highlighted when the second placegetter in the event, Mr Damage, was able to salute last week at Kempsey when a well-supported favourite.

One of the more difficult tasks for a young horse is to break maiden status and then step up to class one company but Kaiyu was able to oversee the challenge when withstanding the finishing effort of Veecee to claim a decisive victory at fortnight ago.

The flashy bay filly now has an unblemished record over the track and distance with the engagement of Teighan Worsnop by the Milligan stable providing further confidence in the pursuit of three wins in succession.

Worsnop has been a revelation since leaving her family and friends at Albury to pursue a riding career on the North Coast with the promising apprentice enjoying remarkable success following wins at Kempsey, Wauchope and Port over the last month.

The assignment will not be easy for Kaiyu as Lightscameraaction ($5) looms as a serious threat following a dominant win at the last meeting conducted on the track.

Courtney Bellamy allowed the Cassandra Schmidt-trained mare to bound to the front and literally ran her rivals ragged with a similar pattern of racing providing plenty of ammunition for supporters of the daughter of Showtime.

Other chances revolve around Head Case ($3.50) who resumed from a four-month break with a solid placing at Ballina recently while Poita ($7) is always a chance in this type of event.

The Glen Milligan stable has strong claims in the Settlers Inn Handicap when Wing Nut ($5.50) looks to improve from the chestnut’s recent narrow placing behind Naughty Nurse in a blanket finish while Queen Calanthe ($9) is an interesting runner in the following race (Lake Cathie Tavern Maiden, 1000m).

The Trapeze Artist mare is a new arrival from the Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou establishment and seems well suited following recent placings at Nowra and Bathurst in preparation for the latest assignment.

Stylebender ($4.60) is poised to continue the great training success being enjoyed recently by Kristen Buchanan with victory in the Hastings Hotel BM58 Handicap (2000m) after sound efforts at Nowra and Bathurst over the past couple of months while Bold Bender ($7.50) deserves to break through in the following race.

The Flower Hotels Cup is an interesting contest with Prancing with Fire ($1.95 fav) holding the key for the astute Fleur Blanch establishment after good performances at Ballina and Gold Coast over the past month.

The former Victorian mare was a luckless second behind Obedience at Werribee in early February before franking the form with success at Stawell a fortnight later before the relocation.

Flyball ($9) is a gelding who has always displayed natural ability and a strong showing by the Stephen Farley-trained galloper would not surprise while Rossy’s Typa Girl ($4.60) is better than her previous efforts would indicate.

The final race on the program (Tacking Point Tavern Class 1 Handicap, 1100m) is set to provide an absorbing battle as Apache Breeze ($3.40 fav) follows up from his debut win at Muswellbrook with the clash against Exorealm ($4.80), Ardonaugh ($4.20) and the new arrival to the Coffs Harbour stable of Sally Taylor, Rocket Park ($10).

Flower Hotels Group has been a wonderful supporter of the club over many years, and it is great to welcome all associated sponsors to the track including Beechwood Hotel, Hastings Hotel, Fernhill Tavern, Settlers Inn, Lake Cathie Tavern and Tacking Point Tavern.

Further information regarding bookings and other details are available by contacting the Port Macquarie Race Club office on 02 6581 1964 or email on admin@portmacquarieraceclub.com.au

SELECTIONS
Race 1 - 1:50PM BEECHWOOD HOTEL COUNTRY BOOSTED BM 58 HCP (1000M):
3 Kaiyu, 7 Lightscameraaction, 2 Head Case
Race 2 - 2:25PM HASTINGS HOTEL BM 58 HCP (2000M):
2 Stylebender, 4 The Young Years, 8 Solarosa
Race 3 - 3:05PM FERNHILL TAVERN COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN PLATE (1200M):
7 Bold Bender, 6 Strassman, 5 Punch One Out
Race 4 - 3:40PM FLOWER HOTELS CUP BM 66 HCP (1500M):
2 Prancing with Fire, 8 Flyball, 3 Rossy’s Typa Girl
Race 5 - 4:20PM SETTLERS INN MAIDEN HCP (1500M):
2 Wing Nut, 1 Miss Romain, 3 Aroha Stone
Race 6 - 4:55PM LAKE CATHIE TAVERN MAIDEN HCP (1000M):
1 Queen Calanthe, 3 Calido Magic, 2 Torn
Race 7 - 5:35PM TACKING POINT TAVERN CLASS 1 HCP (1100M):
1 Apache Breeze, Exorealm, 5 Ardonaugh

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Port Macquarie here