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By Mark Brassel

British import Inver Park won’t know himself when he heads to Port Macquarie for Friday’s Cup Day.

Prepared by top Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, Inver Park will tackle the $80,000 Port Macquarie Sprint (1200m) after being withdrawn from yesterday’s Royal Randwick meeting.

“He drew terribly at Randwick [barrier 20] so that pretty much forced our decision to scratch from the race and go to Port Macquarie,” explained Danny Greer, Racing Manager for the Kris Lees stable.

Inver Park (Dylan Gibbons) heads to the barriers at Royal Randwick. Image by Bradley Photographers

“We’ve always had a high opinion of him and he’s a very nice horse. He really does look suited in the Port Macquarie race.”

Inver Park has only raced five times for the Lees camp and despite being unplaced in each of those runs, only 12 months ago he competed in the Group 3-Sydney Stakes at Randwick where he was up against the likes of Bella Nipotina, I Am Me, King of Sparta and stablemate Rustic Steel.

The gelding has not raced since last November when down the course at Flemington but has had three barrier trials and should be primed for a first-up tilt at the Sprint, which is the main support event for the $200,000 Carlton Dry 3.5% Port Macquarie Cup (2000m).

The Cup is also a qualifying event for the $3m Big Dance at Royal Randwick in November.

Greer said they nominated Prime Impact for the Port Macquarie Cup, but the stable is yet to decide on a start after the gelding raced away with the Cup Prelude on 29 September.

“We’ve got him in the entries at Port Macquarie but we’re also considering running him in the Taree Cup which is also a Big Dance race a week later.

“We haven’t decided which way we’ll go but giving him an extra week since his Prelude win might prove beneficial for him by going to Taree.”

Friday’s Port Macquarie Cup meeting is the first Cup run at the track since Quality Time and Tommy Berry combined to win the race in 2022.

Last year’s Cup, won by Superium and Grant Buckley, was held at Taree with Port undergoing track renovations during the past 15 months.

“It will be an excellent eight-race TAB program on Friday with a prominent on-track screen, conveniently located bars and mouthwatering food options courtesy of the talented ‘CharBar Catering’,” said Port Macquarie Race Club’s CEO, Nardi Beresford.

“We have a variety of hospitality packages available to suit every racegoer’s preference including the Flower Hotels Raceday Retreat and the TPT Lawn Party located inside the track.

“We’ll have a lively crowd and a Fashions on the Field event with multiple entry categories and substantial prizes.”

Next Sunday is Coonamble Cup Day with the $75,000 race another Big Dance qualifier.

During the day Coonamble Jockey Club will be welcoming Daisy Lamb and Todd Melbourne from ‘Farmer Wants a Wife’ as guest judges for the Fashions on the Field.

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Muswellbrook
Tuesday: Kempsey, Goulburn
Thursday: Orange
Friday: Port Macquarie
Saturday: Albury, Forbes, Young-Burrangong picnics (non-TAB)
Sunday: Coonamble, Queanbeyan