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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail True

Tough maiden to open at set weights. Star Turn filly 12. Miss Laquetta made up a stack of late ground on debut behind a smart sprinter when supported well into double figure odds. Can naturally progress into this carrying only half kilo more.

Dangers: Big watch on four-year-old mare 4. Loniesha who resumes off a solid trial; while talented mare 8. Thunder Rose is suitably placed over a bit more ground third-up, but has to overcome a tough draw. Include 7. So Sassy third-up in wider exotics.

How to play it: Miss Laquetta to win. Odds and Evens: Evens a special

Now the boys' turn, and potentially it's even more open. This shapes nicely for progressive four-year-old 5. Olympic Time third-up. Was only collared late in a deeper maiden at Hawkesbury, and the little drop back in trip is the key for one who loves to roll to the top. Was scratched from Gosford on Thursday to be saved for this.

Dangers: Lightly raced four-year-old 3. Klopp is set to hit the ground running for the new local stable despite drawing wide. Had consistent provincial form back in autumn before spelling, and has trialled in eye-catching fashion here. Must keep safe from a soft draw, 10. Devil's Inn who missed by a whisker second-up; while improving 11. Evocator will need an early break from a tricky gate, but will relish more ground after working home late first-up.

How to play it: Olympic Time each way and box trifecta 3,5,10,11. Odds and Evens: Odds

Provincial mare 1. Black Jacamar is a noted fresh performer, and starts her third prep over a pet trip she's never finished out of a place in four starts. Hasn't publicly trialled, but sure to present well, and will land right on the speed from a handy draw.

Dangers: Drawn one gate inside, capable mare 2. Tequila Cabos is the immediate threat second-up. Finished hard here over a shorter trip resuming, and drawn to get plenty of cover before launching late. Be surprised if one of the top two doesn't win, but keep safe resuming Taree mare 4. Faatinaat who is already a first-up winner; while 3. Freddie Eddie and 9. All A Lady are key exotic players.

How to play it: Black Jacamar to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Good speed in this one, and that augurs well for progressive mare 8. Pandora Blue who can sit off them and wait to pounce second-up. Got well back resuming in stronger provincial company yet finished off okay, and carries 2.5kg less returning to country level. The one to beat.

Dangers: Tough mare 1. Dreaming Of Gold is obviously better over further, but she won a recent 1000m trial, and her fresh record is sound. Watch for her thundering home from the back. Include honest 4. Salad Dodger in exotics nine weeks between runs via a solid trial.

How to play it: Pandora Blue to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Good sprint with plenty of chances. Like five-year-old 2. Jailbreak out to this distance second-up. Worked home stylishly from midfield resuming under a hefty 62kg in a useful BM 88, and can peak here with natural weight relief.

Dangers: Provincial six-year-old 4. Liberty Sun is one of the better weighted runners all meeting carrying 2kg less, and drawn to roll forward. Comes through a fighting third-up effort beaten under a length in a provincial BM 78, and the winner of that one is a former Provincial C'ship Heat winner who has competed at Group 3 level. The stable has taken plenty of time to find the return assignment for lightly raced seven-year-old 1. Safado, but normally comes to hand quickly, and was a recent dominant trial winner over 1000m. Doesn't want the track too firm. Speedy local mare 10. Nicci Trix is also well weighted second-up off a solid closing effort in Highway company, although some query over this distance; while keeping safe at odds 6. Charmmebaby resuming.

How to play it: Jailbreak each way and box exacta 1,2,4. Odds and Evens: Split

Like the value here about tough eight-year-old 2. Prima Stella who is hard fit and shooting for three straight wins stepping up in distance. Swept home to win a handy BM 86 at Taree, and while this looks a little tougher, he's a proven weight carrier.

Dangers: Classy seven-year-old 7. Big Surprise boasts an imposing record for this grade, and looms as the best weighted runner. Hadn't missed a place in four runs, including a dominant front-running BM 68 provincial win, before leading for a long way in tougher BM 72 Midway grade. Will naturally give a big sight from the inside barrier, but looks a shade under the odds. Keep safe 3. Magic Charlee who comes off a sweeping BM 84 country win, and is enjoying his most consistent prep.

How to play it: Prima Stella each way and quinella 2 and 7. Odds and Evens: Split

Very keen on six-year-old metro mare 3. Our Intrigue fourth-up over the right trip. Super competitive in consecutive metro BM 78 affairs before striking trouble early in a slowly run deeper BM 88 at Rosehill 12 days ago. Suspect he can roll along at a better tempo here sitting off the speed, and carries his lightest weight in a long time under the conditions of the race only half kilo over the minimum.

Dangers: Stablemate four-year-old 2. Achiever comes out of that same metro race when leading for a long way third-up, but will need to get over from a wide gate. Big watch at the weights on 6. Unamerican who has won two of his last three three straight at the provincials, and also gets a huge weight drop down to the minimum. Gap to the rest headed by honest country seven-year-old 8. Fast Talking who has been placed in all three starts this prep.

How to play it: Our Intrigue to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Consistent four-year-old 7. Foxstorm is bursting to win a second race after beating all bar the winner in his last three. Worked home nicely last time behind a smart one who will be competitive in the Kosciuszko, and blinkers have been reapplied.

Dangers: Emerging three-year-old 10. Democracy Manifest looked smart motoring home for a dominant maiden win first-up off a lengthy break, but will need to slot in from a wide draw; while progressive three-year-old 11. Imatruestar can figure second-up from a good draw, and behind a dominant first-up maiden win.

How to play it: Foxstorm to win. Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R3 1. BLACK JACAMAR
R4 8. PANDORA BLUE

BEST VALUE:
R7 3. OUR INTRIGUE

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Port Macquarie Cup meeting