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By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Friday’s Port Macquarie meeting. Selections based on a soft to heavy track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

1. Edge Of Reward resumes for his new trainer Nathan Doyle and has trialled well in preparation for this event. The four-year-old produced his career peak figure first-up last prep after racing wide, and his run was full of merit. Further, he was slightly outpaced when the sprint went on, but once he built momentum, he hit the line hard and ran the fastest final 200m split of the meeting in 11.32. The gelding has a strong starting price profile, a dominant ratings profile relative to his rivals and if he gets luck from the draw, expect him to be hard to beat.

Dangers: 4. Tiva Bay was honest last campaign in time/sectional merit races and brings a strong ratings profile. First-up last prep, he was $2.9-$2.5 late in the trade but was checked/blocked at a critical stage and tried hard to the line once clear. The Kris Lees trained galloper brings strong form lines, maps well and is proven on rain-affected ground. 14. Darpano was heavily backed last start at Scone into $1.50 and ran on well into third, clocking the equal fastest final 400m split of the meeting in 23.08. The three-year-old profiles well for this event and is suited but will now have to stretch to 1200m. 12. Scotland is rock-hard fit and repeating his last start effort can put him in the finish. Add 7. Star Of Yamba who returns to her home track and can have the last shot.

How to play it: Edge Of Reward WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Edge Of Reward wins a trial at Newcastle on September 12

6. Golden Breeze, who represents value, chased a fast tempo throughout last start and was honest in a high-rating race with decisive margins throughout. The three-year-old has a tricky draw but is suited back in distance and onto a soft surface. Expect him to be running on late and can rate to win. Each-way.

Dangers: 4. Cenotes tried hard last start at Grafton in the inferior ground and is ready to peak third-up. The three-year-old maps to have all favours, and Andrew Adkins rides for the first time. 1. Elite Quality comes through the same race as Golden Breeze and must be respected. Add 3. Brienno Belle to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Golden Breeze E/W ($8.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Golden Breeze runs third at Port Macquarie on September 25

3. Jacenza overcame difficulties to win last start at Tamworth after getting checked/blocked at a critical stage. He has a strong starting price profile, and his ratings profile suggests the jump in grade is no issue.

Dangers: 10. Albi Dot Com and 7. Pendleton resume from long layoffs and have trialled well. Add 2. Paradise Island to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Jacenza WIN ($1.65 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Jacenza wins last start at Bathurst on September 25

9. Sharp Rock was well fancied on debut at Scone 14 days ago and savaged the line late to score. Further, he ran solid time relative to the day and clocked one of the fastest final 400m splits in 23.24. The gelding will be fitter from that effort and is an improver over a further distance. He has a tricky draw, but the track pattern may suit, and he has the key asset of acceleration to overcome the barrier.

Dangers. 13. Ilovethegame can bounce back with a favourable map and is on a 10-day backup. 4. Ghost Hunter sat outside the leader at a solid pace and battled on well. He will be fitter for that and will roll forward. Add 6. Heir Apparent to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Sharp Rock WIN ($2.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Sharp Rock wins at Scone on September 23

1. Charmmebaby must carry 62kg but gets in well at the weights under the conditions. The six-year-old went to a new level last prep, and before spelling, she was only beaten 3.4 lengths in the Group 1 Tatts Tiara (1600m) at Eagle Farm. The mare looks to have returned well after an impressive trial, and she is well placed here.

Dangers: 3. Saquon will need to overcome a tricky draw but is a big improver back up to 1200m. The Paul Perry trained runner can rate to win and is a knockout chance. Add 4. Nictock and 13. Proverbial to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Charmmebaby WIN ($2.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Charmmebaby wins a trial at Taree on September 13

4. Kedah raced wide throughout in the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m) at Newcastle last start and battled on ok. The seven-year-old will be fitter for that effort, and third-up last prep, she won and produced one of her career peak figures. The Kris Lees trained galloper receives a senior jockey for the first time this campaign, drops significantly in grade, maps to have all favours and can rate to win.

Dangers: 7. Olympic Gaze was outpaced up when the tempo quickened first-up at Canterbury and tried hard in defeat. He is suited to the rain-affected ground and will be running on. 2. Hit The Target had all favours last start when winning at Newcastle but won easily. The gelding faces tougher opposition here but maps again to control the pace. Add 5. Relucent who has a gear change and has strong form lines.

How to play it: Kedah WIN ($3.30 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Kedah last start at Newcastle on September 16

Import 3. Quality Time, who profiles well for this race, is in career-best form and on an upwards ratings spiral this preparation. The gelding was a dominant winner last start at Rosehill, and he did it in style. Further, he had every chance but sprinted away from his rivals to run his final 400m split in 22.66 and was eased down before the line. He is an improving type in his second campaign under the guidance of trainer Chris Waller and brings the clear best last start figure. In addition, he maps to have all favours, has a starting price edge over his main rivals, is proven on rain-affected ground and is hard to beat with even luck.

Dangers: 2. Rousseau comes through the same race as Quality Time and is set to peak fourth-up stepping out to 2000m. 5. Our Candidate resumes after two trials. He is a consistent type and can sprint fresh.

How to play it: Quality Time WIN ($1.35 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Quality Time wins at Rosehill on September 24

15. Mussenphere resumes and is suited over further, but with an anticipated genuine tempo, she may have the last shot. In addition, she has had two solid hit outs at the trials and can rate to win. Each-way.

Dangers: Forgive 2. Zoom Outcome’s last start where he pulled up lame and has had a trial between runs. 10. Sharkim is coming off a dominant maiden win and add 13. Crowned Empress to all exotics.

How to play it: Mussenphere E/W ($15 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Mussenphere's latest trial at Newcastle on September 12

Best Bet: Race 1 # 1 – Edge Of Reward

Best Value: Race 2 # 6 – Golden Breeze

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