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By Rod Fuller

Chris Waller’s training dominance in the feature race of the district is set to continue with Quality Time ($1.90 into $1.70 favourite on TAB) as the flashy chestnut strives to complete a hat-trick of wins in the $200,000 Carlton Dry Port Macquarie Cup on Friday.

The son of Amaron accounted for Akahata by around four lengths at Canterbury two starts ago before stepping up in distance and racing on the pace to easily account for Alcyone at Rosehill a fortnight ago.

Quality Time (Tommy Berry) bolts in at Rosehill Gardens. Image by Bradley Photographers

Tommy Berry steered the gelding to his most recent metropolitan win, and it is significant the prominent hoop has retained for the ride after teaming with the stable to take out the cup in 2018 aboard Exoteric.

Waller has an outstanding strike rate in this prestigious event having trained four of the previous 10 cup winners commencing with Old Bill in 2011 before putting the polish on Our Intrigue when the mare withstood the finishing burst of Nemingah to salute in last year’s feature.

Quality Time is one of three stable runners engaged with Caboche ($5) commanding some interest after being narrowly defeated by Pinarello in the Queensland Derby last May while Rousseau ($10) is having his second state run since a recent campaign in Melbourne.

With tremendous prizemoney on offer and the chance to compete in the $2 million The Big Dance at Randwick on November 1, the stage is set for an outstanding contest with Onemore Sapphire ($23) gaining automatic entry into the event following a narrow win in the Stowe Australia Cup Prelude a fortnight ago.

Tracey Bartley has strong ties in the area and success with the son of Onemorenomore gelding would provide great emotion and satisfaction whilst providing a deserved reward for the consistent gelding.

Dashing Willoughby ($41) has been allocated topweight status following competitive performances in black type races for the Sam Kavanagh stable and has been freshened with a recent barrier trial following a disappointing effort in the Cameron Handicap at Newcastle.

Kris Lees has been a dominant trainer at Port over the past few years and has Our Candidate ($14) as his sole runner in the club’s highlight.

The son of Camelot was consistent in metropolitan performances and was successful during the July carnival at Grafton when accounting for El Lago over the middle distance and has a Newcastle barrier trial under his belt in preparation for the assignment.

Mydeel ($10) is a galloper on the rise and the Rodney Ollerton-trained gelding comes into the race well following recent wins at Newcastle and Scone while Olympic Theatre ($41) wasn’t beaten far behind Casino Kid in the Dubbo Cup.

Warren Gavenlock has Ambitious Prince ($23) racing well following his gelding’s recent victories in the Ken Howard Cup at Coffs and a dominant win in the Tuncurry Cup last month while Karmazone ($23) is considered a chance after success over Burning Need at Kembla Grange.

Paul Shailer has the sole local representative with Laphroaig ($101) and will derive great benefit following a steady fourth in the prelude while Ambridge ($41) races well over the middle-distance journey after wins at Grafton and Murwillumbah over the past month.

An outstanding program of racing is also highlighted by the $80,000 Birdon Group Sprint and the reappearance of the Bob Milligan-trained mare, Charmmebaby.

The daughter of Charm Spirit has been awarded the Mid North Coast Racing Association Horse of the Year for the previous two seasons and recently resumed from a spell after success in the Wayne Wilson Handicap and a placing in the Spear Chief during the Queensland winter carnival.

The star galloper produced a phenomenal trial under the guidance of Zac Wadick following a recent Taree race meeting when scoring by just over seven lengths and a repetition with the promising hoop aboard under race conditions would provide plenty of confidence around the chances of Charmmebaby,

Leave Me Some provides plenty of strong opposition in the event after winning the Daniel Baker Sprint at Coffs Harbour in August and has performed well in recent times while Nictock has been consistent in town prior to a recent Midway performance at Rosehill.

The $50,000 Fastplast Building Supplies Hastings Cup looks to be at the mercy of Hit the Target following a commanding victory by the Stephen Jones-trained gelding at Newcastle over Traveling Kate in September with Kedah and Olympic Gaze set to provide solid competition.

La Jolie Fille took out the race last year for the Paul Perry establishment and should also be considered a chance while Relucent has home track advantage and strong metropolitan runs under his belt.

Port Macquarie Race Club is honoured to continue the wonderful Cup association with Carlton and United Breweries and would also like to acknowledge the raceday sponsorship provided by Birdon Group, Fastplast Building Supplies, De Bortoli Wines, Flower Hotels, McGrath Estate Agents, JR Richards & Sons and Peak Coffee.

The Showcase status allotted by Racing NSW has boosted prizemoney levels to $505,000 for the fixture resulting in a massive number of 194 nominations and providing strong depth throughout the day.

Festivities commence on Thursday night with the Cup Calcutta to be conducted at the Settlers Inn on Hastings River Drive from 6.30pm. The night will be conducted by Dave Stanley from Sky Racing and his renowned hosting style together a strong engagement with all in attendance should provide a great night for all participants.

The stage is then set for the running of the $200,000 Carlton Dry Port Macquarie Cup on Friday 7th October highlighting a wonderful two days of racing for the club, concluding with the Steeline Raceday on Saturday.

Collins Bus Services will be providing free bus travel from the Gordon Street Bus Station on both carnival days and extensive viewing, dining and wagering facilities will be in full operation.

Unfortunately, all hospitality packages are sold out but further details regarding pre-race meeting bookings and other relevant information is available by contacting Port Macquarie Race Club office on 02 6581 1964 or email on admin@portmacquarieraceclub.com.au

As well as a wonderful day of racing, Fashions on the Field will again be run by Focus Magazine with everyone encouraged to wear their finest outfits for a chance to share in fabulous prizes while patrons and guests will be entertained throughout the afternoon by musical performances provided by Pure Acoustic.

SELECTIONS
Race 1 – 1.15pm MCGRATH ESTATE AGENTS’ MAIDEN SHOWCASE PLATE (1200M): 14 D’Arpano, 4 Tiva Bay, 12 Scotland
Race 2 – 1.50pm JR RICHARDS & SONS COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN SHOWCASE PLATE (1000M): 4 Cenotes, 14 War on Bling, 6 Golden Breeze
Race 3 – 2.25pm PEAK COFFEE CLASS 2 HCP (1000M): 2 Paradise Island, 3 Jacenza, 1 Abuela
Race 4 – 3.05pm DE BORTOLI WINES COUNTRY MAGIC CLASS 1 HCP (1200M): 9 Sharp Shock, 10 Yareakh, 2 Vilified
Race 5 – 3.40pm BIRDON GROUP SPRINT (1200M): 1 Charmmebaby, 5 Leave Me Some, 4 Nictock
Race 6 – 4.20pm FASTPLAST BUILDING SUPPLIES HASTINGS CUP (1500M): 2 Hit the Target, 5 Relucent, La Jolie Fille
Race 7 – 4.55pm 2022 CARLTON DRY PORT MACQUARIE CUP *BIG DANCE ELIGIBILITY* (2000M): 3 Quality Time, 5 Our Candidate, 4 Caboche
Race 8 – 5.35pm FLOWER HOTELS BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1100M): 8 Don’t Doubt Katie, 7 Passistas, 3 Impact Star

View the race details for Port Macquarie (Friday) here

View the race details for Port Macquarie (Saturday) here