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By Rod Fuller

With the local stable of John Sprague in red-hot form, Dew Drop looks set to continue the run of success in the Hastings Fresh Meats Benchmark 58 at Port Macquarie this Saturday.

The Eavesdropper gelding has run credible races in recent times highlighted by a solid placing at his home track behind Foxy’s Foxinator before a last start fourth in a Grafton Class 2 when beaten just over two lengths by Delius.

With Dew Drop saving his best races for Port and the stable firing following a recent track double, the stage is set for the son of Danetana to provide the testing material in one of highlights of the program.

The race provides plenty of interest with African Guy earning equal topweight following a narrow second at the circuit behind Shadow Prince while Femtometre is a better galloper than her previous run would indicate.

The final event on the card has many chances headed by the Mark Schmetzer-trained mare, Sister Joy, while Enseguida was impressive with a recent track success over Dansk Havn and will be extremely competitive.

Final Honour was disappointing at his most recent outing at Wyong, but the narrow placing at Port last month behind Super Bonus points to the Arlington gelding being a live chance in race four with Araucaria providing one of the stiffest hurdles.

On a difficult program, Our Eppy looks well placed to provide a forward showing for the Muswellbrook stable of Luke Thomas in the opening event following a strong run at Wyong last week behind Reiby’s Regent while the clash between Emmy’s Our Girl and Ikaba in an extremely interesting prospect in the following event.

The Thomas stable has another real chance for success in the third when Spanish Missile backs up from his first-up run on heavy going at Muswellbrook with the Smart Missile gelding well suited to break his maiden status on the weekend.

All in racing wish popular local jockey, Andrew Adkins, a speedy recovery following a nasty fall in the opening event on day two of the Championships at Randwick last weekend. His father, Brett, has reported to Melbourne Radio RSN recently that Andrew had suffered extensive injuries including a fractured cheekbone or eye socket, nose, sternum and three fractures in his back.

Adkins could be out of action for anywhere between a month to three months with the timeline becoming clearer with further doctors’ assessments over the next few days.

Port Macquarie Race Club would like to acknowledge race day sponsors, Hastings Fresh Meats, B-Safe Storage Solutions, Hire Port – Party and Event Hire, The Provedores and Woodbridge Glass with their support and assistance greatly appreciated.

The meeting also acts as a mark of respect for the passing of Les McLennan, who passed away on 5th March at the age of 72.

“Mad Dog” was a great local identity who loved his racing and it is only fitting that his life will be celebrated by his many family and friends in the Clydesdale Room at Port on Saturday at 10.30am with all welcome to continue enjoying all the thoroughbred action as Les would have loved.

A large holiday crowd is anticipated to take advantage of the quality trackside facilities with the program attracting full Sky Racing and TAB coverage to coincide with the outstanding day of group racing at Randwick, featuring the All Aged and Champagne Stakes.

The six-race program commences at 1.21pm with the festivities concluding with the final event at 4.31pm.

SELECTIONS
Race 1 (Woodbridge Glass Maiden Hcp, 1516m): 4 Our Eppy, 2 Hashtag Viking, 7 Eskhara
Race 2 (B-Safe Storage Solutions CL1 Hcp, 1013m): 4 Emmy’s Our Girl, 1 Ikaba, 2 Ortega Lane
Race 3 (The Provedores Maiden Plate, 1013m): 3 Spanish Missile, 1 Kid Mac, 9 Miss Piper Rose
Race 4 (Hire Port CL1 & Maiden Plate, 2026m): 5 Final Honour, 2 Araucaria, 4 Consoling
Race 5 (Hastings Fresh Meats BM 58 Hcp, 1516m): 6 Dew Drop, 1 African Guy, 3 Femtometre
Race 6 (Les 'Mad Dog' McLennan BM 58 Hcp, 1213m): 10 Enseguida, 1 Sister Joy, 7 Taken on Chance