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Wyong trainer Tracey Bartley’s stable has been absolutely flying in recent weeks and he believes first-starter Defeat can maintain that success rate if he gets the go ahead to run at Port Macquarie on Friday.

Defeat, a son of the champion sire I Am Invincible, will debut in the JBL Glass 2YO Hcp (1200m) provided the track is not too soft. The Port Macquarie track on Wednesday was rated a soft7.

Bartley has saddled up nine winners from his past 16 starters since late March – including a massive result at last week’s Scone carnival when won with each of his three runners over the two days. Bartley struck with Bare Naked Lady in the $100,000 Inglis 2YO Challenge (1100m) on the Friday then backed up on the Saturday to land the $150,000 Emirates Park Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) with unbeaten filly In Good Time and the $150,000 Arrowfield Stud Ortensia Stakes (1100m) with To Excess.

He is out to continue that great run with Defeat, his only acceptor at Friday’s eight-race Port Macquarie meeting.

“Scone was an incredible result for our stable – you just don’t go to a carnival like that and expect to win three from three against that calibre of opposition,” Bartley said.

“The stable’s going really well at the moment and I think Defeat should also be very hard to beat on debut on Friday, but he might not go around if the track is too soft. Hopefully it gets back to a soft 5.”

Defeat is out of Shepishir, a mare Bartley trained for 13 wins before she finished her career by winning two more races in Queensland for Gold Coast trainer Bryan Guy. Shepishir ended her 48-start career on a high by winning the 2007 Listed $100,000 Goldmarket Hcp (1300m) at the Gold Coast.

“Shepishir was a very good mare to us,” he said. “I took her up to Brisbane for a good fillies and mares race (in 2006) and she ran second to La Montagna who went on to win the Stradbroke Hcp a few weeks later.

Mathew Cahill and Tracey Bartley debrief after a win at Scone last week. Credit: Steve Hart.

“I left her up in Queensland with Bryan and she went on to win the Goldmarket before we retired her.”

Bartley is pleased with how Defeat has progressed since he won a Wyong barrier trial over 845m on May 7. Defeat dominated his trial by more than three lengths in 49.97, easily the quickest of the four 2YO trials that morning.

“He trialled very well the other day and his work this week has been very good. I rode him myself this morning and he feels great,” he said. “He’s a nice horse. He’s got a lovely galloping action and has got a couple of gears.”

Bartley plans to take things slowly with Defeat at this stage and will send him for a break after his debut run.

“If he does run on Friday, I plan to spell him straight away and give him a bit more time to develop,” he said.

Defeat could face just six rivals in Friday’s race, including the other first-starters, the Allan Denham-trained Poulton Le Sands and the Kris Lees-trained Saganaki.

Port Macquarie trainer Neil Godbolt has the most experienced runner in Star Of Theharbour, who is chasing a winning hat-trick. Godbolt has scratched his other acceptor, Taken On Chance, who will run instead against older horses in the Kennards Hire F&M Class 1 Hcp (1000m) where she has drawn the inside gate.

Star Of Theharbour is coming off back-to-back wins at Coffs Harbour on March 13 and Port Macquarie on April 13.

Godbolt also has a strong hope in the Petries Mitre 10 C,G&E Class 1 Hcp (1000m) with ex-Victorian Outsmartem.

Formerly trained by Robbie Griffiths, Outsmartem made an impressive debut for the Godbolt stable when he scored first-up at Taree on May 1.

View the fields and form for Friday's Port Macquarie meeting here.