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By Rod Fuller

With two recent victories and a staying pedigree on his side, Unamerican ($10 on TAB) is poised to take the next step in the $200,000 Carlton Dry Port Macquarie Cup on Friday.

The bay gelding is a son of Americain, an American-bred French-trained thoroughbred who was victorious in the 2010 Melbourne Cup with wins also posted in the Geelong Cup, Moonee Valley Cup and Zipping Classic before retiring to the breeding paddock at Swettenham Stud.

With consecutive wins at Gosford a month ago followed by a solid third behind Solar Apex on September 22nd, Unamerican provides every indication the cup distance should be suitable for the Richard and Michael Freedman-trained gelding.

The brothers know how to prepare a horse for a big race win having been connected to a series of wonderful thoroughbred gallopers over a lengthy period with the culmination for the partnership being the win by Stay Inside in the 2021 Golden Slipper.

Co-trainers Michael (left) and Richard Freedman prepare Unamerican

It is significant that Winona Costin has been engaged for the mount with the popular jockey enjoying an outstanding start to the season with twenty-seven wins landing her in equal second place behind James McDonald.

With the rail returning to the true position, this can lead to horses taking advantage of the area close to the fence and on the speed, which should suit the pattern of racing recently displayed by Unamerican.

The stable also has Alakahan ($8) engaged in the event with the flashy chestnut gelding earning the topweight impost following a strong win in the Gold Coast Cup last May.

Two runs from a spell including a sound performance behind Berdibek in last month’s Wyong Cup provides a good springboard into the feature.

It is decision time for the Chris Waller stable with their two entrants, Achiever ($3.70 favourite) and Our Intrigue ($4), engaged in the Cup together with the Cerrone Handicap at the Randwick program on Saturday.

Waller always has a strong presence on the mid north coast at this time of the year and has won three Port Cups over the past 10 years including victories to Old Bill, Loving Home and Exoteric. Both entrants have definite chances, and it will be interesting to see which direction the stable take to improve upon their strong recent record in this prestigious event.

Fantastic Baby ($15) and Battle Guardian ($34) gained exemption from ballot for the race after the pair fought out the Cup Prelude a fortnight ago while Milk Man ($7.50) is under the care of Matthew Smith and presents well, following sound recent placings over the distance at Doomben.

Kody Nestor makes the journey from Dubbo with Fast Talking ($9.50) and the son of Walking or Dancing has been a model of consistency in feature races at Mudgee, Dubbo and Bathurst in preparation for Friday’s assignment.

The stable also has a definite chance in the final event with Democracy Manifest ($2.90 fav) following a dominant victory at Dubbo when accounting for Akaka Falls by over three lengths a month ago.

Miss Laquetta ($2.30 fav) was responsible for an encouraging debut at Scone when a luckless fourth behind Raoul a fortnight ago and the Brett Cavanough-trained filly should provide the testing material in the opening event, while Big Surprise ($2.90 fav) will be hard to beat in the $50,000 Fastplast Building Supplies Hastings Cup.

Safado ($6.50) has the form on the board and the Kris Lees-trained gelding will benefit from two recent barrier trials when resuming in the $80,000 Birdon Group Sprint.

With many areas around the state still affected by Covid-19 regulations, NSW race meetings, barrier trials, trackwork and licensed premises remain restricted to Essential Personnel only until further notice. Owners, members, and the general public will not be permitted to attend the Port Racing Complex with the club hopeful for a relaxation of these regulations as the state approaches required vaccination levels.

Fine weather in the days leading up to the program should ensure the best possible surface will be presented for the carnival with officials anticipating a good track rating.

The club is delighted to continue a wonderful association with Carlton and United Breweries and are greatly appreciative of their cup sponsorship with acknowledgement for the support provided Birdon Group, De Bortoli Wines, Fastplast Building Supplies, Flower Hotels, John Oxley Motors, Tabcorp and JR Richards and Sons.

President, Greg Delaforce, and the Port Macquarie Race Club Committee wish all contestants the best of luck throughout the carnival and urge everyone to support the meeting and follow the action on the screens of Sky Racing with comprehensive wagering facilities provided by Tabcorp.

SELECTIONS
Race 1 – 1.20pm JR RICHARDS & SONS F&M MAIDEN PLATE (1200M): 12 Miss Laquetta, 8 Thunder Rose, 7 So Sassy
Race 2 – 1.55pm TAB.COM.AU CG&E MDN PLATE (1200M): 3 Klopp, 5 Olympic Time, 10 Devil’s Inn
Race 3 – 2.35pm JOHN OXLEY MOTORS CLASS 2 HCP (1000M): 2 Tequila Cabos, 1 Black Jacamar, 4 Faatinaat
Race 4 – 3.10pm FLOWER HOTELS BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1100M): 8 Pandora Blue, 1 Dreaming of Gold, 5 Righthere Rightnow
Race 5 – 3.50pm BIRDON GROUP SPRINT (1200M): 1 Safado, 4 Liberty Sun, 7 The Drake
Race 6 – 4.25pm FASTPLAST BUILDING SUPPLIES HASTINGS CUP (1500M): 7 Big Surprise, 2 Prima Stella, 3 Magic Charlee
Race 7 – 5.05pm CARLTON DRY PORT MACQUARIE CUP (2000M): 6 Unamerican, 3 Our Intrigue, 4 Milk Man
Race 8 – 5.40pm DE BORTOLI WINES COUNTRY MAGIC CLASS 1 HCP (1200M): 10 Democracy Manifest, 7 Foxstorm, 5 Nicci Knee Knack

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Port Macquarie here