Port Macquarie 27 Sep 2026
GOING: S(5)
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9NOW BENCHMARK 74 HANDICAP 1004m Track: Soft 5 Rain (Max: 18) Rail: +2m Entire. |
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Genuine pace with Via Vegas taking up the running ahead of What A Rush and The Piccolino. DAMAS (3) has the most persuasive profile, easing out of a Sandown-Lakeside mid-week 3yo+ BM70 where he was fourth, after making ground from back in the field. A close second in a Coffs Harbour trial adds to the sense he is ready to improve second-up, and the 1.5kg claim helps. SAVOCA (9) is the main danger after a BM66 win at Quirindi and a fourth at Scone, gets significant weight relief and poses a big threat. BUCK PHAROAH (2) resumes from a long break but is a proven Port Macquarie track-and-distance horse, reunites with Aaron Bullock and poses a genuine danger on best efforts. THE PICCOLINO (12) was poor last start at Tuncurry, but his previous second on soft ground and the return to a shorter trip give him genuine place appeal. DENIAL (7) strips fitter fourth-up and is in the mix. SUGGESTED PLAY: Siding with Damas.
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| 1 | 60132 |
GREY EFFECTS
COLT PROSSER 6YO GREY GELDING 60.0KG A L Ison, C S Dwyer, Mrs T Prosser & Miss B Mackay Comes through two sound recent placings, the latest a second in an Open at Moree when slow away and beaten a length and a half by Speck. He had earlier finished third at Tuncurry as favourite, again settling rearward before hitting the line well. The class profile reads strongly, but he tends to give away a start and the 1004m trip remains the key query for winning purposes. |
10 ZAC WADICK |
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| 2 | x444x |
BUCK PHAROAH
NEIL GODBOLT 8YO CHESTNUT GELDING 59.0KG R N Godbolt & Mrs M M Godbolt Returns from a lengthy spell after finishing fourth at Port MacQuarie over 1106m, where he was bumped at the start, steadied near the 600m and beaten three lengths by Pony Soprano at long odds. His previous fourth here in a Benchmark 66 was better, beaten a length and a half on soft ground after covering ground. Fitness is the main question. |
7 AARON BULLOCK |
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| 3 | 148x4 |
DAMAS
SALLY TAYLOR 5YO BAY GELDING 59.0KG G W Cleary Returns from a five-week let-up after a solid fourth in a 3yo+ Benchmark 70 at Sandown-Lakeside, beaten three lengths by Queen Christine after covering ground and making inroads from well back. That mid-week form looks a suitable platform for an easier assignment, and his close second in a Coffs Harbour trial keeps the fitness ticking over. Strong profile if he settles better second-up. |
2 GRADY SPOKES |
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| 4 | 97160 |
DEBUSSY
TONY BALL 8YO BAY GELDING 59.0KG Mrs B A Ball, G Beecroft, T L Hastings, M A Ball, Mrs G Bozinis-Wendt, The Logo, Bamboo Bloodstock, A Theodore, M Hyslop, W Roy & M Moseley Was safely held at Newcastle last week, finishing tenth over 900m and beaten just over seven lengths after beginning only fairly and laying out throughout. His Tuncurry sixth prior was also from well back, beaten just over four lengths after a slow start. Needs a much sharper finish despite easing in grade. |
6 GRANT BUCKLEY |
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| 5 | x011x |
VIA VEGAS
JONATHAN SMITH 6YO BAY GELDING 59.0KG J A Smith, W Aspros, S D Freemantle & Miss M Aspros Returns from a lengthy spell after winning a Benchmark 66 at Port MacQuarie on soft ground, beating Crowie's Shout by a length and a half as favourite. That backed up a Benchmark 58 win here over 1206m when he led and beat Savvyrocker. Trial keeps him ticking over, but first-up sharpness decides whether he lands a place. |
8 BEN LOOKER |
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| 6 | 240x0 |
WHAT A RUSH
NEIL GODBOLT 4YO BAY MARE 58.0KG N Godbolt & Mrs M M Godbolt Had excuses at Tuncurry first-up, beginning awkwardly and racing wide before finishing second last over 1200m, beaten just under eight lengths. Her Grafton Quality run before a break was also plain, so recent race form has to improve. The return to Port MacQuarie matters, with two wins from three starts at this track and distance, giving her a knockout case if she rebounds sharply. |
4 J PENZA |
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| 7 | 5x656 |
DENIAL
PAUL SNOWDEN 5YO CHESTNUT GELDING 57.0KG A J Manton, Mrs L Oborn, Last Two Hundred, Smudgers, R I Darrah, S A Jolley, Macarzo Racing, M Richards, Sheridan Racing , Guru Racing, Winners Stall, Thriller, Wegotenuff, T P D Shafron, B A Richards, Full Denial Racing, Patriot Denial, Patriot Bloodstock & Ms S Ihasz Returns from a six-week freshening after finishing sixth in a Benchmark 64 at Kembla Grange, beaten two and a half lengths by Me Me after settling back and failing to quicken. His previous fifth in a Benchmark 68 at Illawarra Grange was sound enough from well back, beaten three and a half lengths by Heuristic. Shorter trip is the concern, but a place is within reach. |
5 A GIBBONS |
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| 8 | 08441 |
WHERE'S THE FIRE
TONY BALL 7YO BAY GELDING 56.0KG Mrs B A Ball, K J Ball, M A Ball, J C Haisell, R W C Mills, Ms J A Mills, S Freeman, L W Woodworth, T Lestrange, The Logo (Mgr: K P Brown), A Theodore, M Moseley, W Roy, M Hyslop & Shed 23 Racing (Mgr: R W Thomson) Won an Open at Bowraville last week, beating Blue Dane by just over half a length as a well-supported favourite, and that deserves respect. The caution is that his previous Tuncurry fourth came at big odds and he was still beaten just over a length after being tightened early. He has track-and-distance form, but this looks tougher than the last-start win suggests. |
7 PAIGE FERGUSSON-SMITH |
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| 9 | x5514 |
SAVOCA
PAUL PERRY 6YO BAY GELDING 55.0KG Ms C G Collis Returns from a six-week freshening after a Benchmark 66 fourth at Scone, beaten just over four lengths by Varuni over 1300m on soft ground. Two back he won a Benchmark 66 at Quirindi over 1200m, beating He's My Warrior after being well found in an open market. The 1004m drop is the query, but his recent win keeps him right in it. |
9 DANIEL SMITH |
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| 10 | 3600x |
WHIL TO WIN
JOSEPH BURGES 5YO BROWN MARE 55.0KG J M Burges Returns from a five-month break after finishing last in a Benchmark 64 at Newcastle over 900m on heavy ground, beaten seven and a half lengths and unwanted in the market. She had also finished last at Wyong, beaten over 15 lengths, albeit after covering ground without cover. Class drop helps, but the recent form asks for a clear turnaround. |
12 |
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| 11 | 75068 |
FLYING SHELLY
SALLY TAYLOR 7YO BAY MARE 55.0KG Ms S J Taylor, Mrs S Fuller & A P Grewal Finished eighth in a Benchmark 58 at Coffs Harbour last start, beaten three and a half lengths after settling handy and failing to finish off. The run prior was similar in a Benchmark 66 at the same venue, where she was sixth after being close enough at the turn. Weight relief is some help, but she needs to show more at the business end. |
3 COURTNEY BELLAMY |
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| 12 | 14520 |
THE PICCOLINO
PAUL PERRY 5YO CHESTNUT GELDING 55.0KG Ms C G Collis Was disappointing at Tuncurry last start, finishing tenth over 1200m and beaten seven and a half lengths after settling midfield without making ground. His prior second behind Grassburn on soft going reads much better, beaten just under a length after travelling close enough and fighting on. The inside draw, 2kg claim and return to 1004m give him a genuine place path if he restores that earlier effort. |
1 LIBERTY SMYTH |
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