Dean Watling’s Port Macquarie Qualifier Day Preview

Summary of best bets:

Race 4 No.6 Xtreme (best)

Country Championships Heat: Race 8 No.14 Luminate

Race 7:

Fascinating edition of the Port Macquarie Country Championships Qualifier Plate. Plenty of speed expected up front over 1200m and I can’t go past (14) Lunaite. Trained on track by Paul Snowden, she has trialled up impressively leading into this first up assignment and from gate 8 she should enjoy the run of the race. (3) Pony Soprano is the danger, coming off a career peak first up win at the track and is a dynamic 1200m horse. Gate 1 reads well. Both (8) Show ‘Em Howl and (12) Bomarea bring solid last start SPs to this event after failures and both get the tongue tie on which suggests they may have choked down last start. At odds, they can bounce back.

Selections:

(14) Lunaite
(3) Pony Soprano
(8) Show ‘Em Howl
(12) Bomarea

Suggested Bet: Win (14) Lunaite

Race 4:

Very keen to side with the Paul Snowden-trained (6) Xtreme here. He has produced back-to-back impressive recent efforts and now finds an easier race overall. From gate 11 Looker should be positive and land on speed. (3) Purple Haze is the danger, Bullock takes the ride from a good gate and he should have a tactical advantage early over Xtreme. Outside of that (9) Pear Bellini can figure in the numbers.

Selections:

(6) Xtreme
(3) Purple Haze
(9) Pear Bellini

Suggested Bet: Win (6) Xtreme