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By Neil Evans

Track Good 4 and rail true:

4. Kooky is a lightly raced mare who can strike fresh at good odds getting back on dry ground, and with blinkers going on. Went down narrowly in autumn as a hot favourite when having her first outing for the new local stable off a long break before floundering here in heavy going and immediately spelled. Hasn’t publicly trialled, but has early ability being placed in two of three first-up, and she draws to either roll to the front or sit outside the lead. 9. Immortal Storm was only run down late on debut at Grafton after being backed from $7.00 into $5.00. Likely to jump clear favourite, but under the odds. 1. Angels Cloud hits peak fitness, with a significant jockey change. 7. Bonjour Bill and home tracker 11. Zous Apollo, both improving into their second starts, can figure in the minor money.

How to play it: Kooky to win

10. Rustemo is an emerging three-year-old in the Kris Lees stable returning as a gelding behind two progressive provincial trials. Always shown enough across three spaced runs in smarter company as a two-year-old, despite being a long way from the finished product. Given plenty of time since autumn, and he’s drawn to hit the ground running. 8. Oakfield Universe is a lightly raced mare resuming from a low draw off a handy trial. Gap to the rest headed by 11. Dam Impact, a second start improver bred to get further.

How to play it: Rustemo to win

1. Moscow Circus is a progressive enough mare, and finds a suitable race down in class second-up. Campaigned in Brisbane last prep when progressing off a dominant maiden win to tackle carnival three-year-old company. Was only a length away in BM 65 grade at Doomben first-up, and gets right back in at the weights after the jockey’s 2kg claim. 9. Ellofadude made light work of a small and poor field on debut at Tamworth when a raging favourite, and is well up to this level. 2. Star Prediction has been in the money in his last four, including an easy maiden win here two starts ago, and drawn to get a soft trail. 6. Chica Del Mar is a lightly raced and second-up improver. 7. Got The Smarts hit the line from a long way back fourth-up at Lismore, and is hard fit.

How to play it: Moscow Circus to win

8. Queen Of A Hand is well placed to make it three wins on the bounce this prep, despite tackling a field with more depth. Has shown good tactical speed to claim her last two, and draws to dictate again. Further boosted by one of the main market rivals being preferred at Thursday’s Hawkesbury meeting. 2. Buck Pharaoh has to carry a big weight, but drawn to get cover, and four of his six career wins have come at this course. 7. Leantothemoon is a sparingly raced provincial mare resuming from a wide draw off a solid trial. Gap to the rest headed by 6. Grey Effects reloading off a 36 day freshen-up and trial win.

How to play it: Queen Of A Hand to win

12. Super Sugoi is an honest and underrated five-year-old who emerges as the best value in another race with many chances. Closed off well to beat all but the winner in consecutive races up to provincial BM 68 level before just fair to the line a fortnight ago, again at Kembla. Sneaks back down to the limit weight. 7. Bellenth is an improver, and also well placed at the weights fourth-up. 2. Forecaster can improve sharply second-up from a low draw, and back from deeper metropolitan opposition. 5. Blacklist is an ex-Victorian who has won his last two, and a big market watch having his first outing for the new Mack Griffith stable at Mudgee five weeks between runs. 3. Auzstar hasn’t missed a place in his last four, and drops in weight; while 9. Hellova Nature goes in wider exotic plays from the inside draw.

How to play it: Super Sugoi to win

15. Sumo Fish is something of a track specialist here, and a mile over the odds second-up. Missed narrowly when resuming here in a BM 74, and while this is tougher, four of his six career wins have come at this track, including a flashing Country C’ship Qualifier early in the year. 10. Scud is a progressive Qld-based mare who hit the line hard from near last when resuming in a CL4 on the Gold Coast, and gets a significant weight drop for this tougher test. 7. Our Magnus hops the border after a tough second-up BM 78 win at his Toowoomba base. 1. Shihab is a capable ex-Qld six-year-old having his first run for the new Taree stable. Won two straight last prep over the border up to BM 78 metro grade. 13. Bantarki reloads 12 days after beating home the top selection here; while 2. Cruel Summer can sneak into the placings at big odds.

How to play it: Sumo Fish each way

*BIG DANCE ELIGIBILITY*

3. Belvedere Boys has been tackling much tougher races, and is primed to find his best from a low draw, dropping back in trip from the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup. Fairly weighted in a country cup under 61kg considering he was a metro Group 3 place-getter two starts back. 1. Naval College is a similar candidate, boasting a stronger record through deeper metro and provincial races, and will find this significantly easier than a Group 3 at Randwick where he was beaten out of sight. 2. Converge was never a factor second-up in the Group 3 Cameron, but naturally better placed here over this longer journey. 4. Age Of Sail is the best of the rest; while 8. Casino Bear has won four of his last five including the Cup Prelude, and goes in all trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Belvedere Boys to win

4. Altercation is a tough and improving mare well placed to launch third-up over a furlong further, having bypassed Hawkesbury on Thursday to be saved for this. Hit the line to miss by a whisker when resuming in a country BM 66 before again running home to miss narrowly in an even deeper provincial BM 64. Drawn to get cover just off the speed, and only needs a clear crack at them from the 350m. 11. Cool Waters is a lightly raced and unbeaten provincial filly who can go on her merry way. Won both starts so far from just off speed, although this is a stronger test. 10. What A Rush is trained here and maps well second-up. 8. Edge Of Midnight who ran home hard behind Cool Waters fourth-up and drops sharply in weight, can figure in the money.

How to play it: Altercation to win

BEST BETS:
R7 3. BELVEDERE BOYS
R8 4. ALTERCATION

BEST VALUE:
R5 12. SUPER SUGOI

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Port Macquarie Cup meeting