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By Rod Fuller

The Kris Lees training juggernaut looks set to continue as the thoroughbred action returns to Port Macquarie for Steeline Race Day on Saturday. The stable has some very interesting horses engaged during the program commencing with a debut run by Progression in Race 2.

The All Too Hard filly has only appeared once in a trial win at Wyong a month ago and with the assistance of the claim for young stable apprentice, Louise Day, should prove hard to beat. The main danger looks to be the Todd Howlett-trained gelding, Dordogne who has been freshened up with a Beaumont barrier trial since running a solid second at Muswellbrook.

Another facing the starter for the first time is Secret Lago, who ran a placing in a Rosehill trial recently so the market could well be the best guide. So You Merge carries the orange and black Lees colours in the third and looks to be hard to beat following a sound performance at Tuncurry during their cup carnival.

The lightly-raced So You Think mare’s opposition include the consistent Golden Words and the locally-trained, Field Helmet.

There will be a great deal of interest in the imported galloper, Wallangarra entered for the Country Class 1 Plate over 1812 metres. The Teofilo gelding has only had one start for the Lees stable, which resulted in a sound third over the unsuitable 1400 metre journey at Newcastle.

With racing background and a staying pedigree, the 1812 metre journey looks to be a far more suitable proposition with the Taree-trained gallopers, Sniponet and Super Bonus looking the obvious dangers.

Face Like Thunder looks the standout runner in the fifth event following a comprehensive win at Tuncurry two runs ago before a last start fifth at Port Macquarie behind Red Braids. The Zoffany mare was sent out favourite at her most recent run and will be hard to defeat in a race to suit.

The Colt Prosser-trained mare, Raining on Sunday, looks the testing material after figuring in two close photo finishes in recent outings at Moree and Taree.

The other Kris Lees representative is General Sepoy in the second last but the gelding will have to be good to defeat the Todd Howlett-trained gelding, Magic Beneteau.

The standout wagers on Steeline Race Day look to be Classy Anna from the Allan Denham yard in the sixth and Red Braids for Paul Perry in the final event. Classy Anna landed some good wagers when accounting for Tootz last start while Red Braids made it two wins in succession with an outstanding victory by six lengths at her most recent track appearance.

For those backing up after Cup Day, the usual outstanding facilities will be available with television coverage of local and interstate racing action including Winx’s appearance at Flemington. The first of eight races commences at 1.26pm and the Port Macquarie Race Club would like to acknowledge the continued support of Steeline Mid North Coast.

SELECTIONS Race 1 (Steeline Services Over & Above 4YO+ Mdn Hcp, 1010m): 11 Unique Miss, 3 Golly Miss Solly, 8 Lapluck Race 2 (Steeline Warehouse Workers 3YO Maiden Plate, 1010m): 9 Progression, 1 Dordogne, 2 Secret Lago Race 3 (Steeline Front Office Girls Maiden Plate,

1512m): 9 So You Merge, 3 Golden Words, 2 Field Helmet Race 4 (Steeline Staff Country Class 1 Plate,

1812m): 6 Wallangarra, 1 Sniponet, 3 Super Bonus Race 5 (I T W Buildex B'mark 55 Hcp,

2012m): 2 Face Like Thunder, 5 Raining On Sunday, 1 Dynamic Dynasty Race 6 (Steeline Mid North Coast Benchmark 55 Hcp, Div 2, 1210m): 9 Classy Anna, 6 Ledecky, 3 Morning Fare Race 7 (Steeline Mid Nth Coast B'mark 55 Hcp, Div 1, 1210m): 3 Magic Beneteau, 8 General Sepoy, 6 Not Doubtful Race 8 (Steeline Port Macquarie Class 3 Handicap, 1512m): 6 Red Braids, 5 We’re Smokin, 4 Capital Magic

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