Magic at the track for Marc Quinn wraps up Port Cup weekend

The grey gelding came from a long way back early before commencing a move approaching the home bend and finishing down the outside to score a resounding victory by over two lengths from the early leader, Our Echo, with Dodecanese in third position.

Victory was sweet for the popular local trainer with the son of Magic Albert winning her second race and provides some solace following Cogliere's performance the Port Cup behind Entente.

The success also completed a riding double for Luke Rolls following a daring mid race move resulted in his commanding victory on Dangerous Dan earlier in the program.

Belinda Hodder rode a patient race to score in the opener aboard Epaulette Prince when the Glen Milligan trained gelding settled well off the pace before storming down the outside in the straight to break his maiden status in dashing fashion.

The biggest plunge of the day was in the Steeline & Supply Partners Maiden Plate when Married was backed to the exclusion of all other runners and the Ben Blay trained gelding didn't let supporters down as Mikayla Weir stormed down the centre of the track to land the prize over Sportsman and Poita.

Weir completed a riding double when Little Wonder charged home later in the day with the daughter of California Dane scoring a comprehensive victory for Taree trainer, Cecilia Reid.

Following his placing on Sportsman in the event, Robert Thompson was forced to stand down due to injury with the champion hoop replaced in the latter half of the program.

Ashley Morgan came from well back on Prospero with the Nathan Doyle trained gelding able to withstand the finishing effort of Kikikapow to land the middle-distance plate with the stable completing a training double following the win of Greenskeeper in the final event.

Racing was conducted under fine skies on a good track with officials forced to delay the races due to heavy traffic on the highway and around the district.

With the rail placement being altered from the true position available on cup day, horses finishing down the outside derived some advantage.

Our thoughts and wishes continue for the popular Grafton trainer, Brenden Mackay, as the husband and father of two young children battles a brain tumour.

A further reminder that friends of Brenden have established a GoFund Me page under "Brain Cancer a Horseman's fight for Life and Family" and all are urged to generously support this very worthy cause in raising money for the health issues and associated costs the family now faces.

Racing NSW has already donated a sizeable amount and all are encouraged to give generously to assist Brendan and his wonderful family in their time of need.

Despite the Covid 19 guidelines and protocols having a decided effect on local racing, President Greg Delaforce and the Port Macquarie Race Club Committee would like to take this opportunity to express gratitude to all who have worked so hard to make the cup carnival such a wonderful success.

A huge thank you goes to everyone for their co-operation with patrons following the guideline and protocols established to ensure the action went off without a hitch.

It was great to continue the wonderful association with Steeline and a reminder that racing continues at the track on Sunday 25th October featuring a well-balanced program of seven races and all classes catered for.

Race 1 - ITW BUILDEX MAIDEN HCP (1500 M)

Luminoso was the hot favourite following recent placings at Tuncurry and Hawkesbury with If You Say So the only runner seriously considered a chance.

After the late scratching of Hooyah at the barrier, Oakfield Apache took up the early running from the Kristen Buchanan trained gelding, If You Say So, with Sensei Jackie planted in third position on the outside.

Luminoso was given a perfect run by Aaron Bullock just off the field as the Nicconi gelding raced together with Another Super while Epaulette Prince positioned third last in front of Solskjaer and Star of Success.

The formation remained relatively fluid before If You Say So began a challenge will Luminoso nursed along on the inside of Sensei Jackie as Lincoln Park commenced a move around the outside.

Lincoln Park swept up to If You Say So in the straight and dashed to the lead before Belinda Hodder worked up on the outside aboard Epaulette Prince.

With Luminoso toiling away along the rails and If You Say So going backwards, Epaulette Prince sustained the run down the outside and the son of Epaulette was able to hold the finishing effort of Solskjaer to score well for Glen Milligan with Lincoln Park clinging on for third in front of Luminoso.

Race 2 - STEELINE & SUPPLY PARTNERS MAIDEN PLATE (1000 M)

Married was responsible for a strong placing following a spell resumption and keen from students were prepared to invest accordingly with the gelding firming almost two dollars to claim favouritism over Sportsman with Line up Girls and Find the Beat drifting noticeably.

Find the Beat was able to obtain the lead after two hundred metres from Alsamenu with Amelika tagging up along the fence forcing Rutto wide around Xenanic.

Sportsman was able to track the main body of the field after showing early speed while Mikayla Weir was content to position Married in the second half of the field before commencing a run around the pack approaching the home bend.

Serg Lisnyy used the cutaway rail on Amelika around the home bend before being tracked along by Robert Thompson aboard Sportsman with Married warming up to his task down the outside section of the course.

Sportsman raced to the lead but was no match for Married with the Ben Blay trained gelding storming home to score well while Poita making up many lengths over the concluding stages to claim the minor prize.

Race 3 - STEELINE ROOFING CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1800 M)

Urbino won well at Kempsey and was the firm favourite for the event with Prospero attracting plenty of confident support while Destacado was an easing third elect.

Lookonchina was able to hold the early lead from Shortaz with Red Intuition over racing in third place while Destacado settled just off the pace on the inside of Urbino.

Kikikapow settled well for Darryl McLellan in the centre of the field as Say it Ain't So swept around it while Prospero was patiently ridden in second last position around Rose of War.

Lookonchina set a genuine speed in the lead before being challenged by Red Intuition and Shortaz with Urbino tracking the leaders approaching the home turn while Destacado searched for a run along the fence.

Lookonchina tried to lift before being claimed by Red Intuition and Urbino with Ashley Morgan bursting into the clear on Prospero and Kikikapow running home resolutely.

Prospero hit the front in the shadows of the post with the Nathan Doyle trained gelding scoring by a narrow margin from Kikikapow with Urbino not far away in third place and Destacado not far away.

Race 4 - STEELINE VALUED CUSTOMERS BENCHMARK 58 HCP (2000 M)

Dangerous Dan firmed late in betting operations to claim favourite with confidence around Real Time Warrior and some backing for Zellymay at longer prices causing Condover Hall to drift.

Condover Hall jumped well and Jeff Kehoe used the clean getaway to race the gelding clear before being attacked by Apache Junction with Zellymay running third from Blinkin Snazzy, who was planted deep.

Real Time Warrior settled off the pace in the middle of the pack while Luke Rolls was content to sit back near the tail aboard the Matthew McCudden trained gelding, Dangerous Dan.

Condover Hall was able to survive the early challenge of Apache Junction and dropped anchor down the back straight to lead with Blinkin Snazzy covering plenty of additional ground three horses wide around Rival Mo.

As the field packed up down the side of the course, Luke Rolls was not happy with the moderate pace and set Dangerous Dan alight from the tail to sweep around his rivals and race clear approaching the home bend.

Despite Blinkin Snazzy and Elisa Carolina battling on well, Dangerous Dan went further ahead with the son of Magic Albert running away to score by six lengths as Real Time Warrior tried hard and Condover Hall weakened over the concluding stages.

Race 5 - STEELINE GUTTERS CLASS 1 HCP (1000 M)

Followers of the Tracey Bartley stable swooped on the price offered by Bedazzle with the stable representative backed to the exclusion of all other runners while Swanston, Full of Spirit and Firefly Poppy were considered the only other chances.

Ray Spokes allowed Bel Academy to stride to the early lead from Full of Spirit and Lost Light with Serg Lisnyy positioning the Super One filly, Bedazzle, perfectly just off the speed.

Swanston and Firefly Poppy were in the second half of the field before the pair commenced a move towards the crown of the track approaching the home bend.

Bel Academy and Full of Spirit were having a bumping duel in the straight with Bedazzle making her move despite being immediately under pressure while Mikayla Weir charged home down the outside on Little Wonder and Jetline bullocked into the clear.

Little Wonder charged to the lead with the Cecilia Reid trained mare racing clear to score by over a length from Full of Spirit with Jetline doing her best work late to claim third as Bedazzle weakened noticeably over the concluding stages.

Race 6 - STEELINE PORT MACQUARIE CLASS 3 HCP (1500 M)

Dodecanese was the firm favourite for the race over Beat That with confident support for Hubble and All Over Magic to a lesser extent causing Just a Horse to drift a couple of points.

Our Echo assumed control early from Gwennybegg with Dodecanese cluttered up in third place on the outside of Tann Hills while Just a Horse and First Time Lucky were trapped deep.

Beat That travelled in the centre of the field with Raspberry Beret as Luke Rolls settled the Marc Quinn trained gelding near the tail of the field in front of Hubble, who was last from his wide gate.

Matt McGuren was able to set a moderate tempo on Our Echo as the field swept down the side of the track from Just a Horse with First Time Lucky continuing to cover additional ground on the outside.

Docanese enjoyed a good run one horse from the rails before commencing a move approaching the home bend while Beat That was trailing him along and All Over Magic began to warm up as Hubble was still spotting the leaders a tidy start.

Our Echo led in the straight from Just a Horse with Dodecanese running on while All over Magic made his run right down the outskirts of the track.

All Over Magic dashed to the lead in the shadows of the post with the Magic Albert grey gelding racing clear for victory by over two lengths from Our Echo with Dodecanese clinging on for the minor prize while Hubble was disappointing and beat only one runner home.

Race 7 - STEELINE MID NORTH COAST BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1200 M)

Leisa Louise was the firm favourite throughout betting operations from Meyisti while Bozeman was on the third line of betting in front of a late move for Pluck and Lucky.

Zoe-Lee Cruickshank began tardily on Bozeman before being able to utilised the inside barrier draw and drive the son of Bradbury's Luck clear from Madame Bonser and Meyisti.

Greenskeeper slotted into fourth position from Secrets No More and Leisa Louise while Luke Rolls snagged Pluck and Lucky back to the rear of the field.

Bozeman continued to dictate terms in the lead from Madame Bonser and Meyisti as the field swung the final bend with Greenskeeper and Leisa Louise issuing the challenge down the crown of the track.

With Bozeman still in front at the distance marker, Grant Buckley was able to work underneath the leader on Greenskeeper with Meyisti trying hard and Pluck and Lucky warming up to her task.

Greenskeeper gained the upper hand on Bozeman in the shadows of the post and the Redoute's Choice gelding was able to withstand the finishing burst of Pluck and Lucky to score narrowly with Leisa Loise not far away while Meyisti weakened noticably down the home running.