Form analyst Shayne O'Cass provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis for Port Macquarie on Sunday, April 26, 2026.
Cassandra Schmidt's dual chances
Trainer Cassandra Schmidt will saddle up a gifted debutant by boom 'Golden Slipper sire' Home Affairs as well as a mare directly related to the immortal Phar Lap at the Port Macquarie meeting. Both horses, two-year-old filly Home Siren and speedy four-year-old mare Deebee's Girl, are owned by Darren Blair. A breeder and racehorse owner, Blair forked out the not insignificant sum of $155,000 to secure Home Siren at the 2025 Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast. As grand as it is, Blair may have snared himself a bargain given that Home Affairs' son Guest House won this year's Golden Slipper, ensuring his father the coveted honour of Champion First Season Sire in 2025/26.
Home Siren ready to impress
"Home Siren is a nice filly. She's obviously well-bred and has trialled up really nicely," Schmidt said. "She's only had the one trial so whatever she does on Sunday she will take good improvement from but she looks to have nice ability. She is yet to be off the bridle so you never know what they find once they get put under that race pressure but she does everything right at home." Home Siren was scheduled to make her debut at Newcastle last Thursday but was saved for the KSL Concreting Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1000m) due to her allocated barrier. "If we drew a better, we probably would have run (at Newcastle)," Schmidt said. "We just thought it could have been a bit sticky from a middle draw there. We haven't drawn ideal on Sunday either but it looks a weaker race than it obviously was at Newcastle. And although being a two-year-old against older horses, we think it is the right place to start her career off."
Deebee's Girl's royal bloodline
Schmidt's remaining runner is Deebee's Girl, who is owned by her breeder Darren Blair. The daughter of Kobayashi is an incredibly well-related mare. Her fifth dam is Fairy Walk, winner of the 1971 Golden Slipper Stakes. Better still, her tenth dam is Entreaty, who never won a race but is the dam of the great Phar Lap. Phar Lap is not the only Melbourne Cup winner on Deebee's Girl's family tree; her grandam Souffle is by 1986 race winner At Talaq. That said, Deebee's Girl has more speed than stamina, evidenced by her only win so far, an all-the-way victory in a Kempsey 1000m maiden. She steps out over the same trip in the Cass Oil Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap. "She will improve immensely off her first-up run," Schmidt said. "She is quite a gross doing mare so she always does take a run to come to hand. If she can get the right sort of run, she will run a really good race."
Shayne O'Cass's top selections
Best Bet: Race 1 No. 11: HOME SIREN. Exceedingly well-bred two-year-old taking on older horses but is talented.
Next Best: Race 2 No. 1: CARMINE. Not drawn especially well but has by far the best form in the race.
Value Bet: Race 5 No. 9: STROBING. Hasn't won for a while but this is just the type of race for him to strike.
Quaddie: Race 4: 2, 6, 8; Race 5: 4, 5, 9; Race 6: 1, 2, 7, 8; Race 7: 4, 5, 6, 12.
Jockey to Follow: Luke Rolls will have plenty of fans in the Jockeys Challenge.
Inside mail - Port Macquarie
Race 1: KSL Concreting Country Boosted Maiden Plate 1000m
HOME SIREN (11) is a two-year-old taking on older horses while on debut but she is at home, 1000m is spot on, she is on the limit as you would expect so it may not be as difficult as it would be for some in that position. Bred to be good and trialled well without being shown up. Speaking of breeding, SUNSTAZ (10) claims Sudden as her third dam, she was a crack two-year-old herself and the mother of Burst. Has the race experience advantage. Bet: Home Siren to win, exacta 11, 10.
Race 2: Phil Dykes Automotive Maiden Handicap 1500m
CARMINE (1) has by far the best form. Don't be misled by her last start seventh of 11, it was at Wyong, she drew 9 of 11, was back and wide, yet kept to the task willingly to be beaten under a length. ELLOFABY (7) was a distant third on the Beaumont track on March 23 and wasn't beaten all that far at Taree over 1400m after that. Long story short, this is wafer thin without the toppie and the 1500m is ideal for this Muswellbrook visitor now. Bet: Carmine to win, exacta 1,7.
Race 3: Cass Oil Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap 1000m
DEEBEE'S GIRL (6) is a very quick mare so the 1000m here at home is the perfect scenario for her. It is also worth noting that she improves considerably second-up, which she is here. The only query would be if the track is worse than say a Soft 6 or 7. That wouldn't worry SEND A TELEGRAM (5) any. In fact, his chances would probably be raised considerably if it is wet but he's won on a Good track as well and that was here too. The 'best' SHE'S A WILD ONE (8) would have a guaranteed spot on the podium. Bet: Deebee's Girl to win, trifecta 1,5,6,8 (boxed).
Race 4: Flanagan Construction & Concreting Super Maiden Handicap 1200m
LONGCHAMP LAD (6) has a tidy resume of six starts for a second and two thirds. Take note that second was here at Port Macquarie on March 16 behind a potentially handy horse whom he was within inches of at the finish. BUSY BEE (8) is a Mark Minervini-trained filly who handed in a most encouraging debut, second at Taree on April 9. Any improvement at all would see her going close to winning, if not in fact winning. Bet: Longchamp Lad each-way.
Race 5: Dean Anderson Homes Benchmark 66 Handicap 1800m
STROBING (9), the flashy son of Melbourne Cup winner Americain, hasn't won in a while but rest assured, he has run more good races than bad in the interim and often in pretty respectable company. One thing we know about Strobing is that he handles all conditions and two, his record at this track and trip is four starts for three seconds and a third. FIVE RINGS (4) is a Savabeel grandson of AJC Oaks winner Daffodil and has a win and second from two visits here. Has won up to 2100m and seemingly crying out for 1800m now. Bet: Strobing each-way, Daily Double 1st leg 9, 2nd leg 6.
Race 6: Mc Dirtworx Benchmark 58 Handicap 1500m
STERN DISPUTE (7) was scratched from a scheduled engagement at Coffs Harbour on Friday where he would have clashed with a superior stablemate and from a wide draw. The Kris Lees-trained three-year-old is a Taree Maiden winner inside his four starts, as well as a (very distant) third at Gosford and a meritorious fifth at Wyong last time out. KEN'KER (2) has a wide draw offset by a great jockey and form sufficiently strong to medal here. Bet: Stern Dispute to win.
Race 7: RHE Chapman Mortgage Broker Benchmark 58 Handicap 1200m
ROYAL TEENS (6) has a pretty compelling set of numbers across the board, such as: six starts at the track for two wins and two seconds; nine starts at the trip for two wins and two seconds; and best of all, five runs at the track and distance for two wins and a second. Ben Looker rode her to that last one three starts ago and is there again. SAVVYROCKER (4) has a wide draw but is easily good enough to win if she gets even luck. Over to Jeff Penza now. Stablemate STEELY GIRL (5) has drawn much better by comparison and has won two from three here at home. Bet: Royal Teens each-way.
