The winning strike rate of trainer Tim Martin is hard to ignore when he takes horses to Port Macquarie.
Martin hasn't been a regular visitor to Port Macquarie over the years but with a winning strike rate of 36 percent at the Mid North Coast circuit punters can bet with confidence on Martin-trained gallopers and two of his runners feature in our best bets on Friday with the benchmark handicap ratings giving us a strong pointer in the Cup.
YESTERYEAR (Race 1 No 13)
A fourth at Wyong finishing just over a length from the winner should be a strong form reference for a country maiden and that's the case with the Martin-trained Yesteryear in the Oxyoptia CG&E Maiden Plate (1200m).
After being well beaten at Kembla on debut Yesteryear improved considerably at Wyong finishing his race off nicely over the concluding stages and still has plenty of scope for improvement at his third career start.
Yesteryear gets a positive jockey change with Tye Angland on board and looks set for a maiden career win getting all the favours in running from barrier four.
LADY I AM (Race 2 No 11)
It's another positive jockey change on Yesteryear's stablemate Lady I Am with Andrew Adkins taking the ride in the JR Richards & Sons F&M Maiden Plate (1200m).
Lady I Am has been competitive in each of her three starts to date culminating in a runner-up finish at Goulburn last start after settling back in the field.
Lady I Am led at Taree two runs back before finishing just over two-lengths form the winner so has the early speed to be more forward in the run jumping from barrier two on Friday.
The step up to 1200m gives Lady I Am the chance to go one better.
LOVING HOME (Race 7 No 1)
Chris Waller nominated five runners for the days feature, the $150,000 2017 Carlton Draught Port Macquarie Cup (2000m) and accepted with Loving Home and Alward and with the latter being scratched there is a strong lead for the last start Ipswich winner Loving Home to be ridden by Tye Angland.
At first glance, Loving Home looked disadvantaged at acceptance time with the weights raised 2kg.
With the remainder of the field already on the minimum 54kg Loving Home was the only horse whose weight was raised but still looks well weighted compared to most of the field.
Using the NSW Benchmark Handicap Rating as a guide, early favourite the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Social Element with a 71 rating versus 84 for Loving Home should be receiving 6.5kg from the Waller galloper with only Sofin and Brazen on a level playing field.
Loving Home returned to winning form at Ipswich last start and looks set for back to back wins on Friday.
