Punt like a Pro, without the know!
New South Wales · Friday 16 October 2026
Our top pick won 5 of 8 races at Taree. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
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The form pick of a small field. Prince Is Game won well six days ago, handles soft and heavy ground, has run well at Taree and gets a handy position from the inside draw in a likely slow-run race. The step up to Bm66 is manageable on his best efforts and he gets a good weight.
Purple Kitty looks the main threat. He should get the front in a slow-run race, drops from stronger company, carries the bottom weight and showed good racing form when second last start. He won at Taree on a soft track, though the 2000m trip is untested.
But her recent runs have been well beaten, she has not raced on soft going to any success, and the stable is out of form.
He carries top weight, has never won in the wet and is likely to settle near the tail in a slowly-run race on a track where backmarkers struggle.
A hard horse to win with (one win from 42), but he has strong wet-track form, ran a brave second at Taree on heavy ground and finished well from the back last start in a stronger grade. A drop in class and light weight help.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5 | Prince Is Game | 1 | Luke Rolls | Matthew Robinson | 56kg | $2.00 |
| 2nd | 7 | Thinkin' Bo You | 7 | Andrew Gibbons | Daniel Simonetta | 55kg | $9.00 |
| 3rd | 4 | Pelevecchio | 3 | Jenny Duggan | Marc Quinn | 57kg | $4.40 |
| 4th | 6 | Purple Kitty | 5 | Liam Riordan | Peter Cheers | 55kg | $3.50 |
| Scr | 1 | Can't Recall One | 4 | Matthew Smith | 61.5kg | ||
| Scr | 2 | Kosuke | 2 | Gregory McFarlane | 61kg | ||
| Scr | 3 | Coto De Caza | 8 | Todd Howlett | 59.5kg | ||
| Scr | 8 | Seething Chuck | 6 | Karen Owen | 55kg |
Cerano Magic has the best proven race form here, running third on Soft 7 at Port Macquarie to a winning standard and trialling second at Taree last time. With two leaders likely to push the tempo, its midfield position suits. Top weight is a minor concern.
The stable is in form and the draw is good. It is a clear threat but ranked second as a first-time racer on a Soft track. It is best used for place.
Cecil Peak won a barrier trial on soft ground last week and now gets a very good local jockey and a light weight. She is lightly raced and likely to improve. Barrier 9 and her inexperience are the risks.
He has been beaten nine times, and a second leader could take the sting out of him.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5 | Seaton Moon | 6 | Coriah Keatings | Matthew Kelley | 57kg | $2.20 |
| 2nd | 8 | Sweet Marlene | 5 | Luke Rolls | Cassandra Schmidt | 57kg | $13.00 |
| 3rd | 7 | Sunny Quarters | 1 | Teighan Worsnop | Matthew Robinson | 57kg | $26.00 |
| 4th | 10 | Cecil Peak | 9 | Ashley Morgan | Peter Bloomfield | 55kg | $8.00 |
| 5th | 9 | Casino Sharky | 11 | Jenny Duggan | Peter Cheers | 56.5kg | $101.00 |
| 6th | 3 | Mr Accurate | 10 | Paige Fergusson-Smith | Peter Cheers | 56kg | $101.00 |
| 7th | 4 | Must Diamond | 7 | Grady Spokes | Sally Taylor | 55.5kg | $31.00 |
| 8th | 1 | Cerano Magic | 3 | Madeline Owen | Karen Owen | 59kg | $3.20 |
| 9th | 11 | Ms Wicked Showgirl | 4 | Zac Wadick | Robert Agnew | 55kg | $14.00 |
| 10th | 2 | Kobi Express | 2 | Grace Palmer | Samantha McGuren | 56kg | $17.00 |
| 11th | 6 | Second Witness | 8 | Liberty Smyth | Joseph Burges | 55kg | $41.00 |
He led and was run down on the post over a shorter trip on Soft 6 here last month, and his run was good enough to win this. He leads or sits just behind, which Taree rewards, and a Soft 7 surface suits.
A hardened maiden who keeps running into the placings and was only beaten in the protest room over this trip on heavy ground. He is at home on soft going and drops in grade.
The negatives are the track and conditions: a wide draw, a back-of-field run on a tight track with a short straight, and no soft-ground experience.
A professional maiden, but the map suits him. He should be up close from a good draw and the pace is only moderate, which helps leaders. He has placed often on soft ground and was only just beaten on Soft 6 earlier in the preparation.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 7 | Rupertano | 3 | Shannen Llewellyn | Jason Deamer | 59kg | $2.15 |
| 2nd | 9 | What A Gent | 5 | Alysha Collett | Tracey Bartley | 59kg | $7.50 |
| 3rd | 4 | Lottery Link | 10 | Zac Wadick | Glen Milligan | 59kg | $13.00 |
| 4th | 13 | Dynamic Diva | 6 | Liberty Smyth | Tony Ball | 53kg | $8.50 |
| 5th | 2 | Hellfighter | 2 | Coriah Keatings | Matthew Kelley | 59kg | $5.00 |
| 6th | 6 | Prince Of Wants | 4 | Luke Rolls | Robert Agnew | 59kg | $21.00 |
| 7th | 3 | King Kalakaua | 12 | Aaron Bullock | Lyndall Olson | 59kg | $10.00 |
| 8th | 8 | Sorted | 11 | Kacie Adams | Darren Treacy | 59kg | $101.00 |
| 9th | 14 | Xfiltration | 8 | Madeline Owen | Tony Ball | 55kg | $151.00 |
| 10th | 5 | Nikody's Casper | 13 | Peter Graham | Peter Cheers | 59kg | $61.00 |
| 11th | 12 | Rowlex | 7 | Andrew Gibbons | Nathan Doyle | 56.5kg | $18.00 |
| Scr | 1 | Fit For A Prince | 1 | Alicia Willick | 59kg | ||
| Scr | 10 | Crestwood | 9 | Matthew Smith | 57kg | ||
| Scr | 11 | Areesea | 14 | Kim Waugh | 56.5kg |
A genuine win chance.
A last-start winner who gets a good position from barrier 7 with Bullock on board. She is unproven at the trip and on soft ground, and it is a significant step up in class, but she rates a place in the top three.
Won last start over this trip and finished off strongly. The Looker and Lou Mary combination is hot, and the stable has won 3 of 9 at Taree. The class rise and soft track are question marks, and he needs a clear run from midfield. Still a clear place in the top three on form.
His Taree second on soft ground was among the best runs in the field, and he finishes strongly. Barrier 16 and top weight make life hard on a track that suits the front-runners, and he needs luck.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 12 | Purple Haze | 4 | Ashley Morgan | Adam Duggan | 56.5kg | $2.05 |
| 2nd | 9 | Whoopi Do | 7 | Aaron Bullock | Tony Ball | 58kg | $7.00 |
| 3rd | 14 | Fly The Wind | 6 | Reece Jones | Matthew Smith | 55kg | $4.20 |
| 4th | 10 | Atadcheeky | 3 | Zac Wadick | Glen Milligan | 56.5kg | $7.00 |
| 5th | 3 | Russian Escape | 16 | Luke Rolls | Colt Prosser | 59kg | $9.00 |
| 6th | 15 | Cats Quarters | 12 | Mollie Fitzgerald | Matthew Robinson | 57kg | $21.00 |
| 7th | 7 | La Bella Rosa | 5 | Liberty Smyth | Rocky Simonetta | 55kg | $41.00 |
| 8th | 1 | Hardash | 14 | Teighan Worsnop | Peter Cheers | 59kg | $91.00 |
| 9th | 18 | Fit For A Prince | 1 | Paige Fergusson-Smith | Alicia Willick | 53.5kg | $151.00 |
| Scr | 2 | Purple Prince | 15 | Jeremy Sylvester | 59kg | ||
| Scr | 4 | Grafology | 9 | Lou Mary | 57.5kg | ||
| Scr | 5 | Fashion Spree | 17 | Terry Evans | 57kg | ||
| Scr | 6 | Ghayoor | 11 | Darren Treacy | 57kg | ||
| Scr | 8 | Miss Midas Touch | 8 | Brett Dodson | 57kg | ||
| Scr | 11 | Mission Strike | 18 | Adam Duggan | 56.5kg | ||
| Scr | 13 | Boujee Gold | 13 | Matthew Kelley | 55.5kg | ||
| Scr | 16 | Hellfighter | 2 | Matthew Kelley | 56.5kg | ||
| Scr | 17 | What A Gent | 10 | Tracey Bartley | 56.5kg |
It was brave to win last start and has run to a winning standard in most recent efforts. It should settle behind the two likely leaders and run on in a fast-run sprint. Open class is a concern, but the light weight and the horse's consistency make it the safest win option.
Won easily at Taree last start with a gutsy front-running display and has won on this track in the wet. He should get the front-running position that suits Taree, though the Alabama Hammer duel could make it tough.
A genuine contender on ability, with a winning run last start and strong soft-ground credentials. The pace should help, but top weight and a back-of-field style at a track that favours leaders and on-pace runners are real obstacles.
He has won an Open handicap and gets a significant weight advantage over the main chances. He should be handy behind a fast tempo and run on.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 3 | Grassburn | 5 | Mollie Fitzgerald | Matthew Robinson | 55kg | $3.40 |
| 2nd | 8 | Cool Fizz | 1 | Braith Nock | Brett Dodson | 55kg | $9.50 |
| 3rd | 2 | Pratt | 8 | Daniel Smith | Cassandra Schmidt | 56kg | $3.00 |
| 4th | 1 | Speck | 3 | Reece Jones | Rodney Northam | 61kg | $3.90 |
| 5th | 7 | Stupendo | 6 | Coriah Keatings | Matthew Kelley | 55kg | $6.00 |
| 6th | 5 | Debussy | 2 | Grant Buckley | Tony Ball | 55kg | $19.00 |
| Scr | 4 | Starlight Girl | 4 | Matthew Kelley | 55kg | ||
| Scr | 6 | Veecee | 7 | Luke Rolls | Cassandra Schmidt | 55kg | |
| Scr | 9 | Where's The Fire | 10 | Paige Fergusson-Smith | Tony Ball | 54kg | |
| Scr | 10 | Alabama Hammer | 9 | Gregory McFarlane | 55kg |
Zoucratic brings the strongest recent form in the field, winning last start at this distance and running placings on soft ground before that. He steps up in class, but gets 5kg less than he carried last start and can settle handy in a moderate-tempo race. Rail draw is a minor concern, though he should find cover behind the leaders.
He has run solid races in good company, including a placing in an Open handicap here, and the 55kg suits. He is far from a certainty though, with just four career wins and a significant class lift.
Zaru has been very competitive in Open company, running second twice recently, one of them here at Taree. His record at the track and distance is excellent, and the jockey knows him well. The main negative is he will likely settle off the pace in a moderate-tempo race, which makes things harder at this track. Still holds a solid each-way chance.
Brutal Eyes has been a consistent placegetter and should get a nice position near the speed, which suits at Taree.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5 | Zoucratic | 1 | Alysha Collett | Todd Howlett | 55kg | $4.20 |
| 2nd | 1 | Zaru | 9 | Aaron Bullock | Lyndall Olson | 58kg | $4.00 |
| 3rd | 4 | Get Some Fun | 3 | Madeline Owen | Karen Owen | 55kg | $18.00 |
| 4th | 2 | Show 'em Howl | 6 | Luke Rolls | Robert Agnew | 55kg | $2.40 |
| 5th | 8 | Denial | 5 | Andrew Gibbons | Paul Snowden | 55kg | $9.00 |
| 6th | 9 | Savvyrocker | 7 | Shannen Llewellyn | Neil Godbolt | 55kg | $21.00 |
| 7th | 13 | He's Godspeed | 11 | Zac Wadick | Brett Lazzarini | 55kg | $21.00 |
| 8th | 14 | Master Of Rewards | 12 | Peter Graham | Vanessa McLennan | 55.5kg | $101.00 |
| 9th | 11 | Deebee's Girl | 8 | Daniel Smith | Cassandra Schmidt | 55kg | $17.00 |
| 10th | 10 | Xtra Approval | 13 | Paige Fergusson-Smith | Tony Ball | 54kg | $61.00 |
| Scr | 3 | Damas | 15 | Sally Taylor | 55kg | ||
| Scr | 6 | Stupendo | 10 | Matthew Kelley | 55kg | ||
| Scr | 7 | Brutal Eyes | 2 | Matthew Kelley | 55kg | ||
| Scr | 12 | Amarone | 14 | Karen Owen | 55kg | ||
| Scr | 15 | Imatruestar | 4 | Grant Jobson | 61.5kg |
He has won his last two, is proven at the trip and on soft ground, and carries only 56.5kg. The likely fast pace should suit a midfield horse who finishes strongly, and the barrier is handy.
A tough soft-ground performer who ran well against Open-class horses last start. He sits just behind the speed and should get a handy trip, with a good jockey and a stable that runs well at Taree.
He is in career-best form after an easy Canberra win and gets a big weight drop. A fast pace should help his late run, and he handles wet ground.
A lightly raced mare who is at her best on soft ground and over 1600m, where she has won both starts. She carries a light weight, finishes well, and should enjoy a fast pace.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 7 | I've Bean Tryin' | 9 | Alysha Collett | Matthew Kelley | 55.5kg | $3.60 |
| 2nd | 1 | Sosino | 2 | Aaron Bullock | Annabel and Rob Archibald | 59.5kg | $5.00 |
| 3rd | 11 | Creative Righteous | 6 | Grant Buckley | Peter Cheers | 54kg | $12.00 |
| 4th | 13 | Lensman | 16 | Jenny Duggan | Paul Kelly | 54kg | $31.00 |
| 5th | 9 | Imatruestar | 15 | Zac Wadick | Grant Jobson | 54kg | $18.00 |
| 6th | 14 | He's A Copy Boy | 5 | Grace Palmer | Samantha McGuren | 51kg | $101.00 |
| 7th | 4 | Fierceness | 7 | Ashley Morgan | Matthew Smith | 56.5kg | $3.70 |
| 8th | 2 | Spicy Lu | 8 | Coriah Keatings | Nick Olive | 59kg | $8.00 |
| 9th | 3 | Montpellier | 13 | Rory Hutchings | Annabel and Rob Archibald | 58.5kg | $7.00 |
| 10th | 8 | Casino Bear | 10 | Teighan Worsnop | Peter Cheers | 55kg | $151.00 |
| 11th | 16 | Flash Prince | 4 | Poppie Gorton | Vanessa McLennan | 51kg | $201.00 |
| 12th | 12 | Danish Fortune | 1 | Andrew Gibbons | Joel Wilkes | 54kg | $51.00 |
| Scr | 5 | Mazis | 14 | Annabel and Rob Archibald | 56.5kg | ||
| Scr | 6 | Pier Pressure | 3 | Kris Lees | 56.5kg | ||
| Scr | 10 | Glastonbury Girl | 11 | Matthew Smith | 54kg | ||
| Scr | 15 | Bold Hoi Ho | 12 | Sally Taylor | 54kg |
On form she is the most dependable of the mapped on-pace runners. She finished second on soft ground last start despite racing three wide without cover, and her first-up record is strong. The Taree jockey, a handy 57kg and a handy position suit a moderate-tempo sprint on a soft track.
The class drop and his place-prone record suit. However, he is first-up after six months, carries top weight and was well beaten in his last two runs against better opposition. He is shorter than his chance warrants, so I rate him a place-leaning second pick rather than the top pick.
He is the leader on the map and Taree favours front-runners. He has won on heavy ground and is dropping in grade, so on class he fits. The worry is that his form lines are old and he has been seen only in a barrier trial lately, and he will have to fend off Raguel for the lead under 59kg.
He has been the model of consistency at Taree, with a close second leading on soft last start and another second the start before. He benefits from the 54kg and a claiming rider, and is a better horse than the one win from 23 starts suggests.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 5 | Santatime | 7 | Zac Wadick | Glen Milligan | 59kg | $2.70 |
| 2nd | 10 | Explosive Tycoon | 11 | Paige Fergusson-Smith | Tony Ball | 54kg | $4.60 |
| 3rd | 3 | Maracaibo Sun | 3 | Coriah Keatings | Matthew Kelley | 59kg | $8.50 |
| 4th | 8 | Coco Dreaming | 10 | Grady Spokes | Sally Taylor | 55.5kg | $11.00 |
| 5th | 4 | Outoftheoffice | 5 | Jenny Duggan | Paul Kelly | 59kg | $21.00 |
| 6th | 6 | Broken Wings | 6 | Aaron Bullock | Ben Lees | 58kg | $6.50 |
| 7th | 9 | Cool Az Aletta | 9 | Liberty Smyth | Tony Ball | 55kg | $12.00 |
| 8th | 7 | City Of Tears | 8 | Ashley Morgan | David Matts | 57kg | $8.50 |
| 9th | 12 | Warbreccan | 4 | Grant Buckley | Terry Wicks | 57kg | $31.00 |
| 10th | 1 | Introducing | 14 | Ben Looker | Aiden St Vincent | 59kg | $101.00 |
| 11th | 14 | Prize Writer | 2 | Reece Jones | Sally Taylor | 55kg | $101.00 |
| Scr | 2 | Laizabout | 1 | Jeremy Sylvester | 59kg | ||
| Scr | 11 | Langlo Crossing | 12 | Joseph Burges | 57kg | ||
| Scr | 13 | Raguel | 13 | Todd Howlett | 55.5kg |
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