Race-by-race preview and tips for Scone on Friday
Selections based on good 4; rail out 3m from 800m to post.
Provincial five-year-old 1. Oakfield Hiawatha reaches the mile fourth-up and can peak with blinkers back on. Been slow to gather momentum this prep, but the Al Maher stock are renowned for peaking hard over this trip.
Dangers: Progressive Taree mare 4. Chase My Crown was ridden closer second-up and didn’t really attack the line, but she’s better placed out to this distance. Tough four-year-old 2. Full Coverage will be right there having won two from four in his first full prep. More depth here, but he’s at peak fitness. 5. Capital Venture has the tough task of jumping from a maiden win to a CL2, but he’s strong and carries 2kg less.
How to play it: Oakfield Hiawatha to win and trifecta 1,2,4/1,2,4,5/1,2,4,5; Odds and Evens: Split
Racing returns to Scone on Friday with an eight-race card.Credit:Jenny Evans
Race 2 COUNTRY MAIDEN PLATE (900m)Back to the short course, and that augurs well for well-bred local three-year-old 9. The Sherpa, who resumes with blinkers removed. Hasn’t publicly trialled since campaigning in tougher metro two-year-old company and draws to get the right run on speed.
Dangers: Progressive mare 4. Obey is primed to strike at her fourth start and first time at the track. Did well to finish as close as she did at Dubbo after striking trouble and drew to get to the outside. Consistent ex-Victorian short course four-year-old 1. Akaka Falls has plenty of speed to offset the wide draw and will take some catching second-up for the new stable over this distance. Watch the betting closely on 11. Red Boulevard on debut off two progressive trials, and sire was a G1 winner in the US as a three-year-old.
How to play it: The Sherpa to win; Odds and Evens: Split
Weak race depth-wise should allow four-year-old 2. The Rampant to bounce back after being beaten as a hot favourite at Nowra. Mind you, he was run down by a promising one that day on a track that played very poorly, and expecting a different horse on firmer ground.
Dangers: Improving provincial four-year-old 1. Bonython looms as the quinella runner after working home OK fourth-up; while both 3. The Dramatist and 7. Montari can be included in exotics at their second starts.
How to play it: The Rampant to win; Odds and Evens: Split a special
Panzer Division three-year-old 3. Ceasefire (also accepted in R8) is the big value resuming off two trials and can upset the hot-pot. Produced a terrific double strike to launch his career in autumn and can stalk the favourite all the way, drawing one gate to his inside.
Dangers: That favourite exciting three-year-old 6. Nadaraja has won two straight here, the latest putting a big gap on them early and running them into the ground. Stays at the distance, but surely they won’t let him get away with grand larceny out in front this time. Tamworth five-year-old 2. Absolute Legend resumes from the inside barrier off a runaway trial win at home. 5. Street Power has trialled since failing badly here last start and can run into a place.
How to play it: Ceasefire each way and quinella 3 and 6; Odds and Evens: Split
Keen on smart and lightly raced Kermadec four-year-old 3. Raoul first-up for a new local stable, with the blinkers coming off. Was strong through the line in a recent trial and can settle well back here from the wide gate and finish over them.
Dangers: El Roca mare 5. Norwegian Bliss is a big watch on debut after a smart trial win despite the wide draw. 6. Top Critic behind a trial win and improving filly 10. Amazing Nicci at third start are exotic players.
How to play it: Raoul to win; Odds and Evens: Odds
Sticking strong with progressive home track filly 10. Loversfield who was dynamic at her third start, coming from a tailed off last to circle the field and dash away. Hasn’t missed a place yet in three runs, and blinkers have been added.
Dangers: Progressive local four-year-old 1. Freedom Square was very good from the back first-up for nearly a year and has plenty of scope returning home where he was a dominant maiden winner last spring. Will need to find early cover though, drawing the widest barrier in a big field. Improving filly 3. All Girls improved sharply second up at BM 64 country level. Provincial colt 7. Heights charged home for a dominant win on debut.
How to play it: Loversfield to win; Odds and and Evens: Split
Very open race. Got plenty of time for provincial three-year-old 13. Harlem Groove, who can take the next step third-up en route to a metropolitan start. Swept home late to miss narrowly in a handy race at Coffs before too strong from midfield in a weaker race here and is a month between runs.
Dangers: Talented six-year-old 3. Free Rider returns home third up after having no luck under a huge weight at Armidale. Big threat over this trip. Keep safe improving local mare 12. Time To Target third-up and down in weight after the claim. Seven-year-old 8. American Salute has more to offer than his modest record suggests. Keep safe improving four-year-old 5. Tinka’s Lad with blinkers added.
How to play it: Harlem Groove to win; Odds and Evens: Split
If promising local four-year-old 15. Ceasefire resumes here instead of R4, he’s the one to beat behind those two trials.
Dangers: If the top selection isn’t there, rival four-year-old 12. Foxstorm can strike third-up with blinkers off. Has been narrowly beaten in two runs this prep hitting the line impressively, the latest in race record time, and drops 2kg for this. Gap to the rest headed by honest five-year-old 3. Standing Bear fourth up and local six-year-old 6. Joey’s Chance third up.
How to play it: Ceasefire to win (if scratched Foxstorm to win); Odds and Evens: Split
BEST BETS: Race 2 (9) THE SHERPA; Race 5 (3) RAOUL
BEST VALUE: Race 7 (13) HARLEM GROOVE
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