****SUPER SCONE PREVIEW****
with NEIL EVANS
Tuesday: Aug 24, 2021
TAB Race Day
SCONE RACE CLUB
#HomeOfTheHorse
434 Bunnan Rd, SCONE
P: (02) 6545 1607
F: (02) 6545 3444
*Track likely Soft 6/7 with rain forecast & Rail True:
*1st Race @ 12.45pm & ALL Races carry a BOBS Silver Bonus up to $9,625.00
*RACE 1 @ 12.45pm HUNTER EQUINE MAIDEN PLATE (900m) – Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
A competitive maiden battle over the short course commences a strong meeting on a surface that is likely to slip back well into soft range. One of a few exciting debutants, three-year-old local Astern filly 6. ALENIA (Brett Cavanough/Ms Madeline Owen a3kg; 52kg) has won both lead-up trials four months apart, the latest by nearly four lengths. Trial jockey sticks and claims 3kg, giving her a serious weight advantage under the race conditions.
*MAIN DANGERS: Provincial four-year-old Snitzel stallion 1. Beppe gets first use of the inside on debut coming off a dominant trial win in soft ground. Tamworth three-year-old 5. Scarzel has been given 11 weeks via a soft trial after fading late at Newcastle, but also gets in light here after the rider’s 3kg claim; while included in exotics home-track filly 9. Kiss And Shout on debut off a smart trial win; and improving mare 3. Only Need Time second-up with blinkers added.
Likely Tempo: Good to Strong
My Betting Attack: ALENIA to WIN and Trifecta: 1,5,6/1,5,6/1,3,5,6,9
*RACE 2 @ 1.20pm SRC MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES MAIDEN HCP (1100m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
There was plenty to like about home track three-year-old 4. NADARAJA (Stephen Jones/Matthew Palmer; 57kg) on debut, showing natural speed before lugging off the track and presenting a dream run through for the winner who has since scored convincingly again. A strong Redoute’s Choice type who can improve over a little more ground first time on home course.
*MAIN DANGERS: Emerging metro Written Tycoon three-year-old 2. Hauraki Gulf will be hard to stop from the draw five weeks after a fair debut, and he was scratched from Bathurst on Monday to run here. The second-up provincial run from three-year-old stablemate 3. Own The Night was better than it looked behind a smart winner, although he will need some luck from the outside barrier. Keep safe local three-year-old 5. Hiraishin who held his ground okay on debut.
Likely Tempo: Solid
My Betting Attack: NADARAJA Each Way & Quinella: 2 and 4
*RACE 3 @ 1.55pm SKY ACTIVE FILLIES & MARES MAIDEN HCP (1100m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
Now the girls’ turn, and by now the track might be showing a pattern. Progressive three-year-old Randwick filly 7. SMOKESHOW (John O’Shea/Ms Alysha Collett; 57kg) has bigger fish to fry down the track, and is primed to break through at her third start. Finished strongly from well back in two provincial runs so far, and although likely to be forced well back from the wide gate again, will love the long sweeping run home here.
*MAIN DANGERS: Big watch on So You Think four-year-old provincial mare 2. Yes You Think who debuts off two trials for a high strike-rate stable. Another debutant, Randwick-based and US-sired filly 10. Ottilie was preferred here to Bathurst on Monday, and has looked sharp in two trials.
Likely Tempo: Solid to Good
My Betting Attack: SMOKESHOW to WIN & Box Exacta: 2,7,10
*RACE 4 @ 2.35pm HAPPY TOOTH SCONE CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1600m) – Set Weights; Apprentices Can Claim:
An intriguing and testing battle over the mile. Talented three-year-old provincial colt 13. GEISEL (Paul Perry/Ms Alysha Collett; 55kg) has been heavily backed before going down narrowly both starts to launch his career, but punters would be wise to stick solid. He had little or no room at a vital stage in the straight at Muswellbrook, and is actually better off drawn much further out where he can be given plenty of time to find his feet and get home hard. Love the change of rider too!
*MAIN DANGERS: Underrated local mare 7. Newfangled Jill is over the odds fourth-up from a soft draw; while both metro four-year-old 10. Hoost second-up; and three-year-old local filly 12. Alight The Night at third start; can run into the placings.
Likely Tempo: Solid
My Betting Attack: GEISEL to Win
*RACE 5 @ 3.10pm KIA ORA STALLIONS FILLIES & MARES BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1300m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
Tough and widest race of the day where early tactics will be crucial, and naturally there’s a stack of chances. Promising provincial four-year-old 3. CICCINA (Kris Lees/Dylan Gibbons a0kg; 61kg) let rip with a terrific finishing burst to win first-up at Taree for more than six months. Has been given four weeks since, and continued to work well, although the handicapper has shown little mercy up sharply to 61kg. Bred to get over further being by a Cox Plate winner.
*MAIN DANGERS: Plenty of them, headed by talented local four-year-old 11. Spritza Seritza who has to overcome a tough gate, but if she can slot in for cover, has the necessary finishing sprint to figure. Capable and tough five-year-old 10. Owhata Crumpet is never far away, and a shade over the odds from a decent draw. Local five-year-old 15. Stellar Blaze has been strong to the line in her last two at CL1 level, and draws to get good cover; while including four-year-old 12. Black Jade off a dominant maiden win; and seven-year-old 9. Belle Of Portugal in exotics.
Likely Tempo: Solid
My Betting Attack: CICCINA Each Way & Box Trifecta: 3,10,11,15
*RACE 6 @ 3.50pm GET YOUR KOSCIUSZKO TICKETS COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1300m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
The boys’ edition is not quite as open, but still very competitive. Got a big opinion of progressive three-year-old 8. HARLEM GROOVE (Paul Perry/Ms Alysha Collett; 58.5kg) who loomed to win second-up at Coffs before peaking late. Drawn very wide, but on rain-affected ground that’s usually little or no concern here, and a strong and more aggressive rider is the right fit.
*MAIN DANGERS: Keep a big watch on local Panzer Division four-year-old 2. Freedom Square who resumes off an 11-month break as a gelding, with gear changes, and two steady trials. Consistent provincial six-year-old 5. Heredero has found a new lease of life this prep winning two from his last four in and around this class, although up sharply in weight; while looking out for six-year-old 6. Spilia and nine-year-old 15. Northern Conqueror both running on late.
Likely Tempo: Reasonable to Solid
My Betting Attack: HARLEM GROOVE to WIN & Quinella: 2 and 8
*RACE 7 @ 4.25pm EARTHLIGHT AT DARLEY BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1000m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
Always good betting affairs, these typical high pressure sprints in this grade. Like the value about progressive metro Exosphere four-year-old 7. BALLISTIC MOON (Gary Portelli/Ms Alysha Collett; 59.5kg) who easily ran down a tough sprinter here three weeks ago, and that horse then bolted in his next start. This is tougher and drawn wide, but has plenty of upside, and if the rain settles in he shapes beautifully to power home down the middle.
*MAIN DANGERS: The first-up provincial win of fellow exciting Exosphere mare 12. Perlant was all the talk before she got well back at her next run and finished only fairly. Draws to get a stack of cover back in the field, and will also relish the big track. Improving Tamworth mare 10. Ashre Jahre was unwanted in betting first-up and ran accordingly, but hit back hard cruising home from the front in a CL2. Gets in light after the claim and will give a big sight on speed. Expecting a big fourth-up run from metro seven-year-old 4. Moralist coming back from provincial company; while lightly raced mare 11. Knight Driver is on the next line.
Likely Tempo: Good to Strong
My Betting Attack: BALLISTIC MOON Each Way and Box Exacta: 7,10,12
*RACE 8 @ 5.00pm 2022 INGLIS YEARLING SALE SERIES BENCHMARK 74 HCP (1600m) – Min Weight 55kg; Apprentices Can Claim:
Yet another open and challenging battle to finish, with decent speed over the mile. Local five-year-old mare 12. BIRDONAWINNINGPOST (William Freedman/Ms Rachel Murray; 55kg) has had three improving runs back in deeper Highway company, and is ready to strike, returning home fourth-up. Draws to get a trail off the fence, and blinkers have been added.
*MAIN DANGERS: Progressive four-year-old 9. Tinka’s Lad shoots for three straight wins stepping up in distance, and carries 1.5kg less for this tougher grade. Local five-year-old 1. Eiger has boxed on well from the front in his last two, and this is a slight drop in grade, although much better when ridden with a sit. Tough metro four-year-old 7. Super Solar dug in to finish best in a BM 64 here, but doubt the inside will be the place to be late in the day. Keep safe local eight-year-old and last start winner in this class 8. Itasca who loves soft ground.
Likely Tempo: Solid
My Betting Attack: BIRDONAWINNINGPOST Each Way
**My BEST EARLY BETS:
R3 7. SMOKESHOW** Expect: $3.50 – $3.65; My Early Rating: $2.32
R4 13. GEISEL** Expect: $2.85 – $3.25; My Early Rating: $2.12
**My BEST EARLY VALUE:
R5 3. CICCINA** Expect: $6.50 – $7.50; My Early Rating: $3.95
R7 7. BALLISTIC MOON** Expect: $7.00 – $8.00; My Early Rating: $4.20
R8 12. BIRDONAWINNINGPOST* Expect: $6.00 – $6.50; My Early Rating: $4.15
**My BEST EARLY EXOTICS:
R7: Box Exacta: 7,10,12
**TRAINERS TO FOLLOW:
Paul Perry**
Kris Lees*
John O’Shea*
Brett Cavanough*
**JOCKEYS TO FOLLOW:
Ms Alysha Collett**
GOOD LUCK
@NeilEvansmail
SUPER SCONE RACING
#HomeOfTheHorse
Next Meeting:
Tuesday Sept 7, 2021
