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By Ray Hickson

An in depth look at the chances of every runner in the $150,000 Newhaven Park Country Championships Northern Wild Card (1400m) at Scone on Monday.

1. Casino Lord (Cody Morgan, Tamworth): Might have been aided by the pattern making his run down the outside in the Hunter & North West Championships but he was only one more bound away from qualifying for the Final. Ticked the 1400m box there and you’d imagine he’d be better for it as he was jumping 300m in trip. Don’t think he’s the type that can make use of an inside gate but if he can and be as strong late again he’s capable of winning.

2. Two Ya Got (Brett Cavanough, Scone): Was first emergency for the Tamworth race and didn’t gain a start so had to drop from his win first-up at 1200m into an 1100m Benchmark 64 at Gosford last weekend for his lead up. Led all the way there though was being reeled in late. Jumps from a tricky gate but is a go forward horse so could easily offset it quickly. Only tried 1400m once to date in the Albury Guineas just over a year ago and had his chance. Arguably a better horse now and can’t be overlooked.

3. Mr Hussill (Cameron Crockett, Scone): Tried to make an early move at Tamworth, getting around Casino Lord before the turn, but didn’t sustain the run and wound up finishing midfield. His first-up run was a pass mark under a big weight and on his best form he is right in this race, just a small question over whether he’s racing at his best. This will tell us. Ran sixth in a Kosciuszko in 2021, beaten under two lengths, but his last two wins have come on heavy tracks. No surprise if he’s in the finish but one to take on trust.

Talbragar (Pic: Bradley Photos)

4. Talbragar (Cody Morgan, Tamworth): Was fourth emergency at Tamworth but after not getting a start he resumed with an easy win over 1000m there a week or so later. Clearly a talented sprinter having won four from five with his only failure coming in the Kosciuszko last year. The big question mark is those four wins have come at 1000m and 1100m and the latter trip was his maiden win. He has the speed to overcome the wide gate but the gamble is him running out the distance and may be a false favourite.

5. Gold Card (Peter Graham, Port Macquarie): Battled away as a $41 chance in the Mid North Coast Country Championships to run fourth and again stuck on from on pace at Gosford when back to 1200m. He’ll put himself somewhere in the first half of the field and give himself every chance but he’d need to run right up to the Tuncurry run and more to be in the finish.

6. Swamp Nation (Glen Milligan, Taree): May have been ridden a shade upside down at Tuncurry due to an on speed pattern and she was game to hold on for third after making a dash before the turn to join the leaders. She’s a risk at a strongly run 1400m if she has to do it tough but if she can get a cushy run she has the turn of foot that could see her run into the placings at least.

7. Commando Hunt (Cameron Crockett, Scone): You never like to draw the outside gate but he’s one horse that it probably doesn’t make a difference to as he tends to settle back in his races and come with a rush. He ran some nice closing sectionals in the Hunter & North West Championships to finish fifth at his first run since the Kosciuszko. He was runner-up in the Final last year so he’s good enough, he’d love some rain but couldn’t rule him out of the chances.

8. Acrophobic (Cody Morgan, Tamworth): Thought it was just a run first-up at Tamworth, he settled midfield and basically stayed there. Made his run closer to the inside than out, that may have affected him given the pattern of the day but overall couldn’t make any excuses. He will be fitter and did win an open handicap at Tamworth last year over the 1400m so his best is good enough. But he’s proving a bit hit and miss.

9. Seguso (Cody Morgan, Tamworth): Been disappointing on the whole in three runs this time in. Can forgive the first-up defeat as he did find the line strongly but every chance in two subsequent attempts including the Hunter & North West Championships where he was gone on the turn. Faces a task from the wide gate, he does have blinkers going on but may not be going well enough.

10. The Dramatist (Rod Northam, Scone): Didn’t gain a start at Tamworth so resumed on the same meeting in a 1200m Benchmark 66 with 63kg and did a great job to go down narrowly to Russian Standard. Much fitter for the run, drops 7kg and on his home track. He’ll get back from the wide gate but that’s his pattern and with the run under his belt he’s set up nicely for the 1400m and should be hard to hold out.

11. Hit The Rim (Clint Lundholm, Dubbo): Backs up after finishing a gallant fourth in the Western Championships last weekend, and he would have run second in another couple of strides. He did start $41 there and finds this a bit tougher, you’d imagine, but he’s a horse that will hit the line hard. Imagine he can make some use of the barrier, though it’d be a career peak for him if he was to win.

12. Lisztomania (Aiden St Vincent, Coffs Harbour): Two runs back from a spell were super including a very easy win at 1200m at Port Macquarie with 59.5kg. Reared at the start in the Northern Rivers Championships and was declared a non-runner when a short priced favourite to win the race. That was a month ago and he’s had a soft trial since then. Drawn an inside gate again and assuming he gets away it will give him his chance. He looks the type that hasn’t hit the ceiling yet and should be hard to beat.

Lisztomania (Pic: Trackside Photography)

13. Russley Crown (Scott Singleton, Scone): Hasn’t raced for a month since a very easy win at Mudgee over a mile in a Benchmark 66. He was sixth emergency for the Tamworth race. Lightly raced and has a consistent record so far, measuring up to Class 3 Highway company, but he has a horror draw to overcome. Will have to go forward, which is his usual style, and will need some luck.

14. Strelitzia (Mark Mason, Tamworth): Started a $91 chance at Tamworth and made a bit of ground from well back but still only managed ninth beaten five lengths. Second-up record is better but she might need it wet and a bit further to be competitive in this company given her last two wins have been at 1600m and 2100m.

15. Par Avion (Terry Evans, Tuncurry): Wasn’t disgraced running on into fifth placing at Tuncurry, especially considering the pattern, and has kept ticking over with an even effort back to 1200m at Newcastle where she made some late ground. She’s been a bit inconsistent in the past 12 months and her best results have largely been on wet tracks. She has a draw that might see her settle a little closer but she’s still entitled to be good odds.

16. Bootscooter (Rod Northam, Scone): Under pressure before the turn at Tamworth when a $6 chance and rallied a little to be beaten just over two lengths. She should be better for that and her last win was over Lisztomania in a Highway back in June so on that form would probably be over the odds. Could also be better suited being allowed to settle back a bit and run on rather than trying to keep up with the leading pack. May have to try that given the draw, but on her best she’s not out of this.

17E. Tidal Rush (Brett Cavanough, Scone): Balloted out of the Hunter & North West Championships so attacks this first-up since November where he stretched out to 2000m in the Country Classic. Ran a handy fourth behind Estadio Mestalla at Rosehill before that which is reasonable form for a restricted country race. Blinkers go on, the barrier might be a bit of an issue and he gives away fitness. Wouldn’t be a huge shock though if he was competitive.

SELECTIONS:
12 LISZTOMANIA
10 The Dramatist
6 Swamp Nation
1 Casino Lord

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Scone meeting