By Tony Megahey
Young Scone trainer Scott Singleton and his regular rider Jay Ford are in a winning vein and combine on five local gallopers with form and value throughout Tuesday’s eight-race Hunter TAB meeting.
Invariably hard to beat at home, Singleton and Ford teamed for a winning double at the previous Scone meeting and Ford took that momentum and confidence to bigger occasions.
Ford was dynamic winning again on speedster Adelong winning the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday following a double there at the previous meeting.
“We’ve got nice chances on the day, our best logically Remlap’s Gem with the drop in grade off two solid runs at Warwick Farm and our filly River Lady off an outstanding maiden win,” Scott enthused.
“He’s a natural speed, jump and run and we’d be looking to do that again. Lady River is a big, strong progressive filly, wants to be a racehorse.
“She eats up, has really tightened up and come on. I’ve got an opinion of her.”
Remlap’s Gem with 61kg for Ford contests a Sooboog@Kitchwin Hill BM 74, 1000m.
The lightly raced Rubick flyer is rarely led and made the pace with 57.5kg when third to promising four-race winner Nikohli Beagle at “The Farm” after a close fourth there in similar grade.
In Tuesday’s small field, there’s far less form and depth.
Lady River, an imposing Headwater filly, overpowered her rivals to win a Scone Maiden at her third race start and again partners Ford in a Class 1, King’s Legacy@Coolmore 1100m.
“She’ll win better races and over further-that balance of size and closing strength. She’s progressed, brought her trial and work to the races,” Singleton said.
Holy Empress and Blue Velvet are well drawn and placed in respective races for Ford.
“Confident they’ll be competitive. Jay got off Holy Empress and said her run was terrific, said they got into an awkward spot and from near last made up a stack of ground - but she needs pace on to suit.”
According to Scott, Blue Velvet’s run was just as encouraging: “She was first-up without a trial and closed off really strong. She’s fitter, has come on, out to 1300m and that big straight will suit her.”
All the fields, form and replays for Tuesday's meeting at Scone