By Neil Evans
Track Heavy 8 and rail True:
Race 1 MAIDEN HCP (1000m): |
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We open up with the maiden sprinters on a surface that should sneak back into soft range with clearing weather ahead. Promising four-year-old 1. Sir Remlap is trained on the track, and returns for only his second start behind two trials, and with winkers being added. Charged home from near last to miss narrowly on debut at Muswellbrook in soft going, and bred to thrive in these conditions, he can make a big impact nice and fresh.
Dangers: 6. Cresta Run has trialled in smart fashion since hitting the line impressively here on debut when heavily supported from $4.20 into $3.40, and blinkers going on is a significant gear change. Another local 2. Taipan Legend also hit the line well first-up at Dubbo, and drew to get a soft run with cover. Gap to the rest headed by a stablemate of the former 3. Lightning Speed who can improve at her fourth start, back in distance and 23 days between runs.
How to play it: Sir Remlap to win
Race 2 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (2200m): |
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Small, but tactical staying field. Dubbo mare 1. Raiding is as tough as they come, and still racing well deep into the prep. Kept surging home to miss by a whisker against similar opposition 17 days ago, and the 2kg claimer off-sets the big weight.
Dangers: 3. Don Quixote is another tough customer who is never far from the money, placed in two of his last three, the latest edged out by a half head at Armidale. Drawn to get a soft trail, and significantly backs up in eight days. 7. Le Souci ran over a CL1 field in Canberra three starts back before twice sticking on okay after leading in similar company. Gets in well at the weights down on the limit 55kg. Include both 8. Lady Tino who wasn't far behind the top selection in her latest run; and 5. Threw dropping back from a deeper provincial race fourth-up; in all trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: Raiding to win
Race 3 CLASS 1 HCP (900m): |
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Promising home track filly 6. Quick Sharp finished strong to win here on debut. Will roll forward from an even better draw, and back 100m in distance only enhances her prospects, given she had trialled successfully on both soft and heavy ground prior to her first run.
Dangers: 3. De Luca looms as the quinella runner for the Matthew Smith stable. Switching back to NSW after two good efforts at Echuca, claiming his maiden before being beaten narrowly in a handy BM 58. 1. Pearls Treasure ran home well here second-up in similar grade; while local mare 4. Antisocial is the best of the rest, resuming behind a quiet trial.
How to play it: Quick Sharp to win
Race 4 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1600m): |
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Can't go past progressive provincial mare 9. Pier Pressure from the Kris Lees yard who is primed to win again second-up, dropping back significantly from a strong closing effort in a much tougher race at Rosehill. Carries the same weight from a nice cover draw, and the extra 300m is right up her alley. Took on Group 2 company earlier in the year.
Dangers: Watch the betting on 2. Callidus who resumes behind two improving trials, and won comfortably on debut leading all the way at Tamworth in May. 10. Off The Scale represents each way value, with blinkers going on, and coming off a tough third-up maiden win. Gap to the rest headed by metro visitor 12. California Blues who drops in weight and is drawn to get a soft run.
How to play it: Pier Pressure to win
Race 5 MAIDEN PLATE (1200m): |
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Early favourite, and stablemate to the previous on top selection, 5. Tasoraay will be hard to hold out second-up if he can get across from a wide barrier, although may go to the Canterbury meeting on Wednesday where he is better drawn. Was beaten narrowly when resuming at Doomben three weeks ago, has reportedly been working well since, and blinkers have been added.
Dangers: Keep safe at good odds both 4. Step Quick on debut in blinkers for the Snowden stable at Randwick behind two progressive trials; and local 9. Paruna second-up. 14. Queen Of A Hand draws the inside third-up; and 3. Rockbarton Flash debuts for the David Atkins stable off two trials, winning the latest in comfortable fashion.
How to play it: Tasoraay to win
Race 6 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1300m): |
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There was plenty to like about the first-up run of lightly raced home track mare 5. In Summer charging home from near last to miss narrowly after covering ground. That was an outstanding pointer for this, given she returns home to the scene of her impressive debut win in autumn, and looks a real versatile type by outstanding The Autumn Sun. The one to beat.
Dangers: Big watch on rival and improving home track mare 2. Zippo Idea who resumes off a soft trial, but has plenty of ability to offer early in the prep. Stablemate to the former 10. Great Point attacked the line late when resuming here; while at much longer odds 3. Eclair reloading off a CL1 win here, 4. Chestime who is fresh off a trial win; and 9. Pee Dee who is hard fit with overdue weight relief; can all add plenty of value into trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: In Summer to win
Race 7 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1100m): |
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Progressive Warwick Farm filly 8. Circle Of Love is well placed at only her third start to make it back-to-back wins. Faded late after leading on debut at Hawkesbury in a deeper race before surging late to claim her maiden at Canberra. Still with plenty of upside, and bred to advantage in this ground having bolted in a heavy track trial at home seven weeks ago. Was scratched from an earlier race in the meeting to be saved for this.
Dangers: 5. Nights Inferno opened a short priced favourite, and while clearly emerges as the measuring stick in the race, looks under the odds. Impressed when sweeping home to win fersh at Muswellbrook, and he drew to get a similar run, but a risk at the price in this field and especially on rain-affected ground. 2. Tornado Express was good first-up at Quirindi hitting the line late, and will relish getting to this much bigger track. Keep safe 3. Savoca third-up; while at bigger odds 6. Eagledge resumes with gear changes off two trials.
How to play it: Circle Of Love to win
RACE 8 MAIDEN PLATE (1400m): |
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Another one from the leading local Messara-Gavranich yard, Castlevecchio three-year-old 5. Triti can make a big statement on debut. Has been fitted with three trials, significantly all on in Soft 6 going, and was given a very easy time in his latest. This shapes as the right opening trip, given he's bred to get further.
Dangers: 11. Antilocapra can improve into her second start after finding the line okay here. Keep a close watch too on city raider 10. Tonkatsu Goddess who has been close-up in her last two. Include lightly raced 6. What A Gent in exotic bets.
How to play it: Triti to win
BEST BETS:
R3 6. QUICK SHARP
R8 5. TRITI
BEST VALUE:
R7 8. CIRCLE OF LOVE
All the fields, form and replays for Tuesday's Scone meeting