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By Ray Hickson

An in-depth look at the chances of every runner in the $150,000 Evergreen Turf Northern Country Championships Wild Card (1400m) at Scone on Friday.

1. Rematch (Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich, Scone): Have to mark him disappointing out of the Hunter & North West heat at Tamworth where he drew the inside, sat in the box seat and when a run came on the inside he just battled away. Unusually poor showing from him, he was placed at Canterbury prior to that. Perhaps the track was a bit firm and/or he didn’t relish the slow tempo. On his best he’s worth another chance.

2. Giving Delight (Rodney Northam, Scone): Sent out $51 at Tamworth and was never in the race at any stage, settling back after a slow start and beating one to the line. He was a solid winner over Hellcibell at Scone prior to that at 1200m so we know he’s better than what he produced last time. Will be getting back again from the gate, Scone will suit him better but he’s very much a take on trust commodity given he either wins or finished unplaced.

Giving Delight (Pic: Bradley Photos).

3. Who Ever Thought (Jeremy Gask, Scone): Landed handy to the speed at Tamworth and was quickly beaten off when they sprinted from the home turn. Was another outsider in that race and was safely held. He has been good enough to win a Highway at Rosehill and his form prior was largely consistent but perhaps it was being first-up that didn’t help his cause. Drawn to be on pace again and could be an improver.

4. Power Beau (Wayne Brown, Tamworth): Far from disgraced at Tamworth, settled in the second half and when into the clear he worked home strongly to be beaten 2-1/2 lengths or so in sixth. That was in keeping with his previous form which was honest. Has shown an ability to sit a bit handier when he draws well and that might give him a chance to be more effective.

5. Bjorn Ironside (Colt Prosser, Wauchope): Racing in super form this preparation and went within a narrow margin of qualifying through Port Macquarie last month, finishing a close third. He then ventured to Tamworth and was again close up at the finish two weeks ago. Barrier really hurts his cause but if he can get some cover and flow into the race he has a shot while going so well.

6. Awaygoesthebunny (Brett Cavanough, Scone): There’s a chance he hasn’t come up this preparation and this race will tell. He failed at Mudgee first-up but rarely fires when fresh, so he could be forgiven going to Tamworth where he was a rank outsider and was under pressure pretty quickly in the straight. Won a 1400m Highway back in September so his best has him in the picture and on his home track but he will need to lift to that level.

7. Kaihoko (Colt Prosser, Wauchope): Didn’t make the field for the Port Macquarie race last month and comes here after winning at Canterbury a few days after that race. He drew the outside there, settled near last and worked through the pack before finishing too well. Impressive effort. Problem for him is the wide gate, he’ll have to go back and look to unleash something down the long straight. Interesting runner who will need the breaks but clearly racing well.

8. Dances With Hooves (Cameron Crockett, Scone): Drifted well back behind a slow tempo and did a more than handy job to attack the line wide out and finish seventh at Tamworth, beaten only three lengths. That was first-up for two months since running second at Randwick. She’s trained here and will appreciate the bigger track, tempo could be an issue for her again as she’s probably better at a mile but if they are running on she’s right in the mix.

9. Know Thyself (Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich): Started $1.90 at Tamworth and missed the placings after clearly not appreciating the slowly run race when they packed up in the middle stages. As it turned out he was probably a bit too well ridden, finding the fence from an awkward alley but it meant he wasn’t able to flow into the race. Suspect the middle gate will suit him on the bigger track and all his prior form illustrates why he started so short first-up. Fitter, shouldn’t be any excuses here.

10. Cambourne (Wayne Brown, Tamworth): Couldn’t offer an excuse for his failure to beat one home at Tamworth after racing handy. Stewards reported he raced a bit keenly but that’s about it. Been a while since he’s shown any form both prior to switching stables and for the new camp and a win here would surprise.

11. Lubrication (Matthew Dunn, Murwillumbah): Not a lot of luck in the Lismore heat last month where he wound up sitting wide midfield and when you’re doing that against the likes of Tribeca Star and Fukubana, his stablemates, you’re in a bit of bother. Stuck on gamely to run third there. In-form apprentice replaced by an in-form senior rider, he’s drawn okay around the middle and that form from the Northern Rivers has to be respected given their place in the market for the Final.

12. Lensman (Wayne Wilkes, Taree): Was always going to find the 1200m too short for him at Port Macquarie and he did a good job to finish off just ahead of midfield. Stepped up 100m last start at Newcastle and again ran well with a big weight. He’ll enjoy the 1400m and the big track but he’s been dealt a blow with the outside barrier. He’ll require some luck and likely a run on pattern.

13. Oenology (Wayne Brown, Tamworth): Balloted from the Tamworth race and contested a Class 2 on the same day where he was well supported but was blown over by a $126 shot. Still ran well to finish second. Close up in a fairly strong Highway prior to that and placed all five attempts at the 1400m. Bit of a throw at the stumps against some more established horses but would be surprised if he didn’t show something.

Tornado Express (Pic: Bradley Photos).

14. Tornado Express (Cody Morgan, Tamworth): Raced four wide without cover when gallant in running fourth at Tamworth where she was specked at each-way odds. Certainly ran up to those expectations. Draw is a bit tricky and perhaps with the blinkers on she might stride forward and look for a spot. Hard to see her having a tougher run than last time! Consistent mare who is an each-way chance.

15. Credit Controller (Shannon Manwarring, Grafton): Late scratching from the Lismore heat so comes here with six weeks since her second-up run which was a fair effort at $26 at Grafton. Was a winner at Doomben last time in but the less than ideal preparation and a gate that sees her giving away a start suggests she has the job ahead.

16. Royal Teens (Terry Evans, Tuncurry): Balloted from the Port Macquarie heat and was placed in a BM58 at that meeting before holding them off to score in that grade a couple of weeks later. Small query at the 1400m at this level but looks to get every chance to run it out from a favourable gate. Possibly not up to this but comes into it in peak form.

17E. King Larry (Wayne Wilkes, Taree): Lightly raced and didn’t make it into the field at Port Macquarie. Since that meeting he’s been narrowly defeated at 1000m at Taree as a short priced favourite. Has to leap to 1400m off a wide gate so that’s going to be a bit of an ask.

18E. Unreachable (Jeremy Sylvester, Cessnock): Form is a bit mixed, safely held in a Highway at Canterbury behind Kaihoko then ran well at Newcastle at odds. Distance isn’t beyond her but hard to make a big case to feature seventh up.

Other emergencies: Golden Honour (Glen Milligan, Taree), Ballinderry Sal (Rodney Northam, Scone).

SPEED MAP: Potential for only a steady tempo given a couple of the main speed influences are emergencies. Who Ever Thought likely is gifted the lead, Tornado Express pushes forward with blinkers on and Royal Teens and Cambourne handy enough. Know Thyself probably strides forward to a degree.

SELECTIONS:
9 KNOW THYSELF
11 Lubrication
5 Bjorn Ironside
14 Tornado Express

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