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By Tony Megahey

For Scone’s Luke Pepper, excitement is mounting for far bigger occasions but for now it’s business as usual for Monday’s home track TAB meeting.

While Luke is bouyed about the prospects of his six-race winner Zounique ($19 on TAB) and maiden Hot Bandit ($7.50) at value odds in respective events, he expanded on the recent return of The Kosciuszko favourite and Listed winner Opal Ridge.

“She’s back in work bigger and stronger, she’ll trial at Randwick and go into the race (Oct 14) first-up,” Luke enthused.

Zounique scores at Newcastle under Anna Roper. Image by Bradley Photographers

“She’s unbeaten three times resuming, we won’t be changing anything with that level of success - she looks super.”

Meanwhile, the 20mls of rain at Scone has been welcomed by Luke for Zounique contesting the Showtime at Arrowfield BM 74, 1600m with 59.5kg, less the 1.5kg claim for regular rider Anna Roper.

“His form is far better than it looks, he needs give in the ground and just hasn’t had the conditions with hard winter tracks.

“He runs his best races on rain-affected, he’ll get that on Monday, fitter and his last run at Kembla was his best this prep. Anna has an affinity with him, she’ll bring out his best from the good draw.”

Hot Bandit is ideally placed in the Scone RSL Maiden (1100m) also from an inside draw with Mitchell Bell off a runner-up debut at Muswellbrook recently.

“This gelding has the makings of a nice horse, his debut run off a trial was huge, slow out and came from last, probably should have won.

“Yep I’ve got an opinion of him, still immature, his best will be later on, but he’ll run a race here.”

Likely the most progressive galloper out of the meeting will be Brett Cavanough’s The Hanger Cat ($3.60 favourite) resuming in the last of eight races from the rails draw with 58.5 less 2kg for apprentice Braith Nock.

The Duporth four-year-old gelding from Cat Tales has shown scintillating speed to win his past two starts at Dubbo and Tamworth by a total of six lengths in smart time at $1.60 and $1.95. The regional ace is certain to have him primed from a let-up at home.

Cavanough and Scone training neighbours Cameron Crockett and Scott Singleton have strong form and numbers throughout the meeting.

At present Scone is a Heavy 8 with windy weather and some showers forecast.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Scone here