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By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Friday’s Scone meeting. Selections based on a soft to heavy track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

Consistent type 2. Don’t Doubt Katie resumes and has trialled well in a fast time/sectional heat at Muswellbrook. The four-year-old mare savaged the line to win first-up last prep at Taree and ran the fastest final 600m/400m/200m splits of the entire meeting in 33.62/22.56/11.36. Further, repeating that effort/figure will make her hard to beat.

Dangers: 4. Captain Wise led at an even tempo and sprinted away from his rivals to win dominantly at this track/distance 11 days ago. He has almost an identical setup to last start and brings a fitness edge relative to his opposition. 7. Sammiballerina went out a strong winner at Rockhampton last prep and returns without an official public trial for her new trainer Tim Mcintosh. Expect her to hit the line hard. Add 5. Miss Lamar who is a speedy type to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Don’t Doubt Katie WIN ($3.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Don’t Doubt Katie runs second in a trial at Muswellbrook on July 21

1. Ezekeil resumes and has trialled well enough, winning a recent heat at this track. The four-year-old gelding must carry a hefty weight but has a class edge over his rivals. He has a favourable map and can sprint fresh. It’s worth noting apprentice jockey Bailey Wheeler is in great form and has ridden 17 winners out of his past 100 mounts at a profit on turnover of 29.3%.

Dangers: 7. Sterny Bear is rock-hard fit and proven on rain-affected ground. Expect an aggressive ride to utilise that edge, and the step back in distance is ideal. 6. Pippen returns and has had two quiet trials. He is suited over further and deeper into a prep but will run on. Forget 4. Two Ducks Artie’s last start, and he can bounce back with a senior rider. 3. The Mitchell Snail broke through for his maiden win at Gunnedah and will appreciate the step up in distance and the bigger track.

How to play it: Ezekeil WIN ($2.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Ezekeil wins a trial at Scone on July 27

6. Dehero ran fast time and broke through for her maiden win at Canberra 14 days ago on a rain-affected track. Further, she led at an even tempo and accelerated away from her rivals, running the fastest final 400m split of the entire meeting in 24.16. The three-year-old filly brings the best last start figure, has a fitness advantage over her main rivals and will roll forward.

Dangers: 4. Emissive resumed at Tamworth and was well fancied late in the trade $4.0-$3.2. The mare loomed to win but just peaked on her run over the final furlong and will undoubtedly improve here. Market watch 1. Princess Amira who has strong form lines for this and has trialled well. Add 3. Chomeur and 5. Entrez Boo to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Dehero WIN ($2.60 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Dehero wins last start at Canberra on July 22

Debutante 14. Sumptuary is a nice type and has trialled well in preparation for her first-up assignment. Moreover, she is coming out of a time/sectional merit heat that rated well relative to the morning. The three-year-old filly has shown natural gate speed, looks an improver and is well educated. She gets an ideal setup at her home track and expect her to be fighting out the finish.

Dangers: 2. Midas Star who represents value resumes and has had two solid hitouts at the trials. The gelding had the pace/bias against him first-up last prep in a high-rating race at the provincial level and battled on ok. 5. Mrs Gloop maps to have all favours and strong form lines for this event. 11. California Touch gets his easiest assignment to date and is a key late market watch.

How to play it: Sumptuary WIN ($2.25 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Sumptuary runs second at Scone in a trial on July 27

4. Rhythm Is A Dancer resumed at this track 21 days ago for his new trainer Brett Cavanough and raced well. The four-year-old was wide and sprinted hard, maintaining a strong finishing speed to the line. Further, he ran one of the fastest final 200m splits of the meeting in 12.24. He has had a tick-over trial between runs, brings the best last start figure, and will undoubtedly improve up in distance. Expect a bold showing.

Dangers: 14. Pavitra was backed $5.0-$4.2 late in the trade in her debut run at Goulburn and was honest. The filly raced keenly throughout and then had to switch back into the inferior ground when the sprint went on. She will improve from that race experience and looks the main threat to Rhythm Is A Dancer. 5. The Percentage raced wide at this track in a genuine tempo last start and battled on well. He will be fitter and will roll forward. 10. Star Impact will be fitter and 7. Julinka will get back from the wide draw but will be looking to have the last shot.

How to play it: Rhythm Is A Dancer WIN ($3.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Rhythm Is A Dancer runs second at Scone on July 15

6. Calamity Fox resumes and has trialled well enough in a fast time/sectional heat at Muswellbrook behind Group 2 placegetter Willinga Beast. The gelding brings strong form lines for this event and has a key gear change with blinkers going on for the first time. The wide draw is of little concern as there is only one turn from the 1000m chute, and he may also get the track pattern to suit.

Dangers: 9. Par Five won a recent trial dominantly and looks to have come back improved. He has been gelded and will roll forward. 11. Borrowed Luck has also trialled well at this track and is a key late market watch. Add 4. Shoo Shoo Shoo and 12. Capezel to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Calamity Fox ($3.90 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Calamity Fox runs third a trial at Muswellbrook on July 21

6. Gold Lunar raced wide without cover and was unsuited in a slow tempo at this track/distance 21 days ago. Further, even with those factors against her, she never shirked her task to the line and maintained a strong finishing speed. The five-year-old mare is rock-hard fit, maps to have all favours and is proven on rain-affected ground.

Dangers: 2. Kozluca resumes and has had two solid hit-outs at the trials. His run first-up last prep had hidden merit after having too much to do over an unsuitable distance, and he hit the line hard. In addition, he can rate to win and is a definite chance. Import 8. Milka enters his second Australian prep and has had a soft trial at Muswellbrook. She maps well and can sprint fresh. 10. Tiempe Passate had the bias against last start and ran on well. 7. Just Like Lisa finally broke through for her maiden win and produced a career peak figure last start.

How to play it: Gold Lunar WIN ($10 TAB Fixed Odds) & Kozluca WIN ($14 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Gold Lunar runs third at Scone on July 15

9. Rockbarton Ruby was a dominant winner at this track/distance last start in a fast-time race. Additionally, that race rated highly relative to the day, and there has been a subsequent winner to confirm the form. The four-year-old mare had to make her run through the inferior ground and ran her final 600m split in 35.40. She rises in grade but is on an upwards ratings spiral, and key indicators suggest she can make the step. Each-way.

Dangers: 5. Tidal Rush was checked/blocked at a critical stage last start at Muswellbrook and should’ve fought out the finish. The Brett Cavanough trained galloper brings the best last start figure, drops in grade and maps to have all favours. Chance. 2. Lonely Power was unsuited last start in a slow tempo but still ran on well into third place. He is ready to peak third-up, and an anticipated genuine tempo is ideal. 7. Leading Lady resumes and can sprint fresh.

How to play it: Rockbarton Ruby E/W ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Rockbarton Ruby wins at Scone on July 15

Best Bet: Race 5 # 4 – Rhythm Is A Dancer

Next Bet/Value: Race 8 # 9 – Rockbarton Ruby E/W

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