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By Ray Hickson

Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Saturday’s Scone meeting. Selections based on a good track.

Happy to take the punt that 8. In My Dreams is above average as she certainly looked that way in her latest trial. She showed speed and travelled easily despite having some company in the middle stages before edging away to an easy win. She’ll be able to take advantage of gate one and put herself up there. It comes down to whether she has that bit of X-Factor to match up with a couple of fillies with well exposed form.

Dangers: 2. Dipsy Doodle has hit her straps with successive wins on wet tracks and it was quite a strong one at Rosehill two weeks ago. She also has good speed, rises 3.5kg for the step to Listed company but she’s hard to fault. 1. Saltaire has freshened up since a close to second to the handy Libertad in the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes, where she looked the winner before being nabbed late. She flowed home nicely in a subsequent trial and like Dipsy Doodle is proven and therefore hard to beat. 6. Frenemy is a filly from the Waterhouse/Bott yard and it’d be wise to include any two-year-old from the camp at the moment. Certainly nothing wrong with her trials, whether she has the speed to get across remains to be seen but keep her safe.

How to play it: In My Dreams WIN ($6.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

In My Dreams wins a Randwick trial on May 1

Wide open Highway. Thought 4. What A Peach will get the right run just behind what should be a genuine tempo. She’d been racing consistently at Class 3 level before having a very soft win at Muswellbrook where she just swept past them from off the pace. On her home track and shapes as though a mile will be fine, given the nice position she should lob in, and is a good each-way chance.

Dangers: 9. Smooth Esprit was freshened up after the Country Championships Final and wasn’t disgraced finishing midfield behind Bianco Vilano on a heavy track at Rosehill. Crying out for a mile and will be much better on a good track. Definite chance. 2. Steplee is unbeaten in two starts on his home track, including the Highway at this meeting last year, and brings Benchmark form back into a Highway which is always a good formula. Hit the line from the back into third behind Strombus at Kensington over 1400m, runner-up King Of The Castle has since won, and while he’ll be giving a start he’s in the mix. 18. Rura Penthe was only getting warm at the end of 1400m at Tamworth with 60.5kg on his back and off a six week break. Fitter, drawn well and a mile should suit. He has form around the likes of Russian Standard and The Dramatist which says he could measure up.

How to play it: What A Peach E/W ($10 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

What A Peach wins at Muswellbrook on April 28

4. Wrathful is hard to go past after a remarkable performance to win a Midway at Rosehill two weeks ago at 1500m on a heavy track. He was still last near the 300m but descended on them for what looked a soft win. He’ll love the big run home at Scone and the extra 200m can only be in his favour. He’ll be the horse to beat.

Dangers: 2. Decadent Tale comes through the same race, he led them up and boxed on nicely enough into fourth. Consistent type who is the likely leader here, has a handy record at the track, and if he’s left alone could be a little harder to run down on top of the track. 6. Miracle Spin looked the winner in that Midway only to be ambushed by Wrathful. Not really the type to make full use of gate one but only has to run up to last start to be somewhere in the finish. 5. Dhakuri is big odds but it wouldn’t shock to see him find a bit of form now after two runs back. He’ll appreciate getting back on top of the ground and up in distance, he’s drawn softly and has blinkers back on. His fourth to Naval Seal and Willinga Rufio back in June last year is handy enough form for a Midway.

How to play it: Wrathful WIN ($1.85 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Wrathful wins at Rosehill on April 29

15. Demiana handles wet ground but suspect she’s a bit more dynamic on firmer going. Loomed to win at Rosehill off a seven-week break and was just held by Healing Oasis over this trip. Every chance to go one better.

Dangers: 12. Shipshape is up and comer who fought hard to win a maiden at Hawkesbury then backed it up with a comfortable all the way win at Wyong. This is another step or two up but he’s going the right way and should be competitive. 8. Vintage Choice is the big query runner. An import first-up with form up to a mile in his five starts in the UK. Beat largely a bunch of stayers in his trial over 1100m but any support could be significant. 19. Union Army is another on the up, coming of an easy win in lesser class and while the form didn't really hold up out that win he's still lightly raced. Definite chance.

How to play it: Demiana WIN ($3.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Demiana runs second at Rosehill on April 29

2. Malkovich reacted to be gelded by winning the Hawkesbury Rush first-up and it was a sign the gelding might see him go up a notch or two as a racehorse. It was his first fresh win too. So he can only be fitter and has only been penalised 0.5kg for the win. We know what we’ll get with Malkovich, he’ll look to lead and if he’s as controlled as he was first-up he will take running down again.

Dangers: 3. Quantico hasn’t raced for two months since contesting the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes and he held his ground okay beaten three lengths. Rushed home late under some riding into second behind Giga Kick in a trial just over a week ago and he does react well fresh. 5. Andermatt seemed to have his chance behind Malkovich at Hawkesbury and on the face of it he was a touch disappointing. Expect he will be ridden cold from the wider gate this time around and gets 2kg of assistance from that last clash. 7. Dehorned Unicorn enjoyed a nice preparation in the summer and it started with a win over 1100m at Rosehill. He’s won both recent trials and is more than capable of making his presence felt with the light weight. 1. Eleven Eleven can’t be discounted either, he has knocked over Malkovich a couple of times but his record says whatever he does here he will improve on.

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

Malkovich wins at Hawkesbury on April 22

17. Just A Jedi produced a very nice first-up run over an unsuitable trip on Anzac Day, despite the form guide saying ninth of 14. He was last on the turn and had some ducking and weaving to do but he was the one finishing full of running at the end of 1400m. He’ll be much better for that and steps closer to his comfort zone distance wise. Hoping from a nice soft draw he can be that bit closer in the run and that’ll give him a nice each-way chance.

Dangers: 5. Estadio Mestalla started favourite first-up at Hawkesbury and bumped into Palmetto, who has since won The Coast just as easily. So that has to be decent form for dropping to a Benchmark 78. He does have a tricky draw but so long as he can find some cover he’ll be in the finish. 8. Unspoken caught the eye first-up then sent out as favourite at Hawkesbury three weeks ago and ran a patchy race. He looked gone around the turn then rallied late to pick up ground. The blinkers go on him so he’d be well worth forgiving one below par run and include him in the chances. 14. Floating is hard to leave out of the mix. He’s gone under as favourite in all three runs back but he’s also been right in the finish of them so he’s not far away. Concedes a start again but if he has the right sort of run we know he can produce a strong burst.

How to play it: Just A Jedi E/W ($19 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Just A Jedi’s first-up run at Kensington on April 25

16. Once Again My Girl has been thrown in the deep end, or deeper end at least, after two dominant wins from as many starts on her home track. She has to leap from Class 1 to Listed grade but this is the right sort of time to do it. And she has the home track advantage. It comes down to whether she does measure up, she’ll put herself in the race and if she’s good enough she’ll go close.

Dangers: 12. Ithadtobezou had excuses with a wide run in the Group 3 PJ Bell six weeks ago on a heavy track. Forgive that. Her form around Kazou previously isn’t bad and she’ll appreciate a firmer track. One to keep an eye on. 1. Portray has to come back from 1400 but she has the proven Group form against her name after a game second behind Olentia in the Group 3 James Carr a month ago. Won first-up on a good track at 1100m and drawn to be prominent. 13. Moonlight Grace couldn’t have been more impressive taking out a Midway first-up at Hawkesbury and she might be aided by what looks a genuine tempo. Yet to run a bad race and no surprise if she puts herself in the finish.

How to play it: Once Again My Girl WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Once Again My Girl wins at Scone on April 17

Local filly 9. Opal Ridge takes on some hard heads here but she’s a tough filly herself and if she produces her best she’s right in this. Dominant first-up at Rosehill against her own age then an enormous run in the PJ Bell after copping a decent mid race check. Put in a head scratcher in the James Carr but still only beaten a couple. Home track, good ground, middle draw all point to her being a major player.

Dangers: 2. Oscar Zulu has a nice set up to run well fresh since a game effort in the Magic Millions Cup in January. Aside from an uncharacteristic showing in The Gong he’s hardly put a foot wrong and he should land in a trailing position not far off the speed. Respect. 5. Titanium Power will be fitter for his first-up effort in the Hawkesbury Rush where he wasn’t able to ride the speed. Going to 1300m with blinkers on should see him look to take it up early and if he gets any control he’s always hard to run down. 7. Waihaha Falls has a touch of class about him on his day and be bumped into a smart one in Vilana in the Hall Mark a month ago when runner-up. We’ve seen him produce his very best on rain affected ground but has rarely run a bad one on good. Will get back and look to charge down the outside, and if the pattern is conducive to that by this stage of the day it’s an extra tick. 4. Tamerlane is flying but he’s been able to get control in his past couple of wins.

How to play it: Opal Ridge WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Opal Ridge’s last start at Randwick on April 15

9. More Prophets hasn’t won for quite a while but she’s shown when she draws well she’s not too far away from the good mares. Showed that first and second-up this prep and was beaten under a length by Hope In Your Heart in that second run back. She’s drawn the car park in her past three and still produced some handy sectionals from impossible positions. With speed drawn outside her she can land in the first half or middle this time and if she gets a crack at them has the finish on her to cause trouble late.

Dangers: 1. Expat is a very good wet tracker but both placings this time in have been on good ground, the latest a second in the Hawkesbury Crown, so it says she’s racing well for the new stable. She will roll forward as she always does and give a sight. 13. Short Shorts is another speedy mare and she was back 200m in trip when narrowly beaten by Flag Of Honour at Gosford last week. Had excuses in the Provincial-Midway Final but showed what she can do in the qualifying race with a big win at Kembla. 5. Finepoint has freshened up since a forgive run in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf where she was wide throughout. Third to Roots and Atishu before that says she's good enough.

How to play it: More Prophets E/W ($14 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

More Prophets’ run in the Coolmore Classic

3. With Your Blessing relies on a bit of luck having drawn the outside alley but on the last race of the carnival it might not be such a bad thing. He’s a consistent type and while his trial form shows rear finishes he’s been excellent in both of them. A big first-up winner last preparation and only needs a back to follow to have his chance to mow them down.

Dangers: 4. Soami raced quite well without winning last time in and he was only beaten 1.4 lengths by Think About It at the end of the prep. Looked well in his trial win at Kembla and should get the kind of run to allow him his chance. 1. Spiranac is a talented local mare and she did steam into third in this grade at Rosehill when resuming last time in. That prep was coming off a long break so she’ll likely be better for it and if they overdo it she can hit the line strongly. 13. Elettrica was scratched from a midweek race to be reserved for this and looking at her trials she seems to have come back quite well into the new stable. Didn’t always have the best of luck last time in and has each-way claims.

How to play it: With Your Blessing WIN ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

With Your Blessing’s latest trial at Randwick on May 1

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