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By Brad Gray

Classy mare Nieta chases her first black-type win in the Listed Arrowfield Ortensia Stakes (1100m) at Scone on Saturday and John Thompson is justifiably full of confidence.

The four-year-old daughter of Nicconi has won five of her past seven including a pleasing return win on a heavy track at Randwick three weeks ago when holding off a late charge of I Am Zelady.

Nieta maintained her prefect first-up record at Randwick

Nieta can count herself unlucky not to already have a Listed win to her name after running second in the Starlight Quality to Kuro last campaign when posted wide throughout.

“She is super and seems to have come on from her first-up run,” Thompson said.

“She raced a bit fresh and was a little bit closer than we thought but Blake (Shinn) rode her to win. She’ll get a little further back on Saturday but should still get a good run from barrier 6. Tim Clark goes on and she has got no weight on her back. She ticks a lot of boxes.”

“She should show more turn of foot on a firmer surface too.”

Three weeks between runs is the perfect scenario for the mare, who produces her best when kept on the fresh side.

“After her first-up run she went to Emeran Park for a week for a freshen up on the water walker and out in the paddock.”

A perennial punters' pal, Nieta has already been well supported in betting with TAB fixed odds moving her price from the $2.80 opening quote into $2.10.

Meanwhile, Thompson rates Blowing Kisses a sneaky chance of claiming the Listed Coolmore Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) despite her last start failure on the wet Randwick track.

“It was very disappointing. She never travelled and we knew were in trouble tuning for home. Back on a dry track she should bounce back.”

All of the form, field and replays for Scone on Saturday