Latest News
Tips by Brad Gray
Tips and insights for Scone on Saturday. There are winners to be found for eight races!
| Race 1 - 12:05PM KIA ORA STUD BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (2200 METRES) |
|---|
Interlocuter was luckless on his Australian debut at Newcastle but hit the line full of running before towelling up a modest bunch at Wyong. He was still impressive though as Tye Angland never even had to release the hand break let alone get out of first gear. The four-year-old import has only had four starts so there is no telling where he’ll end up. From what he has shown so far though, it’d be no surprise to see him progress to Group races down the track. For now though, this is the perfect stepping stone.
Danger: These staying races are Chris Waller’s bread and butter and Great Glen looks the type to go on with the job now he has broken through again. Rises sharply in weight though. Don’t discount rock-hard fit stablemate Richard Of Yorke either.
How to play it: Interlocuter WIN
Interlocuter romping in at Wyong
| Race 2 - 12:40PM STAR TURN @ VINERY BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (1100 METRES) |
|---|
Ozark was ridden cold at Canterbury and ripped home to score an impressive and well-overdue victory. The dry track is the key to him and he should get that at Scone (all three of his wins have been on Good tracks). As well as a nice long straight to charge down. There are plenty of chances in the race but happy to play him each-way at double figure odds from the cosy draw. Darren Beadman has hit the ground running as the interim trainer at Godolphin.
Danger: Upscale has drawn the carpark but she is an explosive mare when she is produced fresh which is how she presents here. If she can get a three-wide trail with cover, she’ll be hammering home. Sangiovese and Shahrazad are also dynamite fresh.
How to play it: Ozark EACH WAY
Ozark’s last start Canterbury win
| Race 3 - 1:15PM SEGENHOE STUD WOODLANDS STAKES (1100 METRES) |
|---|
Another Godolphin horse! Almanzora is a very classy filly and prompted John O’Shea to label her the bets of his two-year-old crop after her Warwick Farm debut win. She subsequently failed at Randwick over The Championships but the race didn’t pan out at all for her. She has been back to the trials since and went exceptionally well, winning under a hold with subsequent Group winner Taking Aim back in third.
Danger: Stablemate Epidemic was a very early two-year-old making her debut in the Pierro Plate. She was luckless in that outing. Was tipped straight out but looks to have returned in terrific order if her two trials are anything to go by. Lipizzan goes into the exotics.
How to play it: Almanzora WIN
Almanzora’s Randwick barrier trial – April 28
| Race 4 - 1:50PM COOLMORE DENISE'S JOY STAKES (1100 METRES) |
|---|
Kawaikini will need a scratching to get into the field as the first emergency but if she gets a start, she’ll give this a mighty shake. She was luckless two back before matching motors with New Universe at Rosehill last Saturday. That ex-Kiwi looks a very exciting three-year-old to follow. What really suits Kawaikini is the amount of speed engaged. There are six potential leaders while plenty of others race handy. Add in the fact that Miss Debutante will have to carve across from the very wide draw and you have yourselves a red hot tempo.
Danger: Zumbelia hasn’t been letting down like we know she can on heavy tracks. She’s a big improver on a dry deck and Hugh Bowman goes aboard. You have to respect the class of Eckstein despite her 60kg impost.
How to play it: Kawikini WIN
Kawikini’s second to New Universe last Saturday
| Race 5 - 2:30PM INGLIS 3YO GUINEAS (1400 METRES) |
|---|
Calanda never saw daylight in the Hawkesbury Guineas so forget he ever ran. Prior to that he showed great determination to win at Canterbury against older horses despite being posted wide throughout. Hugh Bowman will need to have his wits about him from the wide draw but the more you see of this three-year-old the more you think that he is suited with plenty of galloping room to the barrier might be a positive. Team Snowden took out this feature with Serene Majesty last year.
Danger: Spright had wet track excuses prior to last start but wasn’t left with one on a Good track at Hawkesbury. She is better than that. At her best she blows straight past these. Prized Icon is exceptionally well in under the set weigths as a two-time Group One winner as 106 rater. Is he sharp enough for 1400m though?
How to play it: Calanda WIN
Calanda’s gutsy first-up win
| Race 6 - 3:10PM YARRAMAN PARK - HORSEPOWER LUSKIN STAR STAKES (1300 METRES) |
|---|
Grunderzeit has never won away from Canterbury. Amazing stat given he has won five races. However, there was plenty to like about his Hawkesbury run last start when strung up between runners before finding the line sweetly in limited room. He’ll get his preferred dry surface and this race sets up nicely for him from the middle draw. In that Hawkesbury run he went to the line with Old North who will be much better suited out to 1300m. Suspect we’ll want to be on him third-up as he edges out towards the mile though.
Danger: Snoopy was very good last campaign and in his recent trial hitout (Monday) he won it full of running. He has won three from four fresh and will bounce out to be handy. He’ll just be hoping Sweet Serendipity doesn’t tear along too fast. Clearly Innocent blew out the cobwebs at Hawkesbury and only really got warm at the end of the 1100m. The 1300m will be much more to his liking but tipping he’ll still need this run too.
How to play it: Grunderzeit WIN
Grunderzeit didn’t have much luck at Hawkesbury
| Race 7 - 3:50PM EMIRATES PARK DARK JEWEL CLASSIC (1400 METRES) |
|---|
Why is Shillelagh currently near double figure odds ($9.50) with TAB? She relished getting back onto a dry track at Hawkesbury and showed a brilliant turn of foot to round up her rivals. Prior to that she flopped on wet tracks. Tye Angland should have her in a beautiful spot from barrier 5 and if she lets down like she did last start, and there is no reason as to why she won’t, she’ll take some holding out.
Danger: Daysee Doom was beaten fair and square by Shillelagh in the Hawkesbury Gold Crown but she won’t need any luck in running as she makes her own. Kinshachi ran third in that race but was only first-up so should take plenty of improvement from it while Extensible can bounce back on a good track.
How to play it: Shillelagh WIN
Shillelagh’s dominant Hawkesbury win
| Race 8 - 4:30PM ARROWFIELD ORTENSIA STAKES (1100 METRES) |
|---|
Deploy never runs a bad race and doubt that changes here even though he faces his stiffest challenge to date. He has won five from 11 and placed in five of those misses. He was gelded prior to last campaign and he went four from four. With 53kg on his back he’ll give this a shake. In a show of faith, Gerald Ryan has stuck with apprentice James Innes Jnr despite not being able to claim. He knows the horse so well and was on his back again in a recent Randwick trial which should have him spot on first-up.
Danger: Nieta is a very classy mare and is no doubt the danger to Deploy. She is rock bottom odds at near even money but, not dissimilar to Deploy, she knows how to win. She possesses a devastating turn of foot.
How to play it: Deploy EACH WAY
Deploy’s first-up win over 1100m last preparation
