By John Schell
The Scone race meeting scheduled for Tuesday 17th December has been put back a day to Wednesday 18th December due to the forecast of extreme heat.
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts a high of 41 degrees in Scone on Tuesday and to prioritise the welfare of horses and participants, the meeting has been rescheduled to Wednesday with more favourable weather conditions expected.
The change in schedule will require a number of riding alterations as some jockeys declared for Scone races are also engaged at Warwick Farm and Queanbeyan meetings on Wednesday. Details of these riding changes will be advertised once confirmed.
Selections based on a good track.
Race 1 – 2:15PM YARRAMAN PARK BENCHMARK 74 HANDICAP (2200m)
7. Finger Bun has only had the four starts, but has hit her straps of late, having won her latest two starts at Armidale in good style. She has plenty of upside and can win again. 8. Suit Day has finished second behind Finger Bun in each of his last two starts and only needs to run up to those efforts to be a factor again. 1. Don Stefano has been tackling city grade of late and should figure here if he can maintain that form. 5. Lady Tino fought on well when a last start second at Mudgee and she can be in the thick of things again.
How to play it: Finger Bun to win.
Racing returns to Scone on Wednesday with a seven-race card.Credit: Getty Images
Race 2 -2:50PM EMIRATES PARK CLASS 1 HANDICAP – HEAT OF THE RISING STAR (1400m)
7. Lightning Speed has been racing well with a win at Tamworth two starts ago, followed by a last start second at Mudgee. She can win again here from the inside gate. 2. Great Point has finished second in each of her latest two starts and she could be in the finish again here. 3. Pharoahzano won well at Mudgee at his second start for the new stable and he can run well again here. 1. Gelsey was a winner at Quirindi before a last-start fifth at Tamworth and can be placed.
How to play it: Lightning Speed to win.
Race 3 – 3:25PM PHOENIX CAF BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1600m)
2. Tigon Princess was second-up from a spell when scoring a last-start win at Tamworth over Flying Banjo and if she can repeat that sort of performance she can go on with the job and score again here. 3. Flying Banjo followed that second at Tamworth with another second at Quirindi and he has the ability to run well. 1. Damascus Gate was a winner at Bathurst in July and since resumed with a solid second at Taree. 5. Magic Stalker won on debut at Tamworth and looks to have the ability show to up again here.
How to play it: Tigon Princess to win.
Race 4 – 4PM LION COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN HANDICAP (1300m)
2. One Man Show is a locally trained gelding on debut here and he’s had two trials leading into this for two wins at this track. He looks primed to run well and is the one to beat. 1. Dale had two starts earlier in the year for a sixth on debut on the Kensington track before a third at Mudgee and then being spelled. He’s had two trials leading into this return to racing and should show up. 4. Navy Steel has only had one start and finished fourth in that event at Tamworth when not beaten far. 10. Major Lightning hasn’t figured in the placings in three starts, but he ran well here two runs back and can show up if he performs up to that.
How to play it: One Man Show to win.
Race 5 – 4:35PM MUSWELLBROOK FORD MAIDEN PLATE (1100m)
5. Shropshire Lad had looked good winning two trials either side of a break before debuting and not having the best of luck getting clear running when charging home late to finish second at this track behind Overtook. He’s drawn wide here, but with any luck at all he should atone for that defeat. 1. Escalante had two starts earlier in the year on the Beaumont track at Newcastle and the Kensington track at Randwick before being spelled. He’s had two trials in preparation for this return to racing and can make an impact fresh. 6. Withstand has been placed in three of his five starts and should figure prominently again if he can run up to his best form. 2. Nevermista has been placed in both runs since resuming and another bold showing is expected here.
How to play it: Shropshire Lad to win.
Race 6 – 5:10PM SELECT EVENTS BENCHMARK 66 HANDICAP (1300m)
1. Code In Time ran well at this track when resuming from a spell and only being run down late when finishing second behind Oakfield Badger. He followed that up with a close-up fourth at Tamworth and he only needs to maintain that form to be rated the one to beat here. 3. Rasay Factor has a good record with four wins from 13 starts and he resumes here on the back of a couple of solid trials. 8. Chesteray has won two of his past three starts and has the talent to show up again against these without surprising. 10. Hammoon Thunder is first-up from a long spell and has had a recent trial to be fitted for this.
How to play it: Code In Time to win.
Race 7 – 5:45PM WIDDEN COUNTRY BOOSTED BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1100m)
1. Grins has been racing in fine form with a string of second placings followed by a last-start strong win at Narromine. She’s an on-pace runner that should play a prominent part again. 2. Sir Remlap won well at this track before a last-start fifth at Rosehill against Highway company when far from disgraced. He looks to have the potential to give this a shake. 8. Speck has won two of five and was second-up from a spell when scoring at Tamworth last time out. Don’t underestimate here. 12. Panta Rhei did the job well on debut at Muswellbrook to score by a big margin. She’s drawn wide here but looks talented.
How to play it: Grins each way.
Best Bets: Race 3 (2) Tigon Princess.; Race 6 (1) Code In Time.
Best Value: Race 7 (1) Grins.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
